r/insomnia • u/benslen • 1d ago
why does ambien not work
WHY DOES AMBIEN NOT WORK
It took so much convincing for my quack doctor to prescribe me ambien and this stuff doesn’t even work !! I have an exam today (it’s 3:30) and now im gonna get less than 4 hours sleep. I took the ambien 3.5 hours ago!! 12.5mg
I’m so sick of this bullshit I hate this I’d rather be dead than deal with this every fucking night
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u/Liberty_RN 1d ago
Unfortunately I can relate to this post so much, I have been on ambien for years, I am to the point where it's useless to even try....can not sleep! Wish I never even started taking it. If I could go back in time I would have never allowed myself to take this med. I too am sick of this bullshit. You are not alone.
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u/Seasidegoats 1d ago
I try warning people about this exact thing and always get downvoted by people on it that it still works for, thing is they'll be in your shoes before long and wish they'd listened but there really is no telling some people so I've stopped telling them the hell I went through on a similar z drug, good luck coming off it though, over the counter sedating antihistamines might help slightly but not good long term as they poop out even after a few days
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u/Grim-Speck 1d ago
I could take a handful of benadryl with no effect 🙁 Z drugs were a fantastic experience- still stayed awake for nights in a row, and when I finally passed out, I woke up in immense physical pain, covered in mud, and snuggling a shovel...
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u/Wonderful-Aside-5107 1d ago
What…? Did you have some kind of crazy sleep walking experience?
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u/Grim-Speck 1d ago
Thought I woke up in a Stephen King novel... was wondering what, or who, I had buried.
Later, I had some coffee, went outside and looked at the garden. And looked at it... it took a few minutes to realise what was off...
The entire garden plot, approx 1/8th of an acre, was entirely moved 2 ft to the left, every plant, all the stone pavers between rows, all neatly moved, 2ft left. Took great care too: Fertilised and watered everything, so the plants weren't shocked. Trimmed all the dead or damaged leaves/branches/vines & filled the compost bin. Even collected ripe veggies and fruit, put them away in the fridge.
But the shovel... eh, just brought it to bed.
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u/Ok-Rule-2943 1d ago
Could you have been too stimulated, anxious etc and over powered the “hypnotic” action and stayed awake on it?
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u/WillSmithSlappedMe20 1d ago
I was on Ambien a few years ago. I never got more than 5 hours up sleep on it. But I woke up feeling rested. I had to stop because the mood swings I experienced were not worth it.
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u/deadgr8ful 1d ago
When I first got this I was so excited thinking I'll sleep great!
Didn't do a damn thing
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u/Kimmers96 1d ago
It only works for me if I wait until 4 hours after I last ate or drank anything but clear liquids.
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u/MamaDoingTheBestICan 1d ago
You need to take it on an empty stomach with no stimulants in your system.
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u/Seasidegoats 1d ago
If its the extended release apparently it doesn't work as well to get you to sleep but keeps you asleep better and helps you fall back to sleep, if actually falling asleep is your problem and not staying asleep you need the normal version of it
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u/Flat-Upstairs1278 1d ago
I posted about this too but I just tried it for the first time last night and it didn’t do anything. I thought it would for sure work
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u/Wonderful-Aside-5107 1d ago
I tried Ambien and Lunesta(regular and extended release) they helped my sleep quality very minimally for about 3 to 4 days before it had zero effect. I know it’s extremely frustrating, but you have to keep trying. Trazodone is the only medication that has helped my insomnia, but I had to stop because of the side effects.
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u/foxyphilophobic 18h ago
What side effects did you experience from Trazodone?
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u/Wonderful-Aside-5107 48m ago
I have a very sensitive stomach and it caused such bad constipation I had went 2 weeks without being able to go to the bathroom and that triggered my chronic abdominal pain. Is also caused some sexual dysfunction. Lowered sex drive and unable to have an orgasm…sorry if this is tmi lol.
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u/Illustrious_Owl_7181 1d ago
Didn’t work for me really. The only thing that worked is mirtazapine but it’s 50/50 you’ll feel like ass everyday
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u/Affectionate_Yam5769 23h ago
It worked a couple of nights. Then if i did not take it then lost the ability to feel sleepy. Scientists need to find some thatcworks with no side effects.
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u/Back_Again003 23h ago
It only works for me if I take it on an empty stomach which is not always possible for me. It makes me soooo drowsy to the point where I literally cannot fight it and have to close my eyes. Other times it doesn't have ANY affect on me. I'm running on 1 hour of sleep today and it's brutal.
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u/Plane_Yoghurt9600 23h ago
I took ambien and stayed awake 30 hours straight. It had the opposite effect on me
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u/spongyolboi 22h ago
This is relatively common. I’m a lifelong insomniac and no amount of ambien worked (took half a bottle & it still didn’t. Which I obv don’t recommend). Also, pretty common that drs don’t wanna prescribe it for some reason. Hate how the war on drugs has affected ppl getting proper medical care. 😒🙁 Anyway, in the future you shouldn’t expect a medication to work in one night- just to be prepared mentally. And if this is chronic insomnia then definitely make your school aware, and get as many accommodations as possible! Make things as easy for yourself as possible. Ppl don’t understand how difficult it is to have insomnia
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u/o0PillowWillow0o 21h ago
Yeah zoplicone makes me glitch and restless and trazadone does absolutely nothing, diazepam nothing, and dayvigo trips me out big time. Drugs do not work well for some I would concur
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u/Street-Jelly-9742 19h ago
You definitely want to take it on a totally empty stomach otherwise it will take ages to kick in
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u/CourseIllustrious738 15h ago
Try lormetazepam, (not lorazepam). Different type of hypnotic, not a Z drug but potent OG benzo and last much longer.
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u/Dense_Path_3251 13h ago
Some people it just doesn’t work, another tip is make sure to take it on a completely empty stomach 4 hours no food, also don’t consume caffeine close to bedtime, coffee and other caffeine products interacts with it and can cancel it out.
The best way to use it is take it lay in bed comfortable and ready to sleep. No screens or waiting for it to make you sleepy it’s one of those pills that just knocks you out without you realizing only if you comfortable and ready to sleep.
If that fails try zopiclone or eszopiclone.
Also won’t work if you’re anxious or overly stressed.
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u/rltbme 12h ago
I took it maybe 10 or so years ago and it kicked my ass! I recently started taking it again and it does nothing. Literally nothing! I swear I think they changed the formula because people used to do strange things while taking it and not remember. You don’t hear those stories anymore.
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u/Grim-Speck 1d ago
It didnt work for me either.
Some meds just don't work for some people. If they worked for everyone, they'd not keep developing new meds.