The History of Ambien as a Sleep Aid
Ambien came onto the scene quickly a few years ago and has become one of the more common sleep aids that doctors prescribe. Ambien originally deal only with the inability of people to get to sleep at night. Taking a pill a half hour or so before bedtime helped these people to get to sleep more quickly. Researchers originally intended it only for short-term use of no more than a month although many people found that it continued to work for them even after the initial time frame was up. This drug can cause dependency, however, and doctors and patients should be aware of this possibility.
Many doctors now prescribe Ambien for longer-term use, however. Some patients who have a difficult time getting to sleep may be in that position because of stress or depression, and if these people take Ambien and deal with their other concerns, they may not need it long-term. Others find, however, that their insomnia is a constant battle and are much more likely to want to use the drug long-term. Doctors will prescribe the drug long-term in those situations, but this decision is largely dependent on the doctor’s views regarding such medication and its use.
Now, Ambien comes in other forms, such as the CR version, or controlled release. This newer form actually helps people by helping them to fall asleep, or initiate sleep, and helping them to stay asleep throughout the night. Researchers discovered that many patients who talked about not being able to sleep actually had more problems with waking up throughout the night than with falling asleep when they first got into bed. The continued research into this drug and its possible variants could continue to help people who cannot sleep for whatever reason. New versions very well could help even more people get to sleep.
Disclaimer: Cliff Schaffer does not personally endorse or support any of the comments made within the writings of this article. |
