DOSE:

10 mg

oral

Pharms - Zolpidem

(daily)

BODY WEIGHT:

170 lb

Hello folks.

For several years now, I have been taking Ambien for a sleep disorder often referred to as 'I can't sleep at night'. The medication works like a charm. I wanted to point out several aspects of this drug which are often unknown or overlooked:

#1. The information given with the prescription bottle often
makes a statement to take as directed on an EMPTY STOMACH.
Over the course of two years taking this medication I can
tell you -- DO NOT DISREGARD THIS INFORMATION.
On an empty stomach, a 10 mg dose for ~ 170lbs individual
will take ~ 12 minutes to begin working and peak sedative
effect ~ 37 minutes. On a full stomach, the medication is
approximately 1/2 as effective and takes up to 2 hours to
peak. I do not know why food has such an effect, however food
definitely diminishes the effect, and foods high in fat are
the most diminishing.

#2. Ambien (Zolpidem) is a Schedule IV controlled substance.
DO NOT let any M.D. attempt to convince you that this drug
rates up there with OC's or Dilaudid in terms of addiction
and abuse potential. Addiction and abuse is when an
individual takes a drug for reasons other than the medication's
intended purpose. If you take the PRESCRIBED DOSE of Ambien
every night, as directed, and sleep soundly, wake refeshed --
this is NOT addiction, even if you need to take it to sleep.

#3. Currently, medical professionals are finding that an individual
can stay on Ambien much longer than originally thought without
adverse effects, as long as it is taken as prescribed.

Bottom Line:

Ambien is an excellent drug when taken as prescribed and directed.
If you cannot sleep, respectfully demand this drug from your physician. The ONLY reasons your physician should deny you this medication is due to potential health issues you already have or potential reactions with the drug. Denying you this medication due to potential 'drug additions fears' he/she may have is unethical and against the Physician's Code of Ethics. If your physician give you any negative comments, then remind him/her of their Code of Conduct for Medical Treament and maybe even toss around the words 'lawsuit' or 'malpractice'. NEVER THREATEN your physician, however, let him or her know that you have done the proper research on the drug.

Exp Year: 2001	ExpID: 26034
Gender: Male
Age at time of experience: Not Given
Published: Aug 13, 2003	Views: 34,755
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Pharms - Zolpidem (143) : Not Applicable (38), Health Benefits (32), Retrospective / Summary (11)