Ambien (zolpidem) sleeping pills - what is short term usage?

[lmb_nj]

Hi All,

When a doctor says use ambien short term, what is short term? 7 to 10 days? A month?

I'm concerned about taking this long term, but I don't know when long term starts. I was prescribed this with my Citalopram to help with my insomnia and be able to get a good nights rest. So I have been taking 5mg for 5 days and then 10 mg last night. So 6 days in a row. My dr. says not to be concerned right now as sleep is crucial to a good start on recovery from anxiety and starting on meds again.

I was not sleeping really at all for probably a couple weeks or so before my panic attack hit on this past Thursday. Hence, the prescription.

What are peoples opinions?

Thanks!
Lisa

[KK77]

Not more than a couple of weeks and you should be OK Lisa. But of course doctors have differing views on this so best to discuss your concerns with them.

Good luck with it.

[lmb_nj]

thanks, I was thinking not more than two weeks. I talk to my doctor tomorrow and this is on my list of questions. When he first prescribed I asked a 1000 times that it was ok.

[deepreason]

I think the official line on Zolpidem is no more than 4 weeks. However my pdoc put me on it 2 years ago and I'm still on it now. I haven't felt the need to increase the dose or anything like that so I'm not too worried. On the few times I've discussed it with him he says not to worry about it as it will be fine, he's a very respected psychopharmacologist btw so I'm happy enough.

The reason it is listed as short term normally though is because it binds to the same receptors as the benzodiazepines, making it very similar to valium etc. But that's no reason to worry if your doc thinks you need it longer term. You just taper off at the end.