Once you've been on any type of RX sleep aid, it wipes out your natural sleep rhythym. You can relearn how to sleep on your own. It's not easy, it's tedious and it take some time, usually 2 - 3 weeks. I can give you the plan if you'd like.

Kat

the ambien isn't cutting it that's one of the problems. My other problem is that most other sleep aids make me drowsy the next day which makes it impossible for me to stay awake. I already sleep all day with out drugs.

If all I had to do was go to bed every night at 9, get some sunlight during the day, exorcize, stay out of the bedroom unless I'm sleeping I've already tried that. I even use to hypnotize myself which worked for a long time but that doesn't work any more.

wish I could have hypnotized myself to be awake during the day. which is a bigger problem than being awake all night. Maybe I'm a vampire I don't know.

Hi doorknob, this is just a suggestion which may/probably will not work - but did you think of buying a lighter, over the counter pill which MIGHT make you at least drowsy & get you to relax?
I have a horrible sleep pattern, it mostly consists of waking up @ 4:30AM; being too awake @ that point to return to bed, so I'm up for the day. I konk out though by 3 or 4PM, for maybe 2 hours....DEEP sleep, & go off for the night @ about 11:30PM. But it all does actually add up to 7 hours in a 24-hr period.
I've never dabbled w/ambien, as depakote is meant to be very sedating, & my doc has never suggested sleeping pills. But this little pill I take, over the counter, DOES get me the 5 night hours that I need. It is a "Doxylamine Succinate Tablet", 25mgs. Don't know where you are living, this is a U.S. pill.....but I'm sure there's something comparable by you.
It might not do anything for you....might just be like eating candy....but it might have a less heavily sedating daytime effect on you than the prescription-strengh stuff. Feel better soon....

I'd get off the drugs period, sleep when you're tired, if I remember right you don't have to work so it doesn't matter what time of day or night you sleep. Take it easy on yourself, let your sleep patterns adjust themselves instead of trying to force something, - Hugs

Doorknob, I just sent richard the sleep hygiene plan by PM, would you like a copy?

Kat

I use OTC Benadryl or Tylonal PM as a sleep aide..it works for me .

RX sleep meds never worked for me ..just made me jittery

Oh god, don't tell me that it could get worse Richard....4 hours luckily WITH ambien? 2 hours out of 24? I am not complaining, as 7 hours IS considered to be the average of what ANY normal person should sleep.
But 4 hours or less seem to be an indicator to me that bad news WILL descend upon me......my pal Phil, a psychologist, told me that anything LESS than that amount is flashing neon lights for an episode coming on a bipolar person. And that's how it's guaranteed to play out for ME. Now HE tells me that personally, 4 hours a night is all that he has EVER slept, since he was a teen, and in college. And he's not lying, as my girls and some neighbors see Phil on his way up to the gym @ 4:30AM, when they are coming home from a night out.
I don't know how YOU do it......it wouldn't be good for MY equation, and I'd prefer to sleep 14 hours a day in preference to THAT.

I would do that heretic but I have day time appointments to go to and I have to be awake when I have my kids. Also I can not clean my house at night because it disturbs the downstairs neighbor. Especially since my kitchen is above her bedroom and every sound on the floor is even louder on her side, I know because I've heard it myself.