Question by suekiemama@sbcglobal.net: What if I have to take sleeping pills for the rest of my life?
I am a 30 year old female and have had sleeping issues going all the way back to my childhood. It interferes with every single area of my life. I was on ambien for 3 years but got off of it because I didn’t like the idea of having to take a pill for the rest of my life. I tried Melatonin, Lunesta, Sonata, EVERYTHING – ambien is the only thing that works. I’ve been off of it for close to 3 months and my life feels like it’s spinning out of control. I can’t sleep at night, sometimes (like tonight) pulling an all nighter and starting off my morning without sleep. I really think I will end up on ambien again, just for my own sanity. What’s the point of being off sleeping pills but HATING my life because of my sleep issues? I’d rather have to take them and have a normal life again. Will it shorten my life expentancy if I take Ambien everyday for the rest of my life?
Best answer:
Answer by DAVID P
You may be renamed Rip van Winkle. Sorry.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
try seeing psychiatrist might be something behind this i.e. something that happened in your childhood. there is the chance you may become immune to the drug eventually.
maybe it will do you some good to talk to somebody about your issues that make you not want to sleep in the night . Then maybe you could start a ritual in the evening to get ready for bed. like after dinner ,take some chill time and sart your bath time or shower . Drink some hot chocolate after that and rread a book . that may will help you to get to sleep .
As for me i only touch the bed and i am sleeping because i am so exhausted from work that day .
try to go to the gym afterwork, it will give you a goodnight sleep.
I had sleep issues for years! Finally went to a Sleep Specialist. After a through exam and interview..he changed my meds and gave me some very good sleep incentive exercises. Ambien was what I had been taking for about 4 years…I still felt tired even though it would knock me out every night. I was told that Ambien works for a short term fix but actually deteriorates your sleep after long term use. You never fall into a deep sleep while taking it. If you have a Sleep specialist in your area I would recommend it. I thought ” Oh what a bunch of garbage” It was a waste of time for me to go see him…but it has changed my life. I can sympathies with you…Lack of sleep can mess up your whole life. Good luck
I have been on Ambien for close to 10 years, stop using it from time to time because it seems to be interfering with my short term memory. I have had sleep problems for over 35 years and have found that the best single thing I was able to do was make myself physically tired through physical activity. I used to run, long distance, exercises, that helped but over the last 10 years I’ve had to stop running, knees wore out. I don’t have an answer for you, certainly know the pain of facing each day without more than a couple hours of sleep in a night. Do what you need to do to survive.