Sleeping, Ambien CR, and Xanax

bevhembree · Post by **bevhembree** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 5:57 am

About 2 weeks ago I called my doctor to tell him I was not sleeping on the Ambien CR. I go to bed about 3-5 am nd have to get up early with the kids. It's wearing on me. I don't have the anxiety I used to have while I'm awake thank goodness. I just don't fall asleep.
Anyway, he changed my Xanax from 1 mg to 2 mg. When I do get up, it feels like I've been hit by a truck after binge drinking all night. Headache, nausea, weakness and the works. Has anyone else had this effect with Xanax? I've never taken this much nor this much in one dose. Thanks.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 6:18 am

Wow thats alot of xanax. I'll get that way after I take xanax a few days in a row and stop taking it. Wonder if it's a withdrawl type thing? Have you tried melatonin? A health food store could give you a few other ideas too. I've found listening to the relaxation cd after we go to bed helps alot. I turn off the lights and use headphones to not disturb my husband. I'm normally asleep shortly after I take the headphones off and it used to take me close to an hour to fall asleep.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 6:38 am

Not getting enogh sleep is miserable! Plus, it seems like the more I think about it, the less likely I am to fall asleep. I've suffered insomnia nearly my entire life and was on Ambien or Ambien CR for several years (I finally got off in April- YEAH!).

I was also on xanax (for anxiety) several years ago, but never had any "hangover-like" symptoms. Yes, I did take 2+ mgs at that time, though it's probably because my body had become habituated (after awhile, my psych. switched me to ativan, and now klono.).

Anyway, here are a couple of suggestions:

I'm not a big advocate of benzo's for sleeping, but if you were able to sleep on 2 mgs. of xanax and felt terrible, maybe try 1 mg.- if you don't fall asleep in 1/2 hr. take another .5 mg.?

You mentioned you weren't sleeping on the Ambien- what was the dosage? I know both the reg. and the CR come in 5 mgs. and 10 mgs.

Also, at one point I was given Lunesta (felt like you do on the xanax but the dosage was really high- I flushed them) and a sample of Rozeram (sp) which I did like. Maybe you could try either of these?

Lastly, I drink a cup of NaturalCalm right before I go to sleep. It has magnesium and calcium which is supposed to calm the nervous system. It works for me now, but back when I was having serious problems sleeping, it was more of a nightly ritual. A couple other natural products are tart cherry capsules (my siblings swear by them) and triptaphan (sp?)- both available @ healthfood stores.

Let me know if you have any q's- insomnia has been a battle for me, too. I'm glad to hear your anxiety isn't such an issue anymore!

Wishing you a restful and rejuvenating night of sleep,
fischee

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:22 pm

Hi, I have had sleeping problems for almost 2 years. It stinks! I have a 2 year old and an 11 year old and when I had them at an 8:30 sleeping time, I wouldn't fall asleep for hours and hours. Now I take .5mg of xanax and 15mg of remeron for anti-depression. It was working for awhile, but now I wait about 5 hours to go to sleep. I AM SO TIRED.I have tried the Ambien and Ambien CR and it worked for awhile, but then I got the remeron, which also worked for awhile. I have also taken the xanax 1 or 2mg that did knock me out, but I also felt nauseous, tired and hangoverish. I do the relaxation CD also, but if I fall asleep, I wake up shortly after. Glad to hear that your anxiety has gone down. CONGRATULATIONS. Let me know if you find something.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:33 pm

Ambien CR and Xanax don't really work for me. I can take Ambien CR and regular Ambien and go about my regular business like it's no big deal. They don't make me go to sleep. Xanax just calms me down for about 2 hours and that's it. I've found that for me Chamomile tea helps a lot, relaxtion CD's help a lot, and exercise helps tremendously!!! Swimming makes me really tired, and helps me sleep well. Also, I know this is going to sound funny, but "relations" with my husband also relaxes me and helps me sleep. Good luck and hope you can get some good rest soon!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 5:30 pm

Thanks for all of your suggestions! I need to get some of that Chamomile tea and try it. And, yes, I too go to sleep quicker after "relations" plus I feel so good mentally and physically.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 11:38 pm

Hi, bev!

I can't take the ambien because it increases my anxiety big time! I have tried rozerem. It took a couple of nights to start working, but it helped. I took it for about a week, and fell asleep on my own without it for about a week, and then I was back to my usual. I started taking lunesta two nights ago, and so far, it seems to be 'working well. There is a bad side effect though: I get this horrible taste in my mouth shortly after taking it. It remains to be seen if this is going to work to get my sleep cycle back on track. Good luck in your search!

Genie

~Zee~ · Post by **~Zee~** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 7:16 am

fischee, How did you get off of the ambien ? I have been taking it for a long time, and it has stopped working for me. Thanks, Bonnie

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 6:26 pm

FreetobeGG,
My doc said, when I tried the Lunesta, that the bad taste is common. His other patients told him they roll it in a tiny piece of bread or take it with orange juice.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 5:37 pm

Hi Beckyl, I am going to get the chamomille tea, no caffeine, right? I agree the relations with my husband make me relaxed, but sure not sleepy. Do you wake up a lot at night or do you sleep throughout the night?