Lunesta or Ambien: Which is Right for You?
If you are like millions of Americans who aren’t getting a full, restful night’s sleep, you may opt to consult your physician to obtain a prescription for one of the popular medications you have been hearing about in television ads. Two of the most well-known of these are Lunesta and Ambien. Before you speak with your doctor, it would be helpful to educate yourself about the similarities and differences between these two sleep remedies.
There are several factors on which these drugs can be evaluated. When it comes to long term effectiveness, the FDA reports that Ambien’s potency begins to fade significantly after thirty-five days of use, while Lunesta enables its users to continue to benefit for up to six months. Perhaps the most marked area of difference occurs in the side effects Ambien and Lunesta can cause. Both can lead to dizziness, and it is important to refrain from driving or operating heavy machinery after taking either medication. Ambien has been found to cause drowsiness, allergic reactions, and sinus infections. In addition, there have been reported instances of sleep-walking and even sleep-driving by patients using Ambien. Lunesta, on the other hand, has not been found to cause somnambulism, but patients have reported symptoms of headaches, nausea and indigestion. Finally, there are important distinctions between Ambien and Lunesta where reproductive issues are concerned. Neither is generally prescribed for pregnant women. Ambien was found to have no negative effect on fertility; however, Lunesta use resulted in decreased fertility in both men and women during FDA trials.
Whenever you decide to introduce a new prescription medication into your health regimen, it is important to discuss your unique needs and medical situation with your doctor. Careful forethought will help to ensure that you have chosen the path that is best for you. In the case of these sleep medications, consider the possible side effects carefully and ask yourself if you would be willing to tolerate them in the relatively rare event that they occur. If you can find a medication that helps you sleep peacefully for several hours each night, you might be willing to experience some discomfort.
How Likely is a Person to Overdose on Ambien?
There is nothing more harrowing than a series of sleepless nights. If you have been taking prescription Ambien in order to help you get restful sleep, you probably feel even more frustrated. Shouldn’t this medication be working? Maybe I’m not taking enough, you might start to think. Perhaps you are tempted to be your own doctor, so to speak, and increase your Ambien dose. Before you do, take a few minutes to learn about Ambien overdose and its dangers.
In recent years, sleep medications have become more sophisticated in their formulations. As a result, it is far less likely that patients will become physically dependent on the drugs, as can easily occur with narcotics and the old-fashioned types of sleeping pills. However, it is still possible to build up a tolerance to Ambien, meaning that it becomes less effective over time. In order to recapture the former effects, some patients opt to increase the dose on their own and/or to mix Ambien with alcohol. Either of these practices can lead to a dangerous Ambien overdose.
Because doctors are prescribing sleep remedies to more patients each year, Ambien overdose is a trend that may well spiral out of control in the years to come. If you or someone you love is in a situation in which Ambien overdose is a possibility, seek medical attention immediately. Although the drug cannot be quickly purged from the body once ingested, supportive care in a medical environment is essential in order to monitor heart and lung stability. Symptoms of Ambien overdose may include cardiac or pulmonary failure
After just one or two sleepless nights, patients can begin to become desperate for a cure. Even taking an overdose of Ambien might start to seem like an idea worth trying. Instead, talk to your doctor right away. Ambien is not designed to be a long-term sleep aid; in fact, it only remains effective for thirty-five days. If you have been taking it for a period longer than a month, it is time to go over more viable long-term alternatives with your doctor. You may also want to ask him or her about natural remedies. In any case, the dangers of excessive Ambien far outweigh the benefits.
