Ambien is a sedative type of drug under the generic name Zolpidem. Ambien is used to treat insomnia and as well as it promotes relaxation of the body.

insomnia ambien valium vs for

Use of this category of medications has increased dramatically over the last few years. With use, problems of addiction and unpleasant side effects have increased as well. The American Sleep Apnea Association can i take alprazolam with tramadol especially concerned about this worrisome practice: These comprise a class of drugs that may be designated as anxiolytics, hypnotics or anticonvulsants, though the way they affect the human body are virtually the same, regardless of the intent of valium vs ambien for insomnia application.

Here are the types of benzos you might be taking or have taken in the past:. Benzo are psychotropic medications typically prescribed to help people manage their anxiety. These drugs calm the body and the mind. When used in the short term, benzos can be extremely helpful and effective. A similar problem exists "valium vs ambien for insomnia" a related classification of medications known as Z class drugs.

Officially they are classified as nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics. Z class drugs work as benzodiazepine receptor agonists. This means they work on the brain chemistry in much the same way xanax prior to procedure their benzo counterparts. To be fair, Z class drugs are considered a better option for addressing insomnia. These types of drugs mimic the chemical behavior of a neurotransmitter in the brain called gamma-aminobutyric acid GABA.

GABA is a naturally occurring substance in the brain valium vs ambien for insomnia helps to induce sleepiness. The difference between these two classes of hypnotic drugs has more to do with where they act on the brain. Benzos act on gamma-aminobutyric acid Valium vs ambien for insomnia receptors which induce sleepiness and have a relaxing affect. Z class hypnotics more specifically bind with other agents in a way that improves sleepiness, but which is not as useful for treating anxiety.

You should also be aware that if you have a sleep-breathing disorder, use of these drugs amplifies the risks of dangerous side effects. A frequently cited study by Valium vs ambien for insomnia. If you already have sleep apnea, this practically guarantees the severity of your disorder will worsen. Benzos are associated with poor tone in the muscles of the upper airway, even in people without sleep breathing disorders.

This is called the arousal threshold. For people using benzos or Z class drugs to fall asleep, it can be significantly delayed. For those with sleep apnea, this means they are going to experience more and longer respiratory events. Twenty years after the Guilleminault study was tramadol interactions with coumadin, researchers took a closer look at the links between insomnia and sleep apneaand some of their studies focused on benzodiazepine use.

They noted the problematic side effects of using benzos, such as habituation, dependency, rebound effects, and withdrawal, as well as their tendency to prolong apneas. However, the Z class drugs were shown to have little or no effect on breathing. They also have fewer side effects and drug interactions than benzos. This might make a good argument for moving from a benzo to a Z class drug if insomnia and sleep apnea are dual conditions in a patient.

However, research just a few years valium vs ambien for insomnia has shown that a compelling number of patients with treatment-resistant insomnia around 90 percent! In addition, other studies have also shown that using sleep aids, even in those people who do not have obstructive sleep valium vs ambien for insomnia, yields a higher likelihood of experiencing DIAor drug-induced apnea, a condition of central sleep apnea caused by the depression of the respiratory system during sleep.

This, too, was a development of long-term benzodiazepine use, and not as likely to happen if one is using a Z class drug. Regardless, Z class drugs have problematic side effects even if they are safer to use to treat insomnia. People who use Ambien on a nightly basis will struggle with anxiety, confusion, depression, dizziness, excessive daytime drowsiness, hallucinations, nightmares, even suicidal thoughts.

For those with OSA who struggle to get quality sleep: The latest research valium vs ambien for insomnia cognitive behavioral therapy CBT and CBT-i an insomnia-specific application to be better long-term treatments for addressing sleep problems like insomnia. If you are concerned about sleeping pill use, you can ask your doctor for local options for receiving therapy. Note that sudden discontinued use of any of these drugs can lead to significant withdrawal effects; if you want to quit using a "insomnia ambien valium vs for" or Z class drug, please do so under the advisement of a healthcare professional.

Be prepared for the transition to take a few weeks. Need assistance with this form? World Benzodiazepine Awareness Day: Sleep apnea and anxiety symptoms of xanax alcohol overdose do not mix by sleepadmin Jul 11, NewsUncategorized 0 comments. What are benzodiazepines? Here are the types of benzos you might be taking or have taken in the past: Ativan lorazepam Klonopin clonazepam Valium diazepam Xanax alprazolam Benzos do the following: Reduce anxiety.

Anxiolytics target klonopin 4 mg daily and anxiety disorders, phobias, and panic attacks Promote sleep. Hypnotics target insomnia Relax the muscles. Myorelaxants target muscle spasticity and related disorders Prevent seizures. Anticonvulsants target epilepsy and fits caused by drug use Impair memory. What are Z class drugs? How do benzodiazepines influence sleep? Are you taking benzodiazepine medications?

Insomnia ambien valium vs for about Z class drugs? Alternatives to sleeping pills For those with OSA who struggle to get quality sleep: Share this: Leave a Reply Cancel reply. Search for: First Name. Last Name. Email Address. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.