Long – term Stilnoct therapy

Guest · Posted: 04/16/05 - 02:00 Post subject: Long – term Stilnoct therapy

Hi, I'm 37 years old and I have a problem with insomnia and nervousness. Sometimes I can't sleep whole night, I would just think all night about anything and not sleep. My doctor gave me some medicines before for inducing sleep, they didn’t work well for me so he changed the prescription to Stilnoct, but he said that it could be used for just a short period of time. I have a friend that also has insomnia symptoms and she also is on stilnoct, but she’s taking it for longer than 5 months now and with permission of her doctor. Why can't I use stilnoct for in a long run too?

houde · Silver Member Joined: 28 Apr 2001 Posts: 292

Stilnoct is a brand name of a drug used to treat insomnia called zolpidem. Zolpidem belongs to the group of substances called imidazopyridines. It works by increasing the level of GABA, an important substance whose main purpose in the brain is to control its activity by inhibiting all neurotransmission processes thus inducing sleep. Zolpidem increases the time spent sleeping and decreases the time needed to fall asleep, so it is very effective in treating insomnia. The down side of it is that it can be only used to treat insomnia in the short term since the prolonged use causes addiction, and stopping of the use can cause withdrawal symptoms. Use of zolpidem can also be dangerous because it causes drowsiness and decreased attention. Some doctors are prescribing it for a longer period of time if they think it is necessary and if the benefits of using it are greater than side effects. However, that practice has not been supported by the producer of the medicine so the physicians that are prescribing the medicine in a non standard way bare the full responsibility for the possible unwanted effects. You should follow your doctors advice on this matter and if he thinks that the prolonged use of the medicine can be dangerous for you he’s probably right.

Guest · Guest

Guest · Guest

I have been on long term therapy with stilnoct and I have found myself staying up and taking more pills and doing just wacky things. at one point I thoght people were at my house for a fashion shoot and I had to do the make up for them but obvioulsy it was just me. It's sorta making me sick feeling. I do things and don't remember. I write cryptic poems and stories and blogs that are crazy and wonderful all at the same time. Anyway, I have decided to just take the right dose and hide the rest so I don't go over board anymore, but, I definitely feel dependant on them for sleep. I don't like it but that's how it is for now. I just have to stop abusing them. Thats the bottom line and I can do that if I put my mind to it!!! Anyone else admit to this????

pepe2116 · Newbie Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 1

hi I do weird thind to when i take stilnoct like ringing people at one in the morning and then not remembering I rang them I'm taking them about 7 years now and would love to quit any avdice

Guest · Guest

hello, i do some strange things too. have been on stilnoct 8 years.......but have stopped at will from time to time, when I am NOT WORKING!. and I only take 5s. they are the only thing I can take (also), for a really bad flying phobia. two 10s and three vodkas (stupid I know, but not nearly as stupid as being in handcuffs on a flight to australia because I freaked out). when I take them to fly, my friends say I am my usual self but in super-hyped-up form. laughing and joking to other passengers! and afterwards, I can remember NOTHING at all, its completely, permanently blank.......as for sleeping, I can still stop taking them when I have the time to read in bed......sometimes for two to three hours, and only if I do not have to wake before 10. so maybe they are not quite so addictive?

but when I have to get up at 6..............I really depend on them to get me quickly off (always 20 min). sometimes I have to get up and EAT like crazy. cheese. mmmmmm. so anyway, my advice is to force yourself to read, in bed, for as long as it takes. good luck.

Guest · Guest

I am also taking stilnoct, which are prescribed on a weekly basis due to my addiction and odd behaviour of late. I was going through a weeks worth of tablets in2 or 3 days, so I started looking elsewhere for my fix. I found so many sites that I could order Ambien, Zolpidem, Stilnoct - whatever they want to call them- anyway just the other night , or early morning, I was shouting at 'people that were trying to break into our car'!! This was not a one time thing and it is affecting all areas of my life in a very negative way. If, like me, you have an addictive personality, stay well clear of all of them!!! Embarassed

Long – term Stilnoct therapy

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