Ambien is used for short-term treatment of insomnia. Although it does not apply to benzodiazepines, it has much in common with this group of drugs. Like medicines of the this group, Ambien can cause drowsiness. As well, it can cause dependence. Unlike benzodiazepines, Ambien has no relaxing and anticonvulsant effects. Ambien is recommended for the use for one to three weeks. It acts quickly and is rapidly excreted from the body, but it lasts longer in the elderly. For the elderly, the recommended dose of Ambien is 5 mg. The use of higher doses of Ambien does not have any advantages and the likelihood of negative effects increases. People with reduced renal function should take smaller doses. Some elderly people when taking Ambien may experience confusion and disturbances in the vestibular apparatus.
Sleep-inducing pills like Ambien should be sold on the basis they are used only for short-term periods of time. Unfortunately, the reality is rather different. Most sleeping pills are used for an average of 4-6 years, i.e. there is a high risk of dependence. Sleeping medicines are the most advertized medical products and the most profitable to the pharmaceutical industry. You may say all these sleeping pills do is help to get a good sleep and this is a good thing. However, these pills do not trigger natural sleep. They knock you out for some hours. Insomnia is a bad thing and it has to be cured. Notwithstanding that, there is no clinical evidence that the lack of sleep is harmful to people or can affect life expectancy, there is excellent evidence that those who take sleeping pills over extended periods are twice as likely to have memory problems, to become depressed, and to die at a young age. Now we can understand – people who are depressed are more likely to have heart attacks or suffer from sleep disorders.
All the medical evidence proves people should only use Ambien or any other sleeping pills for a short period of time. Even if all the ads and all the promotional efforts suggest Ambien or Ambien is safe to take for long periods of time, the medical evidence does not confirm this. It is not recommended to use any sleeping pills over time. If you feel insomnia is really affecting your life, the best treatment for this sleep problem is cognitive behavioral therapy. It will teach you how to fall asleep in a natural way. In other words, you will get all the advantages of taking the sleeping pills, but without running the risk of experiencing all the adverse side effects of the sleeping drugs.
Before taking Ambien, tell your doctor if you are experiencing or experienced alcohol or drug dependence, allergies to any medicines or lactose intolerance, liver or kidney disease, depression or suicidal thoughts, and sleep apnea.
