Chronic Health Conditions Discussion and Support

I've been doing ok on the 5 mg of generic ambien (Zolpidem Tartrate 5 mg) since I wrote last spring. I had 2 refills and have been using the pramepexole at a low dose with good success. Last week I got a new prescription of Zolpidem Tartrate 5mg. When I opened the bottle, the pill was different. Instead of onlong, it was round. At first glance, I thought I'd taken the wrong bottle from the cupboard and had the pramepeole, or maybe the pharmiscist filled it wrong. I looked it up on PDR and it was Zolpidem Tartrate 5 mg, generic Ambien made by a different company. I shrugged and took it. I never think there is much difference in pills. Boy, was I wrong. I've had 5 days of misery, because the new prescription is not helping me go to sleep. First night, I laid until after 1 am. Next night, I fell asleep, but had a restless night. Third night, I got out of bed at 2 am and ate a slice of toast, and had a half a shot of vodka, finally got to sleep. 4th night slept restlessly. Last night, I think I had toast before I laid down, but it was a restless night and I got up at 6:45, over an hour earlier than usual.

I called the pharmacy and the dr. to tell them I am having trouble sleeping and the new prescription is not effective. The nurse I spoke to suggested melatonin and then, in a 2nd call, to stop taking the Zolpidem Tartrate for a few days, 'since I'm not sleeping anyway.' I can't even cut the pills in half and try 1 1/2 pills, because 5 mg is the maximum dose for my age group. If I run out early, there will be hell to pay and it probably won't get renewed. The pharmacist offered advice, but said that the medicine is identical, except maybe for inert ingredients. Most of the things she suggested I already do. She was sorry, but it is regulated and I'm stuck with this bottle of useless snake oil until I can get a refill in 85 days. The brand I was getting was Torrant and it did ok. I mainly want to get to sleep. Staying alseep remains an issue, but I accept what I get.

The brand I got last week is ACI and it SUCKS. I never understand why doctors don't listen. A long time ago, I was precribed Aleve for arthritis pain. I started having rapid heart beat and breathlessness in days. I told the doctor and told her I thought it was the medicine. She sent me for tests on my heart, and did other lab work. Guess what she found out? My symptoms were a rare but noted side affect of the medicine. She gave me something else for the arthritis and the other symptoms went away, poof. I had another dr. who put me on statins for cholesterol. I developed breathlessness and lost my stamina. I stopped taking it and was fine. His solution was to prescribe a different statin, which I tried, same effects. He gave me another prescription and I threw it away and got another dr. Even with the pramepexole, I had trouble sleeping with the higher dose 2 hours before bed, so take a half dose 4 hrs before bed, and it has helped. I am pretty aware that I am sensitive to medicine and I don't reflect the normal person. But that doesn't seem to matter.

In this current mess, I do not need melatonin and I do not need to go to a sleep lab to be assessed. I would do that, if I thought they could cure hot flashes, overactive bladder and crampy feet, not to mention restless legs. I had had 2 incidents of RLS since I started taking the pramepexole in July. This week alone, I've had 2 more. The only thing I am doing differently is taking that new brand of generic Ambien. I don't understand why the professionals I spoke to cannot hear what I am saying. I was trying to explore options and said I would return the prescription I just filled if I could get a new bottle of what I'm used to taking. No, they can't do that. I asked if I could perhaps get a bottle of Ambien and pay for it myself. My pharmacy doesn't even stock Ambien and 90 pills would cost over $2100.00 dollars! What a freaking racket.

Thanks for reading. Take care.