Posted by Gerry S. on July 6, 2001, at 9:12:42
In reply to Re: Long-Term Use of Ambien, posted by Elizabeth on July 6, 2001, at 0:49:10
The Ambien monograph states:
"If the drug has a short elimination half-life, it is possible that a relative deficiency of the drug or its active metabolites (i.e., in relationship to the receptor site) may occur at some point in the interval between each night's use. This sequence of events may account for two clinical findings reported to occur after several weeks of nightly use of other rapidly eliminated hypnotics, namely, increased wakefulness during the last third of the night, and the appearance of increased signs of daytime anxiety."
The anxiety effect is exactly what happened to me--I was on no other medications, and since stopping ambien the anxiety has disappeared over a course of 3 weeks. Two psychopharmacologists that I visited have no doubt it is Ambien. The studies you cite do not consider 20mg doses, which is what I was on, but rather use much lower doses. MAYBE 5-10mg nightly for an extended period of time will not cause a problem, but I can tell you first hand that 20mg nightly for an extended period CAN cause tremendous daytime anxiety.
poster:Gerry S.
thread:68930
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010701/msgs/69169.html