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ambien for sleep aid if you have sleep apnea?
I have Central Sleep Apnea. My doctor has given me a prescription for ambien because I have insomnia and don't sleep well at night. Do you think this can be dangerous for me to take ambien at night? I heard that anyone who has sleep apnea should not take a sleep aide, but I have to get sleep some way because while at work I fall to sleep while doing my work on my computor.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Belinda Haman on
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I was like you prior to using my cpap machine......I had terrible insomnia--since using my machine I find I don't need as much medication to sleep at night.....If you are worried about the effect of ambien you might want to talk to your doctor about trazadone or remeron (these are both antidepressants that have a sedating effect that are taken just before bed) I spoke with my sleep doctor about my concerns about taking these for sleep because I heard the same thing as you--he told me these were better to take for sleep than actually sleep aides....
These are not addictive--as I have cut down alot on my dosage since using my cpap regularly--I am hoping that I will eventually be able to go off of these completely the longer I am on cpap therapy.....
I hope this helps somewhat.....I am from Canada so I'm not sure if doctor's in the States prescribe these for sleep over there!!!! Worth a try though because you do need your sleep.....
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Permalink Reply by James Skinner on
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What are you using to control the Central Sleep Apnea? Are you sure its insomnia and not just the centrals that are keeping you awake?
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Permalink Reply by Sandra Kay Goodwin on
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I use a bipap machine every night. Once I go to bed, I don't go to sleep right away. It seems to take hours. After being awake and not able to sleep, I just get up and watch TV for a few minutes or read for a while. Nothing seems to help but sleep medicine. Some nights I just lie away all night, toss and turn and no sleep, and then get up the next morning and go to work and end up falling asleep and almost falling into the computor. Something isn't right, but I just don't know what.
James Skinner said:What are you using to control the Central Sleep Apnea? Are you sure its insomnia and not just the centrals that are keeping you awake?
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I take 100 mgs. of zoloft a day. It is an antidepressent. I have had sleep apnea for around 10 years and I have never been able to get comfortable with the masks or hoses on me. I toss and turn a lot and end up tangled in the hoses. thanks for your advise. I will speak to my doctor about these and see what she thinks. Nice chatting with you.
Belinda Haman said:I was like you prior to using my cpap machine......I had terrible insomnia--since using my machine I find I don't need as much medication to sleep at night.....If you are worried about the effect of ambien you might want to talk to your doctor about trazadone or remeron (these are both antidepressants that have a sedating effect that are taken just before bed) I spoke with my sleep doctor about my concerns about taking these for sleep because I heard the same thing as you--he told me these were better to take for sleep than actually sleep aides....
These are not addictive--as I have cut down alot on my dosage since using my cpap regularly--I am hoping that I will eventually be able to go off of these completely the longer I am on cpap therapy.....
I hope this helps somewhat.....I am from Canada so I'm not sure if doctor's in the States prescribe these for sleep over there!!!! Worth a try though because you do need your sleep.....
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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on
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the important thing is to figure out what is causing your insomnia and treat it. If your insomnia is due to a problem with your sleep-wake cycle then ambien will probably help. if it is due to something else the ambien will still help you get to sleep, but won't get rid of the problem. I would suggest that you follow your doc's recommendations for 1 month. If it is a problem with your sleep-wake cycle the insomnia should be gone as your body adjust to your proper sleep schedule. If you are on bpap which should be treating your apnea ambien in the short tem should be ok. Any sleep aid taken over a long period will become a learned action needed to fall asleep. this will make your insomnia worse in the long run.
Just my opinion though.
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It really is hard to know what the problem is. I always put self last which I know is wrong. I guess I need to stop worrying so much and maybe this will help me. Some days I go home from work and am so tired that I have to lie down and take a nap. Other days I just can't seem to sleep at all day or night. I just lie awake for hours and try to sleep, but sleep never comes. I can take an ambien and I will sleep, but I don't want to rely on it all the time just when I feel like I really need it for sleep. The thing is when I take it, it is hard to wake up in the mornings to go to work. Thanks for your advice.
Rock Hinkle said:the important thing is to figure out what is causing your insomnia and treat it. If your insomnia is due to a problem with your sleep-wake cycle then ambien will probably help. if it is due to something else the ambien will still help you get to sleep, but won't get rid of the problem. I would suggest that you follow your doc's recommendations for 1 month. If it is a problem with your sleep-wake cycle the insomnia should be gone as your body adjust to your proper sleep schedule. If you are on bpap which should be treating your apnea ambien in the short tem should be ok. Any sleep aid taken over a long period will become a learned action needed to fall asleep. this will make your insomnia worse in the long run.
Just my opinion though.
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The fact that you put yourself last could be the problem Sandra. The biggest cause of insomnia is stress. If you are in bed thinking about everything/everyone you are not going to be able to sleep. As Duane said in an earlier post it is best to go to sleep with a clear mind. Figure out how to find YOUR happy place before you lay down for bed.
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I believe you are right. Maybe I should be taking xanix instead if anything. I know I need to start taking care of myself and stop worrying about everyone else. That is what I am going to do from now on. I have been working on it for a while. thanks for your advice.
Rock Hinkle said:The fact that you put yourself last could be the problem Sandra. The biggest cause of insomnia is stress. If you are in bed thinking about everything/everyone you are not going to be able to sleep. As Duane said in an earlier post it is best to go to sleep with a clear mind. Figure out how to find YOUR happy place before you lay down for bed.
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Sandra, Do you drink diet coke or use any artificial sweeteners? Sucralose and several other sweeteners have been known to cause insomnia.
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I have Central/Complex Sleep Apnea. After reading comments on Sleepguide about Ambien, researching side effects of taking Ambien, and talking with my doctors about Ambien, I decided that the benefits from this sleep aide far outweigh any negative aspects. I have come to the conclusion that I will continue to take half an Ambien pill almost every night. It isn't a cure-all, but it does make a miserable night a little better.
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Permalink Reply by Saz RPSGT on
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James makes an excellent point. It sounds to me like the BiPAP is doing nothing to get rid of the central apneas. You may need and Auto SV. It's like a hybrid BiPAP machine and respirator. This is absolutely something that you should question your physician about. It is very treatable as well with the AutoSV.
Saz
Sandra Kay Goodwin said:I use a bipap machine every night. Once I go to bed, I don't go to sleep right away. It seems to take hours. After being awake and not able to sleep, I just get up and watch TV for a few minutes or read for a while. Nothing seems to help but sleep medicine. Some nights I just lie away all night, toss and turn and no sleep, and then get up the next morning and go to work and end up falling asleep and almost falling into the computor. Something isn't right, but I just don't know what.
James Skinner said:What are you using to control the Central Sleep Apnea? Are you sure its insomnia and not just the centrals that are keeping you awake?
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No, I hadn't been drinking cokes or anything like that.
Rock Hinkle said:Sandra, Do you drink diet coke or use any artificial sweeteners? Sucralose and several other sweeteners have been known to cause insomnia.
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