Question 1

i've been rx'd 5-10mg ambien nightly for a few months. noticing tolerance build-up. looking for safer alternatives for long-term use. any suggestions?

Accepted Answer

Melatonin?: You can always try Melatonin, but first you’d need to get off Ambien.  With your story, tolerance/addiction are real concerns, and the best bet in that regard would be to first get off it safely.  Then, you can try daily supplementation with Melatonin, which is normally present in our brains anyway and helps with sleep onset and maintenance.

Question 2

does long-term use of ambien cause cancer i have been told for the past 5 years that ambien is a safe medication to use for sleep (i even asked my dorctor if it caused any types of cancer). i have taken it regularly, with few negative effects - it has hel

Accepted Answer

The : The recent study you are most likely alluding to does not establish an actual cause and effect relationship.  It is not known if the sleep medications cause increased risk or if people who are at increased risk  are just the people who tend to use these medications.  However, Ambien (zolpidem) increases interluken 8, which stimulates cancer growth. Regardless, congratulations for successfully coming off a sleep medication after being on it for so long. Take care.

Question 3

i've never taken ambien cr. i took ambien for five years long term. no longer works like it once did. explained to sleep doc and he still wants me to try it?  w the trazodone 150 mg i stopped after being on it for a year and it stopped working.

Accepted Answer

May work better: Ambient CR is a slightly higher dose than the regular ambien (zolpidem) and it is a controlled release (CR) so that the medicine is enters your bloodstream over an extended period of time, so it may help keep you asleep longer.  I hope it helps!

Question 4

when ambien (zolpidem) doesn't work any longer?

Accepted Answer

Temazepam ; Desyrel (trazodone): Temazepam and trazodone (desyrel) remain excellent options if you need long=term medicinal insomnia treatment. You can also try cbti, psychotherapy to teach you how to fall asleep without medication. There are also plenty of sleep apps noted on this site and can be helpful and look up one of dr. Heidi fowler's excellent sleep hygiene responses on this site. Best wishes.

Question 5

is taking two ambien (zolpidem) cr's and melatonin safe?

Accepted Answer

Addiction: Obsession or addiction to sleep medications can become just as serious as alcoholism. It surely sounds like you are over doing it.  If Ambien (zolpidem) is used too often it becomes less and less effective. Combining sleeping medications is a good sign to a physician that you are most likely addicted and it would be dangerous not to address this with you.  Many people in drug treatment get there for ambien (zolpidem).

Question 6

is subutex safe with ambien (zolpidem)?

Accepted Answer

It is safe: no drug interactions between these two drugs. It is a very common combination.

Question 7

is it safe to take 15mg of percocet at 7pm and take an ambien cr at 9:15pm?

Accepted Answer

Maybe: 15mg of oxycodone is a lot for someone who is not opioid tolerant.  To follow this up with ambien can be very dangerous if u are not opioid tolerant.

Question 8

is it safe to take 15 mg of ambien (zolpidem)?

Accepted Answer

Maybe: The usual upper dose for a male is 10 mg.  However, everyone is different.  15 mg is too much for some and not enough for another.  If you have a concern, consult your prescriber.

Question 9

is it safe to use regular ambien (zolpidem) sublingually?

Accepted Answer

Not wise: Before you do, call your provider's office to ask - at least ask a good pharmacist. Medications are intended for use as directed. It might not be effective because of the coating or it might be too quickly absorbed and have more side effect risk. Again, we must recognize that products that come w/ clear instructions for use don't do it for no reason. If anything goes badly, you'd feel like a fool.

Question 10

is it safe to take ambien (zolpidem) and loralzepalm together?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Yes, these may be safely taken together as long as it is under the supervision of a physician and they are being taken as prescribed. Best wishes to you.

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Doctor answers about:

Is ambien safe for long term use

A member asked:

I've been rx'd 5-10mg ambien nightly for a few months. noticing tolerance build-up. looking for safer alternatives for long-term use. any suggestions?

A member asked:

Does long-term use of ambien cause cancer i have been told for the past 5 years that ambien is a safe medication to use for sleep (i even asked my dorctor if it caused any types of cancer). i have taken it regularly, with few negative effects - it has hel

A member asked:

I've never taken ambien cr. i took ambien for five years long term. no longer works like it once did. explained to sleep doc and he still wants me to try it? w the trazodone 150 mg i stopped after being on it for a year and it stopped working.

A member asked:

When ambien (zolpidem) doesn't work any longer?

A member asked:

Is taking two ambien (zolpidem) cr's and melatonin safe?

A member asked:

Is subutex safe with ambien (zolpidem)?

A member asked:

Is it safe to take 15mg of percocet at 7pm and take an ambien cr at 9:15pm?

A member asked:

Is it safe to take 15 mg of ambien (zolpidem)?

A member asked:

Is it safe to use regular ambien (zolpidem) sublingually?

A member asked:

Is it safe to take ambien (zolpidem) and loralzepalm together?

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