Ambien is only intended for short term use. Long-term use increases your risk for dependency.

Some individuals may experience an allergic reaction to this medication. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include swelling of facial features or throat, rash, hives, and difficulty breathing. Although an allergic reaction is extremely rare, if you suffer any of these symptoms discontinue use of Ambien and contact your physician immediately.

Ambien causes sleepiness. Do not take Ambien if you are driving, operating machinery, or participating in any activity that requires you to be alert and fully-functional. Ambien should only be used right before bed.

Rarely, Ambien can trigger unusual sleep behaviors. Sleep eating and sleep driving have been reported. Some individuals have made phone calls or had conversations that they do not remember after the event. If you are worried about these very rare symptoms, consider having a loved one supervise you while you are on the medication.

Sometimes, the sleepiness that Ambien triggers can persist into the following day. Do not take Ambien before an important meeting or personal event before you know how the medication will affect you.

Ambien can also trigger psychological symptoms. Ambien can worsen or trigger episodes of depression and anxiety. If you or someone you know takes Ambien and begins having suicidal thoughts, seek help immediately. Unusual levels of aggression have also been reported. For others, Ambien can cause them to feel free from normal inhibitions and can lead to dangerous, risk-taking behaviors. Ambien can trigger both hallucinations and vivid dreams. These vivid dreams are usually harmless. As with any side effect, however, you should report it to your doctor.

For those who suffer from persistent insomnia, Ambien can help them get a quality night of sleep. Before you take Ambien, however, you should discuss all potential side effects with your prescribing doctor. If your doctor decides that Ambien is suitable as a temporary solution for your sleep disorder, make sure that you watch for side effects.

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.

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.

Both Ambien and Lunesta are in a family of drugs that are hypnotics. The ingredients in zolpidem tartrate, brand name Ambien, work in unison with a chemical that the body makes naturally called Gaba. Gaba is one of numerous neurotransmitters that controls the way the brains cells communicate with each other. Gaba weakens activity in surrounding brain cells, and when combined with Ambien, they keep specific cells from being active enough to keep someone awake. Ezsopiclone, or Lunesta, also works in unison with brain chemicals to help you sleep. The makers of Lunesta believe that it helps you stay asleep longer than Ambien does.

People who take Ambien say it is much more effective than Lunesta. But because it is more effective, this can produce more serious side effects and, unfortunately, the chance of becoming dependent on the sleeping pill. In fact, over one-third of those people who use Ambien in a clinical study became addicted, while only 5 percent of Lunesta users reported dependency.

Both of these drugs are hypnotics and this is the reason that they both can have some significant side effects. If Ambien is taken too long before going to bed, it can cause hallucinations. Some people have even reported bouts of binge eating. Ambien has also been known to cause sleep walking with no memory of it the next day. Some people report a hangover feeling in the morning after taking Ambien, more so than with Lunesta. Lunesta’s reported side effects include leaving a metallic taste in the mouth, so prominent that many users have quit taking Lunesta. Lunesta can also bring on panic attacks.

Approximately 20 percent of those who take Ambien develop a tolerance, which means it may not be as effective after awhile and dosage must be increased. Far fewer Lunesta users have this problem. These tolerances usually occur in people who use either Ambien or Lunesta on a regular basis.

Ambien comes in two strengths and comes in a cheaper, generic form. Lunesta is not yet available in a generic, but it is available in three different strengths.

The most common side effects in long term trials with Ambien were dizziness and drowsiness during the day. However, these trials strictly adhered to the recommended dosage, 10 mg. Long term use of Ambien is often associated with tolerance, meaning the patient will have to take higher dosages in order to achieve the same effects. If the patient is taking higher than recommended dosages, more serious side effects can occur.

Long term use of Ambien has been associated with sleep walking, driving, talking, and other behaviors that can be dangerous when the operator is impaired. Sleep driving is likely the most dangerous of these behaviors, both to the Ambien user and to others on the road. Sleep talking in Ambien users is frequently more coherent than typical sleep talking, making it more difficult to assess if the patient is impaired. Binge-eating while asleep has also occurred. Hallucinations and delusions have been reported, although they are rare.

Another potential long term side effect of Ambien is antereograde amnesia, the inability to remember events directly after taking a dose. The loss of these memories may be permanent, or they may return spontaneously over time. Patients have been known to take unintentionally take higher dosages of Ambien while under the effects of the drug. There is a potential for addiction, particularly when non-recommended doses are taken.

Long term use of Ambien may also result in withdrawal symptoms when the drug use is discontinued. These can include fatigue, nausea, sweating, and panic attacks. Fortunately these symptoms do not usually require treatment and will improve on their own. The patient may also see a resurgence of insomnia and other related sleep difficulties. It is best to taper off usage gradually in order to minimize these symptoms.

Ambien is not intended for long term use. Unless a physician says otherwise, the drug should not typically be taken for more than 10 days at a time. There are other sleep aids that were created for more continual use that are better suited to long term treatment.

Sleep aids available without prescription will almost always contain either diphenhydramine hydrochloride, diphenhydramine citrate or doxylamine succinate. Each of these antihistamines has been proven effective for minor to mild insomnia, and are active ingredients in all of the products considered in the elite class of over the counter sleep medications. Unisom, Sominex and Benadryl all contain antihistamines. These medications are not necessarily intended for use as a sleeping aid, though their effectiveness has been proven to the extent they are sometimes recommended as such. The side effects of antihistamines, which are taken for a variety of ailments from allergies to nausea, can last well into the day following their ingestion.

An additional form of sleep aids may have a sedatiing medication working in conjunction with pain relief to solve sleep problems commonly associated with minor pain. Advil PM and Tylenol PM are extremely popular sleeping aids available over the counter and affiliated with pain relief. Most users of these medications do not experience the grogginess often affiliated with straight antihistamines or other products which inhibit sleep more as a side effect than as the intended use.

Natural remedies and supplements have been growing in popularity as over the counter sleep aids, though there is disputable evidence as to their effectiveness. The products named above (Unisom, Sominex, Benadryl, Tylenol PM, Advil PM) and their generic equivalents have proven effective and safe for the majority of the population. Antihistamines promote sleep quickly after entering the body, and the restful sleep they give should rectify short-term sleep disorders. Stores will often carry store-brand products containing the same active ingredients as the brand sleeping pill, though side effects from these less-expensive products can vary due to the lower quality ingredients used as a vehicle for the chemical ingredient.

Fortunately, there are effective prescription sleep aids on the market that have given millions of people the opportunity to break the habit of not sleeping and get back on track with their lives. Two of the most successful and trusted prescription sleep aids are Ambien and Lunesta.

Ambien and Lunesta work in similar ways to enhance certain chemicals in the brain that are responsible for creating sleep and relaxation. Both can be taken shortly before bed, as immediate drowsiness and relaxation occurs. The main difference between the two sleep aids is that Ambien should only be taken on a short-term basis, while Lunesta can be taken long-term.

Studies have consistently shown that prescription sleep aids like Ambien and Lunesta help people to fall asleep faster, easier and stay asleep longer. While these sleep aids are relatively safe and recommended by doctors, there are some side effects to watch for however. These include such things as:

• morning drowsiness
• headaches
• dizziness
• dry mouth

More serious side effects include:

• abnormal thoughts and behavior
• anxiety
• memory loss

With the proven success of Ambien and Lunesta, these are two types of sleeping pills that can be purchased online. Before doing so however, speak to your doctor and make sure that Ambien or Lunesta is right for you. While you may not need a prescription to buy these sleep aids online, your doctor can discuss whether it is safe for you to take Ambien or Lunesta and at what dosage.

When purchasing Ambien or Lunesta online, look for reputable companies that have high customer satisfaction. There are many advantages for purchasing these sleeping pills online, which makes this a popular option for people. Not only can you save on Ambien and Lunesta by getting the best prices, but you also can have the sleeping pills shipped directly to your home.

Another perk to buying Ambien or Lunesta online is that a current or previous prescription is not needed. You can also benefit from online pharmacies that offer live help, being able to answer questions or concerns you may have about the sleeping pills.

Ambien, chemically known as zolpidem, is considered a hypnotic sedative. The aim of an hypnotic is to manipulate the chemicals in the brain, as opposed to slowing body systems. Insomnia is due in part to a chemical imbalance that can be rectified, or at least tempered, by the use of hypnotic sedatives such as Ambien. The medication is manufactured in both an immediate release and extended release form. For sufferers of insomnia who find relief from immediate release pills only to wake later in the night or very early morning, an extended release formula would provide greater benefit. The extended release form, known as Ambien Cr, releases a dose of fast acting medication to instigate sleep, followed by a steady dose of the chemical for continued restful sleep.

Lunesta is also a hypnotic sedative, known chemically as ezopiclone. Lunesta will work in the same manner as Ambien in the sense that the aim is to balance chemicals causing insomnia. The differences between Lunesta and Ambien, aside from differences in dosage, seem to be minimal at this point in research. Ambien has proven among many patients to lose its effectiveness after approximately 35 days of continuous use. Lunesta has proven effective for as long as 6 months when used in the same fashion. For either medication, continuous use is only recommended for the most severe cases of insomnia. The medications are generally prescribed for short-term use to fix temporary insomnia.

Though the reported side effects of Ambien and Lunesta are far less significant than those from the last generation of sleep aids, there are still occurences in a small number of users. The most common negative effects reported from Ambien are activities similar to sleep-walking, where patients execute tasks they would normally perform during waking hours, and have no recollection of the task. Instances of sleep-walking have not been reported in significant numbers by patients on Lunesta, though users of Lunestsa report night-waking more often than those on Ambien.

If you have had addiction problems in the past, you might be more likely to become dependent on Ambien. When you talk to your doctor about any medical issue, you want to share any addiction problems you have had. Your doctor will handle that information professionally and confidentially. Knowing your background of dependency can help your doctor prescribe appropriate treatments. If you are already addicted to Ambien, you should also consult a physician.

Recovery from Ambien, like any substance abuse recovery, can be difficult. Many drug treatment centers offer personalized programs for patients dependent on sleeping pills. Before you take such a drastic action, however, make sure you first ask your doctor for advice. Many doctors are able to successfully wean patients off of Ambien. If you still cannot sleep properly, there are other treatments to try.

If you have been using Ambien for recreational use, however, you might seriously consider treatment center options. Using any medication for a purpose other than for what it was intended is drug abuse. A treatment center can not only help you stop using Ambien but the staff there can also help you figure out why you turned to illicit substances in the first place. Drug addiction is a complex disease. Trying to conquer addiction on your own, no matter what the substance, can be impossible.

Whether you have been using Ambien for a sleep disorder or for recreational use, your first step is to talk to a physician. Your doctor is trained to handle questions about addiction. Your physician knows your medical history and can give you the best advice possible. If your doctor recommends that you enter an addiction treatment facility, do so. Follow the professional medical advice you receive and commit yourself to your drug addiction treatment. With time, help, and hope, recovery from Ambien addiction is possible.