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Medical cannabis vs Ambien?
I am 75 years old - using 5 mg of Ambien (successfully) at night to help me sleep for six hours. I have chronic neuropathy pain in my feet , ankles and calves. I have been using for about 12 years and it lets me sleep through pain for 5-6 hours. I am tired all the next day. Cramping pain in my legs and feet usually wake me up or assuming the 5 mg of Ambien are leaving my system. I used to wake up refreshed and able to take on chronic pain for the day, however now I am so tired the next day. I would like to wean off Ambien and try pill or edible cannabis hoping this would work equally or better and give me more energy next morning. Thoughts? Any insights? Thanks!
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@maricopajoe2
I am 72 years old. And throughout my life every time there is a substance that helps with pain that is not pharmaceutical or taken over by the government they make it illegal. I also do not believe regulators of pain medicine should be left up to people that have experienced nothing more than a stubbed toe or a scraped knee. Shatter their leg or break their back then they can talk.
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4 ReactionsAmen to that last statement. I would like to have a doctor who actually has neuropathy. Pain is subjective and unique to all of us so I don’t think 99% of them understand.
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4 Reactions@vstevens250 even if you are buying online you should be able to consult with employee who can best determine the ideal strain for you. There is much more variation than just indica and sativa. If the online store you are using doesn’t offer consultations, message me and I will give you one that does. Although I recently moved to a state where dispensaries don’t require a card or prescription so it’s possible the site has changed. Worth a shot tho
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4 ReactionsHi all--After nearly 20 years of getting an Ambien 10mg scrip from my family doc, I've been cut off by the insurance company. I'm trying to figure out what to do next. Doc will be giving me Doxepin but he says it's better for staying asleep than getting to sleep. I need to get to sleep! Any promising treatments and/or practices for you all? By the way, I'm a 77-year-old man in decent shape. I walk three miles most days, often with an AFO (ankle-foot orthosis) brace that was prescribed for my neuropathy. But right now, I'm more concerned with getting to sleep than I am with getting around!
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1 Reaction@chawk
How much does Ambien cost without insurance?
""Without insurance, brand-name Ambien is very expensive (around $700-$800 for 30 pills), but the generic version, zolpidem, costs significantly less, typically around $20 to $90 for a month's supply (30 pills), and even lower with discount coupons. You can find prices as low as $9-$15 for generic zolpidem using prescription savings cards from sites like GoodRx or BuzzRx. ""
@chawk Understand…I am 75 and have been on the generic zolpidem for over 15 years - maybe more. I was prescribed by PC many years ago to help me go to sleep through neuropathy pain. I was still working full time, and could not function at work due to lack of sleep- my body requires at least 6 hours to function and be coherent…and that’s what zolpidem does for me. I have a bedtime ritual, no computer, lights done, soothing music and Vicks on my feet. I am usually asleep in 15 minutes. Heaven forbid if my insurance company refused to fill it for me.. I would recommend this generic, or at least GoodRX as someone mentioned. Keep us posted..
@patriciaschulz1950 Hi Patricia--It's actually Zolpidem that I've been taking for the last umpteen years--and it's Zolpidem that my insurance company is stopping. I've gotten it from CVS without any problem. As for GoodRX, I'm not certain they would start a prescription for a controlled substance. It seems like such overkill: All we want is a good night's sleep, right?
@bajjerfan Thanks for responding, It's actually Zolpidem I've been taking all these years, and that's what my insurer has decided not to continue for me. I'd go the GoodRX route in a heartbeat but my understanding is they don't do prescriptions for medicines classified as controlled substances...
@chawk
CVS applies their own discount which is on par with GoodRx.
@chawk hello, ambian was a miracle drug for me for my insomnia. I took 10mg every night for 30 days but it stopped working after that I have taken gabapentin for sleep which works great but i needed 900 mg to work. Your doctor may not want to give you that much. When I first took it it made me feel tipsy at first but got better after repeatedly taking it.