Ambien CR Alternative?
Answer:
you can try generic ambien... and at a lower dose (which would be 5mg)... but i agree with the previous person who said benadryl. it's otc, much less expensive, and carries a lower risk of dependency. (though all sleep aids carry a risk!) benadryl is the sleep ingredient in tylenol pm... you can get generic diphenhydramine 25mg and try 1-2 at bedtime.
Benadryl...
( I have ambien CR but can't take it...and regular ambien no longer works for me...)
1. Lunesta
2. Seraquil (don't know the spelling but a pharmacist or doctor will know what you're talking about)
3. Xyrem (spelling questionable as well)
All are powerful sleep-aids with 3 being extremely potent and regulated.
Why were you originally prescribed Ambien by your doctor? Usually it is only prescribed for short periods of time so the doctor may feel you won't need it after a few weeks. I also have problems sleeping and haven't found an alternative for the Ambien, although I am now trying the generic Zolpidem Tartrate, which I actually think works better and it's less costly. CarolSandyToes1
Regular Ambien's (5mg & 10mg) generic was just released... You might want to try that. As far as dependencies go Lunesta might be the best route, but the price is very similar to Ambien CR... Restoril is also another option with the generic temazepam. All of these can be addictive so limit the use of such sleep aids.
Hate to say it but natural solutions like melatonin and herbal supplements are not what they are cracked up to be but if you have a positive attitude it may work due to the placebo effect.
A good OTC route is to try benadryl which is in tylenol PM and advil PM.. but you can find it in with the antihistamines if you just want benadryl.
I am also on Ambien CR and it takes a big bite out of one's budget. My dr told me that there is a generic for plain Ambien and that the difference is CR will keep you asleep for 4 hours and 45 minutes, the plain generic Ambien doesn't claim it works that extra 45 minutes. Wal-Mart has very cheap generics...
there could be some over the counter aids.ask your doctor.or pharmacy
NIGHTQUIL WORKS BETTER
first off someone suggested taking seroquel. i recomend that you research everything for yourself before you go taking someone else's word (that includes anything i might have to say). serowuel is a very strong mood stabilizing / anti psychotic drug, that would cause you more problems than help you.
i strongly suggest valerian root. it's great at relieving stress and tension! you can get it over the counter and it's a great sleep aid! if you have one of those "racing minds" or "i can't turn my head off no matter how tired i am" then this will definitely help. you can find at your local grocery store in the pharmacy or herbal remedy section. start off taking 500-1000mgs, 30-45 minutes before you go to bed. now you can get this stuff in capsule form and it's 100% safe (my whole family has been taking it for years and our family doctor actually recommended it) however the only downside is that the more potent the brand your taking the stronger the smell. and this stuff smells AWFUL! but it's worth it. within 5-7 days you should notice a definite change in your sleep.
WARNING! i strongly do not suggest that you take Tylenol PM and booze, in any form or combination. the main ingredient in Tylenol PM and Advil pm, or benadryl for that matter is diphenhydramine. here's what happens when you take it:
You can walk into a drugstore and choose from an array of sleep aids, offered without prescription. The main ingredient of over-the-counter sleeping pills is an antihistamine. Antihistamines are generally taken for allergies, but also make you feel very sleepy. Common over-the-counter sleep medications are Sleep-Eze, Sominex, Nytol, and Unison; they contain antihistamines such as:
diphenhydramine hydrochloride,
diphenhydramine citrate, or
doxylamine succinate.
In general, over-the-counter sleep medications are not a good choice because they:
Are not intended for long-term use.
Interfere with mental alertness during the day, so you should avoid driving and other similar tasks. You may also be at risk for falling asleep
Reduce the quality of your sleep by reducing time you spend in deep sleep.
Use over-the-counter sleep medications only for transient or short-term insomnia and in conjunction with changes to your sleeping habits. Be sure to pay attention to your body’s physical response to these sleep medications.
also look at the links on the website i've listed they also have some good remedies! and don't be afraid to do your own research.
I hope this helps!
Bynadril and advil PM. I take both at the same time when im not taking ambien. Advil PM is more sleepy meds in it than tylonol PM does. Also liquid bynadrl(childrens) seems to work faster and better. Of corse you need to take more than a child takes though.
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