Ambien vs Zolpidim

[Bud W]

I recently read the Ambien will have a generic (Zolpidim) available in the U.S. in the next month or so. Has anybody had any experiaences with Zolpidem

[DawnK]

Yes, I have bought the generic from overseas pharmacies. I liked it better than the ambien.

[diana]

DawnK wrote:

Yes, I have bought the generic from overseas pharmacies. I liked it better than the ambien.

Can you tell me if it is cheaper than ambien? I currently dont have insurance and I have been paying 132.00 dollars a month for ambien 10mg? Thanks!!

[Sandralah]

I took the generic form last night for the first time, gave myself ten hours to sleep, and have been dizzy all morning. I've been awake now for 3 1/2 hours and am still experiencing dizzyness.

[thisismadness]

I've also had to switch to the generic ambien recently from brand name Ambien. The generics (mine are made by Mylan Pharmaceuticals--there are other companies in on the action too) don't work at all. Just not falling asleep--and then groggy as H_ll all the next day.
I wonder if there's some kind of scam going on here--is there high-grade and low-grade zolpidem?
Now the copay for brand name Ambien has tripled in price. Unaffordable. Dunno what to do...

[jimbob]

Bud W wrote:

I recently read the Ambien will have a generic (Zolpidim) available in the U.S. in the next month or so. Has anybody had any experiaences with Zolpidem

Ive taken 10 mg
Ambien for 3 years, been working great. Now they
switched me to the generic (Zolpidem), and it is
NOT working near as well!

[sleepeze]

I tried the generic ambien 10mg and works great.Noticed no difference except the price.

[Pinkkitty]

sleepeze wrote:

I tried the generic ambien 10mg and works great.Noticed no difference except the price.

Can you bring back the genric and get the ambein instead?

[sleepless in central pa]

Pinkkitty wrote:

<quoted text>
Can you bring back the genric and get the ambein instead?

I have taken both Ambien and Zolpidem and find that I am kind of jumpy the next day with the Zolpidem, that my attention span is worse than usual--has anyone found that?

[Sleepyhead]

I recently switched to Zolpidem and it leaves me feeling like my head won't wake up and it feels like that the entire day.

[cat]

The generic is not working as effectively as the name brand. It's taken me longer to sleep and the generic has some nasty side effects (e.g., balance problems) that I did not have on regular Ambien. I really wish the insurance would switch back to the regular...

[somebody]

The generic is the worst -- plain and simple. I really feel like a different person after taking it for 4 nights straight. But I can't afford the brand name anymore.

[So tired]

I have been taking 20 mg of Ambien for at least 2 years, and it was a lifesaver! I could get more rest in 5-6 hours than in 9 hours previously. Now that I am on the generic, I am lucky to fall asleep at all.I called the doctor and pharmacy and they said there has been no complaints about that. Isn't the generic form always supposed to be the same ingredients? Please give suggestions...I am going to OD on this just to get some sleep!

[So tired]

Also, I failed to mention the drug has made me gain weight due to late night binging. I will wake up with food in bed or on the night table, and a mess in the kitchen. My exhusband would tell me crazy things I would do and that I would walk or stare off in a zombie state and not go to bed no matter what. My boyfriend has just broken up with me because of this, also. I have burned holes in the carpet and couches, and know how dangerous this is. I just need something to help me sleep, and the generic isn't cutting it! Any suggestions?

[jdm]

Bud W wrote:

I recently read the Ambien will have a generic (Zolpidim) available in the U.S. in the next month or so. Has anybody had any experiaences with Zolpidem

I took the generic ambien last night at 11pm; wokeup at 4 am. Never had this happen with ambien.

[lmb]

I'm so glad it's not just me. The generic is NOT working. I'm tired all the time. I wake up in the middle of the night. Plus I'm nauseous constantly.

[awake in Virginia]

I have been taking 10 mg of Ambien for 2 years. Just recently pharmacy tech. asked if I would like to try the generic brand, I said she. That was wrong, I could usually fall asleep with 5 my of Ambien, know I have to take the whole 5 mg. I feel like crape, my scedule if off, I'm going back to Ambien

[plink1]

You know,I've been unable to sleep through the night since I started taking the Zolpidem instead of the Ambien-I used to be able to take half an Ambien and be sound asleep for the night in minutes with no evil side effects. Now I wake up at like 4 a.m. and just lie there depressed for 2 hours and go to work sleepy. I only today started making the connection and that's why I googled this. I know the brand name will be more expensive-I'm just hoping my insurance will cover the Ambien at all.

[mcz]

i've used ambien for a while intermittently and it's a lifesaver, works great, no nighttime weirdness either. i'm seriously not liking the generic.
to previous posts: yes! on the generic my attention span is worse, i'm kind of snappish, and my head feels like it takes forever to wake up! it puts me to sleep ok (though less seamlessly than the ambien) but really the next day effects are bad enough for me not to take it. it even seems to take a few days to get out of my system! i'm just going to have to suck it up and pay for the ambien.
one thing my pharmacist suggested: since ambien CR is a different drug but since it's newer, the generic wont be available for some time. so if you can get your doctor to prescribe that, you can still get it for the subsidized price, since there is no generic available.

[dakota]

I also googled regarding Zolpidem vs Ambien and I'm finding that the Zolpidem is causing the same issues; snacking before falling abruptly asleep, dizziness and and extreme tiredness that I had never felt with Ambien. Ambien has been a great way for me to get sleep since I have fibromyalgia and I need sleep, but since I switched from Ambien to Zolpidem, I feel lousy and can never wake up. I am not like this and have always felt rested with Ambien. I will call my pharmacist to see what I can do...I work for a living, I can't continue to function this way.