Ambien stopped working

It's now January 2025, and I wanted to update on my progress.....I had said I was taking Lorazepam every nite and wanted to try Mirtazapine because the Lorazepam wasn't working good enough for my sleep issues. Well I tried Mirtazapine and Hated it! Made me dizzy when I got up in the middle of night to use the bathroom and it gave me muscle aches. I then was on the hunt for something to take along with Lorazepam. I still take Lorazepam every night because it helps my quality of life! Getting proper sleep and keeping anxiety in check is very important to me. So I know longer want to stop taking it everyday. I started taking Amitriptyline in June 2024 and WOW!! I can't express how thankful I found out about this medication. I did my own research on Drugs.com and read alot about lots of different meds for sleep/anxiety/mild depression.... and reading people's reviews. I had been diagnosed with osteoarthritis of my left hip and was in pain for many months. Had steroid shots which didn't help and finally had an MRI and then doctor decided I needed to see a surgeon. So I was very depressed because I couldn't walk without pain and I'm a person who was walking miles everyday before this.... I asked my new doctor to prescribe me Amitriptyline.....after crying at 3 separate appointments and then I had a panic attack at the appointment when we were discussing all this. Well, thank God I found this med.... Amitriptyline. It worked for me right away and helped all my issues. I am 3 months past my hip replacement surgery and couldn't be happier!

I take ambien 5mg and feel it doesn’t work. But I would consider getting off of it if I can find something else. Sorry to hear your struggles with it. Hugs!!

I am having great results with increased Vitamin D3 with Vitamin K2. Some brands, like Nature Made, even combine those two for you in convenient gummies. Do you live in a region that gets little sun in the winter (like northern Indiana, where I live?) I have battled insomnia for 15 years, and this works better than anything I tried before. Occasionally, I will have to take a couple of Xanax, but that's because I've spent an evening doing something I shouldn't have done, like partying too late. Or, I've received some upsetting news near bedtime that upsets me. The Vitamins D3 and K2 help produced melatonin and seratonine and dopamine naturally in your brain.

Zolpidem is available in time release form.

Insurance won’t cover that for me.

I havc been on Zolpidem ER for a few years. My body was getting immune to it. So I tried an over the counter Chewy ZZQuill tablet with the Zolpidem ER. I have had good success, falling asleep within minutes. However on average, I only get 6.0 hours of sleep out of this combination. You may wish to try, but ask your doctor first. My best.

Hi,
When Ambien first came out, RNs were taught to teach patients to use it for 7 days, then OFF for 7 days, as it causes a rebound insomnia effect. Have you ever done this ?

I have a severe TBI ( traumatic brain injury) now facing sleep issues. Pills work for 2-3 weeks, then cease. I've gone 4 days without sleep, and up to 7 days without sleep. I stagger around like a zombie.

I've been on Ambien, Trazodone, Lunesta, Temazepam 15 mg and 30 mg, THC/ CBD gummies (which I don't like) I used to be on Xanax, which I miss, forget about getting it ordered or Valium- MD goes deaf. Alcohol doesn't help.

Last night I did Magnesium Threonate one capsule, Melatonin 3 mg ( less is always best), Temazepam 30 mg, cold and dark room, no dogs, no husband. No TV before bed. No blue light. I slept like the dead for 11. hours.
I've also done 5 Element acupuncture for insomnia- which is very helpful, but expensive. Next will be Chinese herbs with a new acupuncturist.
Ayurvedically speaking, warm milk with cardamom has been helpful, as does chamomile tea or tranquil teas. I don't do any caffeine, not even chocolate.
There is a drummer out there : REI Drumming by Jeff Strong, who can drum you to sleep or a nap. Or for focus or alertness. He's famous for drumming autistic children into calmness, (in the 1980s) He used to offer 5 rhythms for free on his website. He has a BA degree and is a studio drummer. See him on YouTube. It's amazing to me that no PhD student has find him for a thesis and research. I hope you have sweet dreams soon !

Hi.
I have been taking Ambien for 20 years and it’s worked perfectly. The last couple of months out of nowhere, it’s completely stopped working. The manufacturer is aurobindo. I see that you say it doesn’t work. I requested brand name at my pharmacy. They told me it was $700 so I’m stuck with two bottles of the stuff that does nothing for me. It’s torture not sleeping again after sleeping well for so many years. Ugh

maddison98, you should ask your pharmacy for the brand TEVA. They are manufacturers of Ambien. And if you tell them you never want the brand Aurobindo again, they will never give you that brand again. Sorry this is happening to you. Does over the counter sleep aid with diphenhydramine work for you? Or Unisom works very well too, with the ingredient Doxylamine succinate. Good luck!

lilybell, I'm reading your post again from 2022 when Ambien quit working for you. I too took Ambien and Diazepam. I found the Diazepam wouldn't work as good while I was taking Ambien. Diazepam does not help sleep issues. It is just a anti-anxiety med. I had to find something to replace the Ambien because it just wasn't working anymore. I would only sleep 2-3 hours and then need to take more. But couldn't stop taking it until I found a replacement... or I wouldn't get any sleep. That is when my doctor decided to give me 1 medication for both my issues.... sleep and anxiety. He prescribed me Lorazepam.... but only after having me try several different sleep meds. I now take Amitriptyline as well, and the combination works great for me! I hope you found something that works for you.