I have been on Ambien for close to 8 years now, once in awhile the pharmacist will give me the Generic brand (Zolphidem Tartrate). I've used it before and didn't have any problems but this last supply... I may get one night a week that I really slept. Again tonight, 3rd night this week, I've taken it and an hour later I am still wide awake. I am taking the 10mg tablet and was thinking of taking another so I can get to sleep.
Has anyone experienced sleepless nights while taking the Generic brand of Ambein?
Question posted by dadgs51 on 25 March 2011
Last updated on 20 June 2022 by Iglow
11 Answers
Iglow
20 June 2022
I’m a psychiatrist and prescribe Ambien/Ambien CR and the generic zolpidem/XR, cautiously, obviously, as I prescribe any medication .
I have seen people go from sleeping well and upon refill, its a new generic and its BLUE. Upon return to any generic zolpidem that is NOT blue, they sleep again.
I’ve also seen, prior to generic availability, people do well on Blue Brand Name Ambien CR for months of intermittent or nightly use, and then relatively abruptly have not just “it doesn’t work” insomnia but agitation, above and beyond what one would expect from a “rebound insomnia” that can occur if one taking it nightly for a period abruptly stops it.
That “feels” like sensitization to an allergen. Abrupt strong negative reaction after a period of multiple exposures, and the immune system works up a progressively bigger head of steam.
I have not read anywhere of studies showing IgE antibodies- a “true” allergy, but the immune system has more ways to respond to a “foreign molecule” than the IgE pathway. So, its an adverse reaction, of unknown body mechanism. In the goljs I’ve treated. I can’t obviously declare anything about someone I’ve not interviewed clinically. So, not diagnosing.
Sharing my observations and hope it is helpful.
I have seen this adverse reaction to blue non-sleeping pills as well. EG Bupropion XR 150 mg is fine until pharmacy gets a blue generic. Anxiety, physical agitation and nearly intolerable restlessness.
Dyes and excipients (plus if the generic is REALLY bioequivalent or just FDA 85-115% of the mg the label claims. REALLY bioequivalent is exactly the mg as labeled (brand name must adhere to this) and mechanism of release- extended, delayed or immediate must release the active ingredient at the same rate as brand name. That’s TRUE bioequivalence. Different than regulatory bioequivalence)
So, dyes, fillers and real bioequivalence (all of which vary from generic to generic) can cause actual problems.
Unfortunately, I think lots of patients are dismissed, and that sucks.
universalist1949
5 June 2022
Doctors almost always fail to tell their clients that most sleep Meds should be taken on an "empty stomach."
universalist1949
5 June 2022
I use to get one or two nights of sleep a week until I discovered the below routine.
When I take Ambien or Zolpidem Tartrate it only works for me if I take it after not eating for two hours. If I eat Posta I need to go three hours, at least, of not eating before I take the med. Sticking to this has been giving me good results!
Before I discovered the above routine I would take double the dose with good results but I was "out of it" for most of the next day.
mamakim577
16 April 2022
Yes. The generic ambien IS NOT working for me.
WingnuttII
30 Jan 2019
Yes I have been having a lot of problems with generic Ambien zolpedian tartrate since my insurance company no longer allows name brand and it does make a difference when my son takes generic keppra XR for epilepsy he gets seizures if this generic meds are not exactly the same as name brand they should be illegal my son and others could die from this
Getbizy
10 Sep 2018
I find if the first doesn’t help I take another. Still wide awake but afraid to take any more !
Sleeplessknight2018
25 Dec 2018
I am experiencing this right now. I feel like I am taking sugar pills. Are you by any chance filling at CVS? I really wonder if there is a bad batch being distributed to customers. Has your experience with Zolpidem improved since September?
WingnuttII
30 Jan 2019
Yes I start with on wait a couple of hours if it doesn’t work I take another then I wake up at 3 am and have to take another it’s not right then in 15 days I’m out and can’t sleep for days on end I am going to see who
Makes Ambien and see if they offer coupons
Dana Brown
12 March 2018
I take the same thing and it isnt working now.and yes i have to take 2 most of the time and yet they will not double the dosage so i now have not enough to last.and it takes 2 for me to go to sleep and stay asleep because i have been on them for so long.they should up the dose or find something that doesnt affect us in the long run.so i know exactly what you mean.IT SUCKS
Needsleep63
18 April 2018
I also use about 2 a night, that amount has worked for me. Does it help you fall asleep? It's been a big help for me. I've been using generic.
dobbiemom
13 May 2011
I have taken Ambien for 7 years (2-12.5mg pills dr prescribed it) I too switched (well insurance switched me) to the generic cr. It was AWFUL!! I use generics and I loved the fact that I could save some money. I could not sleep and the few hours I did sleep I had awful nightmares. Ask the Dr. to tell the pharmacy you NEED the real thing. That is what my dr did
ctcwils
28 March 2013
Just wait until the Obama crapcare takes affect completely.. My advise to all; leave this country while we can.. Go to S. America or even Mexico.. But, get the hell out of here before the Military Industrial Dictatorship is in full swing.. Not about any individual, it is ALL of the Washington liars, cheats, crooks, thieves, and.. yes.. murderers.. Mark these words and listen.
thesillybanana
27 April 2011
I started taking Ambien 10mg about 8 years ago. I took that until they came out with the CR. Then I started taking 12.5 mg of the Ambien CR everynight. I have stayed on this and had no problems with tolerance or anything like that. HOWEVER, a few months ago my pharmacist asked me if I wanted to try the generic. They finally have a generic for the CR, until a few months ago it was only available without the control release. I got the generic, and it was just as effective.
Last month I filled my script at a different pharmacy, and they use a different manufacturer for their generic. I know that it's supposed to work exactly the same. I use generics for ALL my medications, and have never had a problem. But this particular brand of generic didn't work at ALL. The first couple night I had convinced myself that I was just imagining it. But the entire month I just couldn't sleep.
This month I went back to my regular pharmacy, and still the generic, and it's back to working wonders. Maybe try a different pharmacy who uses a different manufacturer for their generic.
nopeeseeme
13 July 2011
Thats what they do they are in it for the money,they buy a gross off the salesman who cares what it is or how it will work they buy it for .25 a pill and sell to us $4.00 a pill but no one ever complains except me i just complained to Roxane labs i swear they are putting 0.1%zolpidem and 99%water i am having one analyzed i will repost with the results
Inactive
3 March 2017
HI , did you get your ambien er anallized' if so what was the result, I too think it's all just sugar pills and ripping off insurance companies, I never had problems sleeping on the brand , now I barely get 3 hrs slept.
Inactive
3 March 2017
HI , did you get your ambien er anallized' if so what was the result, I too think it's all just sugar pills and ripping off insurance companies, I never had problems sleeping on the brand , now I barely get 3 hrs slept.
suse808
12 April 2011
Yes, largely sleepless since getting generic Zolpidem tartrate ER 12.5, the generic for Ambien CR. It makes me feel nauseated, and dizzy but I can't fall asleep until about 4 hrs after I've taken it. Then I sleep about 4 hrs. It's getting pretty bad. The blue branded Ambien CR 12.5 worked well for a few years now. On a bad night, I'd get 5 or 6 hrs but sometimes slept 7 or 8 and that was wonderful. I don't like this generic AT ALL!
ctcwils
28 March 2013
I was taking Ambien for 12 years and never had a sleepless night nor any side affects at all.Ambien was removed from my ins. and the cost would have been $185 a month for me, so my doc switched me to Zolpidem 10 mg. I might as well take sugar drops.. I took one.. no affect. I took another one hour later, nothing.. I took 5 and absolutely NO affect at all. Now I am almost sleepless and I can get no help of any kind.. My sleeping disorder came after two different heart procedures, angioplasties and 6 stints.. Now. no sleep and this Zolpidem is, I think, a knock off. I am told that it is made in corrogated tin shacks in China with NO Pharma oversite and cats, dogs, and pigs running around all over the place.. What is this bovine defecation? Zolpidem is worthless..
tmcaffey
29 Aug 2017
The different manufacturers use different bindings within the drug, The purple does not work for me and I need to take the yellow bills... sharing what I was told
ashlw
11 April 2011
I've been on Ambien for several years myself, and stopped taking it due to decreased effectiveness (you may have built a tolerance to the medication, after taking it for so long). My old doctor frowned upon prescribing 20mg per night instead of 10, and so did the pharmacy and insurance company when my newer doctor was actually willing to do so. They questioned if I was "pharmacy shopping" and other things, and in order to get it through insurance, I had to have a prior authorization (PA, the pharm calls it), and they would only approve 1 per night. So, generally, I doubt that a double dose will do much for you except make your supply run out more quickly.
dadgs51
13 April 2011
What are you taking now, if anything? I went to my doctor and he gave me Elavil and Lunesta. I took a lunesta tab Monday night and it didn't have any effect. Also notice tuesday evening, tongue was swollen with red patches all over the sides, top of tongue was white, like I had taken a piece of white chalk and colored it. I looked online and it said it was an allergic reaction so I didn't take it again tonight. tried the ambien again and it hasn't taken effect. so now wonder..is there anything else that someone has tried and it works?
nopeeseeme
13 July 2011
If you are getting the generic this is the problem drugs store buy from the cheapest drug reps and in this case cheaper is not better,I have been on Ambien for 8 years and this week i had a problem they change rebs on me to raxone have not had a good sleep in 7 days i think there sugar pills,ps they always give me 2-10mg per nite,wright to them pharmacol co keep pushing its your body you know better than any MD,DO,PA,NP and all the rest of them
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ambien, insomnia, zolpidem, generic
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