Tell me about sleeping pills | FerrariChat

Tell me about sleeping pills

Discussion in 'Other Off Topic Forum' started by PeterS, Jan 4, 2006.

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  1. PeterS

    PeterS Four Time F1 World Champ
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    Jan 24, 2003
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    Goodyear, AZ
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    I have never been a 'pill person'. In parallel, I have never been use to getting a good nights sleep. A few years ago, I tried one sleeping pill that worked great, but I was groggy most of the next day, so I tossed the bottle.

    Last night, I took one of two sample pills of Ambien that my doctor gave me to try. I took one about 7:00PM and went to bed at 8:30, watched TV and probably did not see Nine O'Clock! I got up at 6:00AM REALLY refreshed! I can't remember the last time I got nine hours of sleep.

    Can sleeping pills set you up for a pattern of good sleep habits? Are they evil? All I know is that I average 5+ hours and being able to get 8 or 9 hours on a consistant basis would be awesome!
     
  2. BigAl

    BigAl F1 Veteran

    Mar 17, 2002
    6,146
    TX
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    GSgt Hartman
    would like to know too. I'm on a five hour sleep thing too. Keep getting up at like 0300, wide awake, ready to go.... Its rare anymore that I get eight or nine...
     
  3. jimwalking

    jimwalking Formula Junior

    Jan 3, 2006
    489
    I believe they are similar to pain killers in that they only have a result when taken. The sleeping pill knocks you out, thus combating the issue that is preventing you from sleeping more. You need to determine what it is that is preventing you from getting more sleep. Are you normally tucked in by 8:30? Is your home too close to a roadway and you suffer from noise issues? Does too much light come through your windows? Do you sit up thinking about life and you mind races from issue to issue? Is you bed uncomfortable and as a result you toss and turn to get comfortable?

    Try to develop a close ended experiment to see if you can determine what you sleep issue is. For the experiment to work you must be in bed, TV off and ready to sleep at the same time each evening. Blocking out any light and noise is a good idea for any sleeper, so I would incorporate those immediately as controls not variables to be tested.

    Taking sleeping pills for a week will not turn you into a better sleeper, just as taking aspirin for today's headache will not prevent a new headache next week. Find the cause of your problem instead of masking it with pills indefinetely.
     
  4. jimpo1

    jimpo1 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Jul 30, 2001
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    I'm not a doc, but I am in the drug business. Ambien is NOT meant for daily use, the typical prescription is 10 pills for 30 days. The reason it sells so well is because you have no 'hangover' the next day. If you wind up getting a prescription, ask your doc for the 10mg pills, then break them in half. The price diff between the 10mg and the 5mg isn't that much, and 5mg will usually do the trick. Ambien works great, I take it on occassion myself.
     
  5. PeterS

    PeterS Four Time F1 World Champ
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    Jan 24, 2003
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    My sleep pattern has always been getting to bed between 11-11:30PM. The only noise is the creek off my master BR deck, as my house is at the bottom of a waterfall and the sound is very soothing year around. My GF gets up around 4:30-5:00 every morning to go to work, and that does not help things much, as I wake up when she does.
     
  6. StallionRx

    StallionRx Formula Junior

    Nov 7, 2003
    364
    South CT
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    Mark
    Ambien is a popular drug among people who suffer from insomnia. It works well in the sense that it puts you to sleep and doesnt leave you feeling tired in the morning. (this is due to the drug's short 1/2 life) Ambien CR (controlled release) has also become recently available for people who were waking up in the middle of the night even while taking the "regular" ambien.

    Lunesta is also a new hypnotic thats been approved for people with difficulty sleeping. Im sure many of you have seen the psychadelic butterfly on TV flying around. This differs from ambien in a few ways, but mainly what they claim is it allows you to sleep longer with fewer interruptions and is approved for long term use. (i dont think ambien has that approval)

    I agree with Jim as lifestyle modifications might be something to look into first before becoming dependant on sleeping aids. Ambien is considered a controlled substance, meaning dependence could be a problem.
     
  7. jimwalking

    jimwalking Formula Junior

    Jan 3, 2006
    489
    How can you expect to get more than five hours sleep if you go to bed at 11:30 and plan on awaking at 4:30? Perhaps you could sleep more without the aid of pills if you altered your sleep schedule.
     
  8. Tomf-1

    Tomf-1 F1 Rookie

    Jan 17, 2004
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    Leawood KS/ South FL
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    Thomas
    nyquil works pretty well on me...when needed.
     
  9. PeterS

    PeterS Four Time F1 World Champ
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    I have always been use to going to bed around the time I stated. Waking up at 4:30-5:00AM is not my idea!
     
  10. jimwalking

    jimwalking Formula Junior

    Jan 3, 2006
    489
    So what are your available choices?

    1. Get a new GF
    2. Tell your GF to be quiet in the AM or you'll be
    checking out option # 1 more closely
    3. Have your girlfriend sleep in a different room on the days she needs to get up so early.
    4. Go to bed earlier
    5. Do nothing and be tired

    The taking of the sleeping pills forced you into choice #4 for that day.
     
  11. mrdigital

    mrdigital Formula Junior

    Nov 1, 2003
    515
    Nashville
    Ambien is great. Just don't take it everyday. I did for 2 months and it was a pain in the a*s to get off of it.
     
  12. MOUNTAINWOLF

    MOUNTAINWOLF Karting

    Nov 3, 2005
    179
    Small dose of nyquil every night for me. Stay away from benzo's.
     
  13. Buzz48317

    Buzz48317 F1 Rookie

    Dec 5, 2005
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    I need to take NyQuil while laying down in the bed or I will wake up on the floor of whatever room I swallowed the stuff in. "The nightime sniffling, sneezing coughing, stuffy head how the hell did I get on the kitchen floor medicine."
     
  14. Doody

    Doody F1 Veteran

    Nov 16, 2001
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    Mr. Doody
    rotflmao!

    make sure you check out Lewis Black's bit about NyQuil - i think it's on the White Album. hilarious.

    doody.
     
  15. REMIX

    REMIX Two Time F1 World Champ

    The fact is one needs less and less sleep as one ages. I used to do 10 hours, no problem, when I was younger. Now I sleep maybe 5. I love it. I can get more done. Asleep by 2 and up by 7.

    RMX
     
  16. Ferrari0324

    Ferrari0324 F1 Rookie

    Mar 20, 2004
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    Brandon
    I disagree. I believe you need more sleep as you age, atleast in the earlier years. I've always been a good sleeper, but when in school they were making the days start earlier and earlier every year. Parents tried fighting the township, w/ dr.s on their side stating we should have more time to sleep and the younger kids (5-15ish) should go in earlier. I'm in college now and I could definitely use a good 8 hrs at least every night.
     
  17. Koby

    Koby Formula 3

    Dec 14, 2003
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    Jason Kobies
    Any thoughts on over the counter stuff, ie Tylenol PM?
     
  18. REMIX

    REMIX Two Time F1 World Champ

    Maybe so, but I just don't need sleep like I used to. At least it seems that way. Besides, 8 hours is a big chunk of time where I could be doing something useful (like watching porn!).

    RMX
     
  19. F328 BobD

    F328 BobD Formula 3

    Mar 17, 2001
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    BobD
    I have an 80 year old relative who has been taking Ambien every night for 20+ years now... she's not hooked.
     
  20. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Sep 11, 2004
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    Peter--I am like you. Never go to bed before 11pm and am up at 6am every morning. I have done it for so long I am used to it. Between the wake up spells every night. I probably get about 5 hours. Luckily that is all I need to start a good morning....
     
  21. PeterS

    PeterS Four Time F1 World Champ
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    Sure she's not hooked! :)
     

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