Ambien CR (12.5 mg) not feeling a DAMN thing

[d50416]

ok so about 11:30 i took my prescribed Ambien CR 12.5mg to get to bed.. now i know im not supposed to take it every day, but i have to. The times i dont take the pill i end up staying up for hours on end; tossing and turning until i suddenly fall asleep, and wake up an hour or so later..

But anyways, tonight, around 11:30pm i took my pill, and usually it hits me like a brick wall - - and thats my signal for 'Get into bed before you cant physically move' - but tonight, nothing.. i went into my bed, curled up, watched some ESPN highlights (Congrats Baylor Women) and i was like 'the hell is going on? im still awake!? f*** that, im still feeling alert and everything!'

Now ive been taking ambien essentially every night for the past few months, and its been the usual routine for me, pill --> [30 Minutes Later] --> Watch 2 minutes of Sportscenter --> Wake Up.. but im stuck in the second area, and its been about 96 minutes.. should i be getting worried? im not going to take any more ambien, ive just never had a time where it felt like it wasnt going to kick in before. but this is going to be one s***y night

 

[Tripman]

You have developed a tolerance to Zolpidem.

You need to discuss with your doctor that it is no longer working.

 

[d50416]

such a rough night... didnt get to bed until about 4, woke up at 6...

 

[tracy007]

Yes you have a huge tolerance to ambian. You could take 2 instead of 1 but make sure you are in bed when taking it because people sleep walk, drive, and cook without even knowing it. It's very scary. But if 2 doesn't work then talk to your doctor about trying something else like maybe lunesta

 

[d50416]

Yes you have a huge tolerance to ambian. You could take 2 instead of 1 but make sure you are in bed when taking it because people sleep walk, drive, and cook without even knowing it. It's very scary. But if 2 doesn't work then talk to your doctor about trying something else like maybe lunesta

as unfunny as that part is, my aunt sleep walks on ambien, and we have a good laugh about it.. but she wakes up to pots and pans on the porch, not driving anywhere.. but ill just suck it up and wait until my dr appointment in 2 weeks...

i dont really wanna OD on ambien - i know that my tolerance is much higher than most peoples (and my weight is much higher too) but im still too nervous to take 2, or even 1.5

EDIT: i just find it odd that there was no lenience in helping me sleep - 2 nights ago it worked like a charm, then last night it was like nothing...

 

[DooMMooD]

^ and that right there is why you're only supposed to use sleeping meds for a few days MAXIMUM. They stop working, then you cant sleep without them.

The correct way to use them is to take them for about 2-3 days to reset your sleep cycle and then sleep without them. Taking them every night is doing you no favors: you dont get "real" sleep, you cant get even fake sleep without them, and then the rebound insomnia kicks your ass. Use them wisely and sparingly, or they make things worse instead of better

 

[d50416]

yeah the only reason i started using them is because i was in and out of hospitals.. when i was in them, they would wake me up every 4 hours to check vitals (i was in pediatrics) and i cannot get a normal sleep rhythm without ambien anymore.. when i dont take them, its exactly like last night, where i lie in bed and cannot even begin to get tired for about 4 hours, then ill drift off, and wake up an hour or so later..

i know its the wrong way to use them, i guess abuse is the correct term, but its the only way i can get a full nights rest.. ill stop using them for a week or so, and take 1 and see how it goes.. im guessing a week isnt enough time to kind of ween off, but it may give my body a break from em

 

[Seattle_Stranger]

Yeah you have a tolerance now. You need to take a break or switch medication. I had a script for zolpidem for a long time, and I had a VERY strict regimen of only allowing use a couple times a week, NEVER two nights in a row, and even at that rate tolerance steadily increased over time.

Here's an option, I don't strongly recommend this, but it could potentially provide form temporary relief if you have self control: You could try crushing up your timed-release pills and disolve them in water, and drink half the glass, wait 30 minutes, drink the other half if you're not already incoherent. Another option would be to crush half the pill and dissolve it, while leaving the second half with the timed release intact. Even with tolerance, zolpidem still always had the power to give me a STRONG high every time I used it, even if I had to use more than one pill, however I was using it recreationally.

Cannabis was helping me sleep just fine, so I simply used to use my ambien for catching a nice buzz a couple times a week. It's a love it or hate it buzz though, I personally loved it as did a few of my friends, but many others did not and found it highly dysphoric. I also used to snort it which BURNS like a mother fucker but gives such a fast-onsetting, strong high that was comparable to a cross between a small bit of oxy and valium, with a very tiny bit of 2C-E. It was quite euphoric which in turn makes it stimulating for me, so snorting ambien doesn't help much for sleep until you eventually pass out and forget how you got there. There were nights that I went through upwards of 50mg insufflated. To be honest, I feel like I actually get more delirious and more psychedelic when I take it orally, whereas snorting is euphoric and almost speedy.

Try defeating the timed release and see if that works better for you.

 

[d50416]

Yeah you have a tolerance now. You need to take a break or switch medication. I had a script for zolpidem for a long time, and I had a VERY strict regimen of only allowing use a couple times a week, NEVER two nights in a row, and even at that rate tolerance steadily increased over time.

Here's an option, I don't strongly recommend this, but it could potentially provide form temporary relief if you have self control: You could try crushing up your timed-release pills and disolve them in water, and drink half the glass, wait 30 minutes, drink the other half if you're not already incoherent. Another option would be to crush half the pill and dissolve it, while leaving the second half with the timed release intact. Even with tolerance, zolpidem still always had the power to give me a STRONG high every time I used it, even if I had to use more than one pill, however I was using it recreationally.

Cannabis was helping me sleep just fine, so I simply used to use my ambien for catching a nice buzz a couple times a week. It's a love it or hate it buzz though, I personally loved it as did a few of my friends, but many others did not and found it highly dysphoric. I also used to snort it which BURNS like a mother fucker but gives such a fast-onsetting, strong high that was comparable to a cross between a small bit of oxy and valium, with a very tiny bit of 2C-E. It was quite euphoric which in turn makes it stimulating for me, so snorting ambien doesn't help much for sleep until you eventually pass out and forget how you got there. There were nights that I went through upwards of 50mg insufflated. To be honest, I feel like I actually get more delirious and more psychedelic when I take it orally, whereas snorting is euphoric and almost speedy.

Try defeating the timed release and see if that works better for you.

i had the regular 10mg Ambien for about 2 weeks, couldnt stay asleep for longer than 4 hours on it.. i switched back to the CR and was getting great sleep.. but ill just not take em for a while.. ill just be chugging coffee for a few weeks

 

[Seattle_Stranger]

That's why I suggested only crushing half the pill, and swallowing the other half with the timed release still intact. That might be just what you need, a fast onset of effects with extended duration, not necessarily more drug.