Last updated on 17 August 2023 by good_day_sunshine
I’ve been suffering from sleep maintenance insomnia for 2 months now. My doctor prescribed me Ambien 5mg, but it didn’t work. Fast forward he gave me 6.25 of Ambien CR but it didn’t make me fall asleep. So he told me it was okay to take 5mg of regularAambien and the 6.25mg of Ambien CR to get to sleep. Problem is I still wake up after 4-5 hours. He said I can take another 5mg if I wake up to fall asleep again and while that has gotten me 5-7 hours of sleep I’m still tired through the day.
It has caused me incredible depression and anxiety since I don’t know what it is. My doctor said that insomnia can come before depression symptoms so he also started me on Lexapro. I don’t have sleep apnea or RLS since I did a sleep study and nothing abnormal came up on a blood test for lipid panel, comprehensive metabolic panel, CBC, TSH w/ reflex to ft4 and hemoglobin A1c.
Any ideas if a different medication will be able to help me such as Luesta, Temazepam, ect… I’m honestly stopped as to why I can’t get a full 8 hours of sleep.
You probably already know this, but in case you don't... Ambien or its generic, Zolpidem, doesn't work if you eat close to bed time. I would say don't eat for at least 2 hours before taking it. You also might try taking 10 mg of regular Ambien up front (without taking the extended release tablet). I used to combine 5 mg of Zolpidem with 5 mg cyclobenzaprine (for back pain) and that would put me out, but stopped doing that when my current PCP said the two shouldn't be taken together. (I had done this for several years without negative repercussions & other doctors had never mentioned this... ) Something I've recently discovered is that turning on a YouTube video of rain and thunder helps me fall and stay asleep. Search YouTube for "black screen" & you'll find several such videos, some of which run for 10 hours without commercial interruption. Best of luck to you...
