Ambien Sleep Medication And Insomnia: What Is Insomnia And How Can Ambien Help?

What's Insomnia?

Identifying insomnia is a little like the old joke about art: you know it when you're having it. For people with insomnia, though, it's no laughing matter. Having reduced or interrupted sleep is as bad for your physical and mental health as getting the wrong, or not enough, food.

People suffering insomnia may experience difficulties falling asleep, waking too early, or sleeping in small bursts throughout the night. Worse yet, someone with sleep difficulties wakes up and doesn't feel rested, may have trouble focusing, and worry about their sleep problem to the point where they can't sleep for worrying.

What Can I Do?

Like any other health problem, a combination of medication and new behavior can make a big difference. Behavior changes sleep specialists recommend including exercising regularly early in the day, reducing caffeine consumption, and making sure there's no TV in the bedroom.

A medication can help reinforce these changes by allowing you to get unbroken, healthy sleep. One medication many physicians recommend is Ambien.

I Don't Want To Take Sleeping Pills!

Over the years, "sleeping pills" have gotten some pretty bad publicity. Many 50's movie thrillers involved villains sneaking sleeping pills into the unsuspecting hero's drink. Famous people (like the poet Sylvia Plath) attempted suicide with sleeping pills. It's no wonder that you might feel reluctant to take a pill to help you sleep!

But modern drugs that help with sleep are much safer and gentler than the drugs of the past. Ambien works with a chemical in your brain called GABA. GABA helps calm the activity of certain brain cells, allowing you to sleep. Because the drug has a gentle effect on GABA, you won't wake up in the morning feeling like a zombie - you'll be refreshed and ready for a new day.

The Doctor's Office

You don't need to visit a sleep specialist to get a prescription for Ambien, though you will need to speak with a physician. Talk with your doctor about your current sleep pattern (keeping a sleep diary before your appointment can be useful) as well as the medications you are currently taking.

If Ambien seems like a good match for you, your doctor will probably prescribe it for 7 to 10 days. In rare cases, she may extend the time you use it.

A week of Ambien can help break the cycle of sleeplessness, letting you recover your natural, healthy sleep pattern. Very, very few people (1-2% of people taking Ambien) experience very mild side effects (diarrhea, drowsiness, or dizziness). You should work with your doctor to prescribe you the lowest effective dose for you, since you don't need the nighttime drowsiness to linger when you've got a big meeting with your boss the next day!

Why Can't I Just Stay On Ambien Since It's The Best Sleep I've Gotten In Years?

One of the few problems with Ambien is that it can become habit-forming (addictive) if used for several weeks. In fact, if your doctor prescribes it for two weeks or more, do not go "cold turkey" and stop the medication all at once; instead talk with her about creating a plan to taper off your dosage gently until you're ready to stop.

Copyright (C) Shoppe.MD 2004-2005

Compare reputable, top-rated pharmacies to buy Ambien online. Join the free Ambien message board and find valuable Ambien information at Shoppe.MD.

---

Over The Counter Pain Medication: How To Choose The Right Drugs

With the recent front-page news about the possible hazards of... Read More

Pain Relief Drugs 101 What You Need to Know

Ever given a piece of thought to how actually one... Read More

VIOXX Lawsuits

Vioxx is a prescription medication that has been used primarily... Read More

Warning! Flu Shots Can Be Dangerous To Your Health

Every year about this time doctors around the world are... Read More

Seroquel Side Effects: Effects of Seroquel Worth the Risk?

Seroquel is an atypical antipsychotic drug that is used to... Read More

Chicago Drug Rehab: Long Term Help For a Real Recovery

The central location of the city of Chicago has made... Read More

Anxiety Management With Prescription BuSpar: Don?t Worry, Be Happy

We've all had one of those weeks: the washing machine... Read More

?Doc, my mouth is so dry all the time. What could be the problem??

Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disorder ? a disorder in... Read More

Electric Wheelchairs

When you search online for Electric Wheelchairs, like any other... Read More

Celebrex Side Effects Lawsuit Lawyer

The Food and Drug administration urges people to stop taking... Read More

Phentermine Diet Pills: When Diet and Exercise Arent Enough To Help You Lose Weight

Have you been struggling to lose weight, but diet and... Read More

Stop Taking Blood Pressure Medications with Your Doctors Approval

I have been swallowing three varieties of blood pressure pills... Read More

Rogue Online Pharmacies: The Internet War Of 2005

Online Pharmacy owners who haven't been working within moral and... Read More

Relafen: A New Drug with an Old Danger

Individuals who regularly take Relafen (nabumetone) or other anti-inflammatory medications,... Read More

Online Pharmacies Are Becoming Increasingly Popular Due To Their Convenience And Discreetness

Leading online pharmacy companies are providing consumer with a secure,... Read More

Hypnotherapy as a Treatment for IBS

Hypnotherapy is one of the best known and most widely... Read More

Living Migraine Free

Don't treat your migraines, prevent them. A life without migraines... Read More

Viagra Users - Overcome NAION Fear

NAION is the latest side effect linked to Viagra and... Read More

Stopping Hospital Infections

Each year hospitals end up killing twice as many people... Read More

Health Information: Coping With Stomach Ulcers

Do you suffer from ulcers?If yes, what kind is it... Read More

The Top Seven Myths About Arthritis

Myth #1: "Nothing can be done about arthritis..."You don't have... Read More

Zyprexa Side Effects are Deadly: Effects Include NMS

Zyprexa is a prescription drug that treats schizophrenia, acute mania... Read More

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Simple Self-Help Tips

If you have been diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS),... Read More

Prevent Foot Problems When Walking

Americans are on the go. According to a NSGA Survey,... Read More

Clinton on South Beach Diet

Clinton's recent quadruple bypass surgery has been largely debated. Being... Read More

Strong Pain Relief - Powerful & Effective Natural Pain Management Alternative

The recent removal of several high profile and popular prescription... Read More

How to Tell If Online Consultations Are Right For You

As computers, Internet and technology have become increasingly more available... Read More

Talking Money with Your Doctor: Drugs and Tests for Less

Would you buy groceries without knowing their prices? I suspect... Read More

Medical Tests: What Does a Normal Range Mean?

We have a marvelous array of medical tests available to... Read More

Heel Pain - Ten Tips for Treatment

The most common cause of heel pain is plantar fasciitis... Read More

Rezulin Liver Failure Causes FDA to Recall Drug

Rezulin, a prescription type 2 diabetes drug has been withdrawn... Read More

Christopher Reeve To Have Promoted Basement Lab

Chrisopher Reeve has died. But his vision of a "Cure"... Read More

Accutane Side Effects Lawyer: Hair Loss, Depression, Suicide

You probably know the drug isotretinoin by its trade name,... Read More