Sleep Aids Forum

Another important forum I'd like to start is a Sleep Aids forum.

Let's talk about what's working for us, and what isn't working. What are your experiences, for example, with Ambien? How about Lunesta or any number of the other sleep aids on the market? How do they work for you?

Beginning a conversation about our efforts to work through our insomnia is an important step in the right direction.

I'll begin.

I started taking Ambien about 9 years ago after a traumatic event in my life. I always have had difficulty sleeping, but as I got older (I'm 41 now), it became nearly impossible for me to sleep, particularly after this event. So, after exhausting every natural sleep tip I could glean from the Internet, I decided to do something about it. I went to see a psychiatrist, who gave me Ambien.

The first few weeks on the drug were curious, to say the least. I had never taken a sleeping pill before, so I didn't know what to expect. I certainly didn't expect to hallucinate, which was the case during those first several night on Ambien. Once, I remember standing in front of my bedroom mirror, just after taking the pill, and watching my face start to melt. Another time, I was sitting in my living room and actually watched a little girl run by me to the kitchen. Since there are no children in my house, this was, to say the least, somewhat alarming.

Concerned, I phoned my doctor, who asked whether I was taking Ambien and then going directly to sleep. Naturally, I wasn't. I didn't have much faith in the drug, and so I sat up as usual, waiting to feel tired. This is when the episodes would happen. My doctor said I needed to go to sleep right away after taking it--and it worked.

It still works. Though I'm certain I'm now dependant on Ambien, I nevertheless do sleep at night. I wake feeling reasonably refreshed (some mornings I don't, such as this morning, but we'll talk about that later), and I can get on with my day.

What are your experiences?