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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Sleep Disturbances Despite Taking Ambien?

I am a type2 diabetic. I go to sleep and wake up in a about 3 to 4 hours. I take Ambien for sleep. I have been doing this for 4 nights and an waking without the ability to go back to sleep. I went to sleep 3.5 hours ago and now I can't go back to sleep? I do take other meds, will you need to know t hem?I don't have a way to pay. Sorry.

posted on Tue, 13 Jan 2015
Twitter Thu, 27 Aug 2015 Answered on
Twitter Fri, 28 Aug 2015 Last reviewed on
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Psychiatrist,  's  Response
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries

I can understand your concern. Ambien is Zolpidem and the drug belongs to Z-drugs class. The drug is a shorter acting drug and is usually advised for the the patients of early insomnia or in patients who have difficulty in going to sleep. You are having good onset of sleep but are waking with in 3-4 hours and for this problem of insomnia there is need to add some long acting medicine for sleep. Extended release preparations of Zolpidem are available and can be tried. This will help to maintain about 7-8 hours of sleep and will not cause next morning drowsiness.

If that doesn't improve the sleep then other medicines like antidepressants can be used. Doxepine, Trazodone, Mirtazapine etc drugs are commonly used for poor sleep and help in achieving good sleep. Even long acting benzodiazepines as Clonazepam, Diazepam etc can be used for short periods of time. Please visit a good psychiatrist for evaluation and prescription of these drugs.

Apart from this improving sleep hygiene will also help to maintain good sleep. Avoid tea, coffee, alcohol, carbonated drinks in evening as all these things increase the risk of insomnia.

Thanks, Hope this helps you. Take care

Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi,
Psychiatrist.
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What Causes Sleep Disturbances Despite Taking Ambien?

Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries I can understand your concern. Ambien is Zolpidem and the drug belongs to Z-drugs class. The drug is a shorter acting drug and is usually advised for the the patients of early insomnia or in patients who have difficulty in going to sleep. You are having good onset of sleep but are waking with in 3-4 hours and for this problem of insomnia there is need to add some long acting medicine for sleep. Extended release preparations of Zolpidem are available and can be tried. This will help to maintain about 7-8 hours of sleep and will not cause next morning drowsiness. If that doesn t improve the sleep then other medicines like antidepressants can be used. Doxepine, Trazodone, Mirtazapine etc drugs are commonly used for poor sleep and help in achieving good sleep. Even long acting benzodiazepines as Clonazepam, Diazepam etc can be used for short periods of time. Please visit a good psychiatrist for evaluation and prescription of these drugs. Apart from this improving sleep hygiene will also help to maintain good sleep. Avoid tea, coffee, alcohol, carbonated drinks in evening as all these things increase the risk of insomnia. Thanks, Hope this helps you. Take care Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi, Psychiatrist.