[swinn]

I looked all over the forums and couldn't find anything on the ambien cr, so forgive me if I overlooked it somewhere.

Has anyone had any experience taking it? I'm on the regular ambien and was wondering if this helped you sleep longer. I noticed the highest dose is 12 mg. That's 2 more than the regular. It comes in smaller doses also but I usually need the max. I think there is an outer layer that kicks in right away to help you get to sleep then the rest is slowly released but I forget for how many hours.

Let me hear from those that have given it a try. I know it will cost a lot more on my insurance so I don't want to spend that much and find out it didn't do any good or as good as the regular.

Sally

[joe]

Sally
I've been taking Ambien for a few years now. It helps me sleep, period. I don't know what I'd do without it. I guess, not sleep.
Jo

[an unquiet mind]

A pharmacist told me that Ambien CR is the same as Ambien. He said that the company came out with Ambien CR because Ambien can be bought as a generic now. I personally think that Ambien CR makes me sleep longer. You can get a free 7 day trial if you go to the Ambien CR website. You print the coupon and have a doc write a scrip for 7 days and it's free.

[swinn]

an unquiet mind, on Nov 12 2005, 01:47 PM, said:

A pharmacist told me that Ambien CR is the same as Ambien. He said that the company came out with Ambien CR because Ambien can be bought as a generic now. I personally think that Ambien CR makes me sleep longer. You can get a free 7 day trial if you go to the Ambien CR website. You print the coupon and have a doc write a scrip for 7 days and it's free.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks joe and an unquiet mind,

I did go to their website and got the coupon. I didn't know it now came in a generic. That should help lower my cost. I don't use it every night but when I haven't slept for a few nights I use it and it has always worked for me. When I know I need to sleep because of something going on the next day I take it too.

Sally

[Gonzo]

Ambien didnt quite work for me but ever since Lunesta came out, sleep comes easily but I only use it as al last resort. I hate being depended on these damm pills! Oh well, better the pills than the psych hopsital.

[swinn]

swinn, on Nov 11 2005, 05:26 PM, said:

I looked all over the forums and couldn't find anything on the ambien cr, so forgive me if I overlooked it somewhere. 

Has anyone had any experience taking it?  I'm on the regular ambien and was wondering if this helped you sleep longer.  I noticed the highest dose is 12 mg.  That's 2 more than the regular.  It comes in smaller doses also but I usually need the max.  I think there is an outer layer that kicks in right away to help you get to sleep then the rest is slowly released but I forget for how many hours. 

Let me hear from those that have given it a try.  I know it will cost a lot more on my insurance so I don't want to spend that much and find out it didn't do any good or as good as the regular. 

Sally
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ok, here's my experience....got my free 7 days script of Ambien CR yesterday. I only plan to use it when I just can't get to sleep. Well, last night was one of those nights. I guess I had too much stimulation yesterday. Finally sometime before midnight I decided to take one. One hr. later I was still wide awake.....no goofy feeling like with the regular if you don't go to bed within so many minutes. I layed in bed for sometime thinking I would have to get up then finally I fell asleep. I must have slept pretty good because I don't remember waking up during the night....but remember it's after 1 am before I fell asleep. I woke up before 7 and was able to get up right away. No tired feeling today. So I got about 6 hrs. of sleep. As far as I'm concerned the regular Ambien works better.....makes me fall asleep faster and I sleep just as long. Also, it would cost me around $120 for a 3 month supply....regular stuff is about $70 with my insurance. Glad I don't have to get it very often. Maybe once a year or less.

But this is just my experience...everyone's different.

If anyone else has tried it I'd like to hear your experiences.

Sally

[an unquiet mind]

Sally

Lunesta is also offering a free trial at their website. I printed the coupon but haven't got it filled yet.

I had the same experience with Ambien CR that you did.......wide awake but no goofy feeling. After a while, I finally did go to sleep and slept about 6 hours.

[swinn]

an unquiet mind, on Nov 18 2005, 12:29 AM, said:

Sally

Lunesta is also offering a free trial at their website. I printed the coupon but haven't got it filled yet.

I had the same experience with Ambien CR that you did.......wide awake but no goofy feeling. After a while, I finally did go to sleep and slept about 6 hours.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

unquiet mind,

Thank you for the Lunesta info. I'll give it a try also. My doc is great about writting me the scripts for these free samples but she know I already take ambien so lets me see what works better. I haven't checked the price on Express Scripts for Lunesta yet. It might cost more too. I sent them an e-mail and asked about the generic Ambien and they said there wasn't one yet. Did you hear one was coming out or did you think there was one out already?

Sally

[an unquiet mind]

The pharmacist at Drug Emporium told me that there was a generic now.

[lizard]

The generic is for Ambien. AmbienCR is a new time-released version.

[an unquiet mind]

Yeah, I know. But, that pharmacist insisted that there was very little if any difference in the reg Ambien and CR. He said the CR came out because of the generic. He said it was the pharm co's way of keeping a corner on the market.

I haven't done much research on this so he could be wrong.

[ButterFlyWings]

UM there is no generic to Ambien YET it's still under patent....may go off in 2007 I read....if someone is gettig it onlie it may be from other countries ad or not really Ambien..
***Ambien CR 12.5 is what people get when they were on the 10 mgs tabs....the difference is 2.5 mgs of Ambein in a time released state..so after so may hours of sleep suddenly that 2.5 of Ambein is released ..so its also a MG increase**** .
I am SURE they came out with it because it won't be super long till the patent is up in the USA on just plain Ambien

If someone is getting Ambien at a US pharmacy I would like to know which one...Walgreen, Rite Aid...Rexall....all tell me no generic its still under patent..so I dunno whats up

[swinn]

So what do you like the most or I should ask what works the best for you? Lunesta or Ambien? I've taken regular Ambien and Ambien CR. Just got my 4 free Lunesta's but haven't taken any yet.

[an unquiet mind]

It was a pharmacist at a chain store (Drug Emporium) that told me that. He said it was out now. Apparently, he was mistaken or sumptin'.

Haven't tried Lunesta yet.

[swinn]

And the winner is......Lunesta. Made me fall asleep right away, didn't get goofy and slept all night. Felt great the next day.

Now that perscription will cost me $120 for 3 months so I doubt if I'll be getting it. Just have to put up with 2nd best.....Ambien. Didn't care for the Ambien CR.

When any of you get a chance let us know what you liked best. I know not everyone has tried them all yet.

Sally

[an unquiet mind]

Still haven't gotten to try the Lunesta. Have been using the Ambien CR.

I have come to the belief that the pharmacist didn't know what he was talking about. I can tell a difference between regular Ambien and Ambien CR. On reg Ambien, I wake up in about 3 hours. On Am CR, I sleep all night. Go figure!!!!!

[lizard]

Lunesta did nothing for me. Ambien helps if I don't use it every night. I haven't tried AmbienCR yet - what didn't you like about it, Sally?

[swinn]

lizard, on Nov 23 2005, 04:39 AM, said:

Lunesta did nothing for me. Ambien helps if I don't use it every night. I haven't tried AmbienCR yet - what didn't you like about it, Sally?
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I couldn't get to sleep for about 2 hrs. on the Ambien CR. With regular Ambien and Lunesta I fell asleep right away. The hrs I stayed asleep were about the same on all but it takes me too long to fall asleep with the CR. I also have to be careful and not take it every night. I'm sure that would be true with all of them. I won't know because I only have 6 CR's left and 3 Lunesta's....but lots of regular Ambien. The 2 new ones are just too expensive on my insurance.

Sally Brrr, it's really cold here. Dusting of snow this morning too.

[lizard]

Thanks for the info. I'll ask about trying AmbienCR when I next see my pdoc, as my main problem is staying asleep. Pain wakes me.

[pld]

has anyone every taken 12mg of Lunesta? i started with 3mg which didn't work and then up to 6, then 9. a bit worried about 12 so iam wondering if anyone has tried it.

[Ocracoker16]

I haved used Ambien in the past for insomnia. I tried Ambien CR 12.5 mgs after taking the regular Ambien, 10 mgs. I didn't notice any difference between the two. I had hoped that the CR would live up to its reputation and put me to sleep quicker, but it seemed to have no effect on that.

Katie

[will]

I tried ambien cr 12.5 mg, but it seemed to leave me more drowsy during the day so I swithced back to the regular 10 mg ambien, I took ambien for 2 months and havn't taken it for the last two nights and still slept, I'm hoping I can continue sleeping without it, cause for awhile I felt really depended on it.


Will.

[vosh]

Lately I have not been able to sleep, sometimes for days... I use Ambien, 10mg. I take it, and sometimes will hallucinate, but no sleeping. My dr wants to have me try the CR, but my insurance wont cover it until I have tried ambien (duh!) which I have used for over a year on and off, which they should be able to just look up and find out--but no, there has to be forms, and reports, and now it's been over two weeks and I still haven't received the CR. I was up from last Thursday until Sunday at noon, when I finally fell asleep and slept until monday morning. I have no idea why this happens, but it started after I came back from my daughter's wedding disaster. I go to counseling and all, but still no change.
I also have lost all interest in life in general, and cannot do any of the things that I used to do like my artwork or my business.

Vosh

[mssjanine]

I've tried Ambien CR and it did make me stay asleep longer. However, my insurance won't pay for it, so I just take the regular Ambien as needed instead.

[bpatton]

mssjanine, on Oct 18 2007, 12:18 PM, said:

I've tried Ambien CR and it did make me stay asleep longer. However, my insurance won't pay for it, so I just take the regular Ambien as needed instead.

My sleeping drug tour:

Trazodone--extremely sleepy all the time when I took this, but I was able to sleep.

Ambien--full pill works well, half pill not at all. Still a little tired in the morning when I use this, never quite "rested."

Lunesta--I honestly felt like it kept me up, only got 2 hours of sleep.

Sonata--new prescription to try today, I hope it works otherwise I'm prolly sticking with Ambien.

[smileysrsuper]

Lunesta works for me but leaves an alwful taste in my mouth but plain Ambien works great!!! I also get kind of goofy if I don't go straight to bed.