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← Return to Long-term use of sleep meds
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Sleep Health | Last Active: Dec 27, 2025 | Replies (35)
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@berekann
My problem of insomnia began about 18 years ago. I have been on Ambien 5mg for about 8 years. Ambien does help me fall asleep. I do have some concerns having been on Ambien for a long time. I am looking for an alternative prescription that is not a controlled substance. I am
64 years old and I feel like Ambien might be too heavy of a sleep aid. Any thoughts to help me?
Replies to "@berekann My problem of insomnia began about 18 years ago. I have been on Ambien 5mg..."
@granddame
What does your doctor recommend?
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@granddame I sure wish I had an answer for you. When I started on Ambien, just a quarter or a half of a 5 mg tablet would put me to sleep. This summer I underwent a course of Flagyl & Cipro, which gave me a lot of anxiety & no alcohol.. So I was taking a half tablet of Ambien and then another quarter and another quarter but I kept waking up and felt miserable; even after I stopped those other drugs, it didn’t work. Right now I’m on lorazepam which works erratically. My doctor is switching me to trazodone; But I’m a bit leery because I tried it once and it took 2 1/2 hours to get to sleep. Will do it differently this time and hope it works. One of my friends takes Amtriptyline and says it’s the best sleep med he’s ever taken. Mirtazpine has also been recommended, but I’m concerned about some of the Side effects. 1.5 mg of Melatonin does help me, but after about three or four days, not as much. I’ve tried THC Gummies and CBD/CBN Gummies and neither one did much for me. Might try again in a larger dose.
Good luck & let me know if you find something that works for you