Posted by ed_uk on September 10, 2005, at 2:58:15
Hi.
Ambien CR (controlled release) has recently been approved in the US. It should be available in pharmacies soon. This is good new IMO, one of the main problems with standard Ambien is its short duration of action - people wake up during the night and can't get back to sleep.
'AMBIEN CR is the first and only extended-release prescription sleep medication to help people with insomnia fall asleep fast and maintain sleep with no significant decrease in next day performance. AMBIEN CR, a bi-layered tablet, is delivered in two stages. The first layer dissolves quickly to induce sleep. The second layer is released more gradually into the body to help provide more continuous sleep.'
OK, so what about Lunesta? Well.... frankly, who wants a vile taste in their mouth? Lunesta hasn't lived up to its promise. Numerous babblers have returned to Ambien.
Although Lunesta has been 'pushed' as a long term treatment for insomnia, I'm not in the slightest convinced that Lunesta is any safer in the long term than Ambien. If anything, I'd be more comfortable taking Ambien. After all, Ambien is more selective than Lunesta for the BZ1 receptor. BZ1 selectivity is alleged to be responsible for Lunesta's supposed advantages over the benzodiazepines.
Any insomniacs out there interested in trying Ambien CR?
~Ed
PS. Ramelteon (Rozerem), a new sleep aid, should be available soon. Anyone know when? Calling jrbecker for more info ;-)
poster:ed_uk
thread:553116
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050909/msgs/553116.html