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i thought this was interesting.
i read an article that claimed that ambien does not help you sleep, but actually causes short term amnesia and you just don't remember that you weren't sleeping.
i really had to think about this. i use ambien cr.

The generic equivellent is Zolpidem, i have a RX. for it and have used it for years. When I can't fall asleep. The C.R. equv is zolpea? 7mg.


Flaco

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Never paying cein

I used a version here, sold over the counter, under the name zopiclona. It seemed to work well initially, but I gave it up, as I became convinced it was causing some unpleasant longer term psychological effects. I noticed I wasn't dreaming in my normal fashion, and I know that lack of REM sleep can cause nasty things to happen to your state of mind. Might be okay once in a while, but I won't touch the stuff again.

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"The only normal people are those you don't know very well." Joe Ancis

+1. I first started using Zopiclona because I was out late every night and needed to get up early so I wanted to fall asleep fast. It's very addictive in the respect that you wont fall asleep without it once your body is used to it. Plus , its difficult or impossible to take naps.

I recommend not taking it everyday.

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* These are the "Good Ole Days". Enjoy Them.

* RENT but, "Don't Buy a Home in Costa Rica" until you have lived here for THREE years.

I load up on Stilnox on each trip. Get a good deal on quantity from the farmacia around the corner from the SL. I also have Zolpidem which I have a prescription for here in the US. The Stilnox seems to work much better for me than Zolpidem.

When I was 1st prescribed Ambien I was warned about "nightmares", and sure enough it was true, they did ease after taking it a few times and regular Ambien does not keep you asleep, the CR version does only a little better.
I prefer Lunesta, aside from a metallic taste in your mouth as its kicking in, it gives a good nights sleep w/o being drowsy in the morning

The CR product is branded as Uninorm® 10mg: zolpidem hemitartrato; 14 tablets per box. Requires an Rx which can be had such that the Rx is available for you the next day. Farmacia Curime, up from Hotel La Amistad.

Zolpidem is NOT a benzodiazepine (Xanax, Valium, etc.) and is most effective in initiating sleep. Alcohol poteniates (amplifies) the effects. Know what you're doing.

Triazolam (Halcion) is what is used by many in the diplomatic corps: dinky half-life; fast acting; effective. Caution: Exceeding the dosage WILL induce full blown amensia, and how.

I get great amusement from reports from people who take CNS depressants and then have "amnesia" such that when they get up in the morning following usage, they are shocked to find the ice cream, the Oreo's, the hamburger wrappers, and all the other stuff they've done while under the influence! Things like starting little projects be they paper work or arranging the CD/albums in order and the subsequent unfinished nature of these episodes; driving the car to a store; buying stuff, blah, blah, blah.

Technique: empty stomach; ingestion of Rx; followed by sugar/carbohydrate intake: Most won't know what hit them. Get alcohol in the mix.....good night. WARNING: Use that stuff at your own risk and learn how YOUR bad self responds. Every person responds in a bit different fashion.

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"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

I prefer the all time classic, a little smoke and a drink or two.

For me the best method is to knock out a few leches with the chica of the moment, and then I sleep like a baby

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"All them women gonna make me,
teach 'em what they don't know how..." TMIB

Smoke and drink is ok for those who can afford to loose some brain cells, but at my age I need all of them. Half an ambien and glass of wine works for me.
Flaco

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Never paying cein

I can attest to the fallacy of this claim. I was given ambien for a sleep test for sleep apnea. My cycle followed the regular patterns, with 57 waking events. The good news is that when I sleep my patterns resemble a 20-year old.

57 waking events, is that alot? seems like it would be.
did you know that you were awake 57 times?

As far as Ambien, I used Ambien CR twice while I was In CR. I have a hard time sleeping anywhere but my own casa. It did not work well at all, still managed only about 3 hours sleep a night. Meet a gent at the bar @ the Sl
we were chatting about sleep problems, said to try Ambien quick release, gave me a couple and they worked well. Now granted I do's drinks a bit while there, but not in excess, slept very well with the quick release.
My dos colones.
Regards, 911 Driver

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The happy hour is a device either for getting rid of social obligations hurriedly en masse or for making overtures toward more serious social relationships, as in the etiquette of whoring.- Brooks Atkinson

Surprisingly, I didn't have a sense of it. My EEG spiked up, then went back down into the cycle of sleep that I was in. 57 times is considered mild, slightly enough to have insurance pay for a CPAP. The results of my first test is that I awakened 200 times in a 9 hour period.