Research
1. Effectiveness of Ambien and the incidence of rebound insomnia
Study Objective
To assess the effectiveness of Ambien and the incidence of rebound insomnia.
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Ambien Researches |
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Design
A six-month study, single-blind, allowing GPs the freedom to adjust dosage as needed.
Patients
107 patients, sixty percent of whom were over the age of 60 years, and all of whom were suffering from insomnia with different causes.
Interventions
The researchers administered 10mg per day in tablet form. They then monitored the patients to make a comparison between baseline, the last day of treatment and ten days after the end of treatment, including the parameters of time taken to fall asleep, total amount of night sleep and the number of times waking during the night.
Results
There was an improvement in sleep patterns from the baseline that was consistent throughout the period of treatment and during the washout period. There were no reports of rebound insomnia and no subsequent signs of withdrawal symptoms. The patients did not build up a tolerance to Ambien over the six-month treatment period. All the reported side-effects were mild and infrequent, and were usually resolved by a reduction in the dosage.
Conclusions
That Ambien is effective and safe for the treatment of sleep disorders.
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2. Safety and effectiveness of Ambien
Study Objective
To assess the safety and effectiveness of Ambien.
Design
This study was designed to run over an initial 180-day period, with the treatment continuing for a further 180 days for those who volunteered.
Patients
96 patients with sleep disorders.
Interventions
Patients were administered Ambien at either 10mg or 20mg per day for an initial period of 180 days. 49 patients continued the treatment for a further 180 days. Of those who discontinued, there were follow-up surveys from 21 patients. In all classes, the survey elicited evidence on whether there were incidents of rebound insomnia or withdrawal symptoms. More generally, the surveys measured the rapidity of sleep onset, the number of wakings during the night, whether there were improvements in the duration and quality of sleep, and how the patients felt upon waking in the morning.
Results
None of the patients showed symptoms of rebound insomnia or withdrawal symptoms. Improvement on all criteria was established within thirty days of beginning the treatment in 90% of patients and this continued in all patients who completed the one-year trial. These results were matched in patients at both dosages.
Conclusions
Ambien is an effective and safe hypnotic for the treatment of insomnia.
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3. Effectiveness of Ambien at doses of 20mg per day
Study Objective
To assess the effectiveness of Ambien at doses of 20mg per day.
Design
This was an open, polysomnographically-monitored trial running over 179 days with a placebo run-in.
Patients
14 elderly psychiatric patients suffering from severe insomnia.
Interventions
There was an initial run-in of a placebo over seven days. Ambien was then given for 179 days followed by a 30-day washout period. Polysomnograms were taken to establish baseline parameters, followed by recordings at 30, 90 and 179 days into the treatment, and at the end of the washout period.
Results
After thirty days. statistically significant improvements were detected in the total time spent asleep. It was clear that general sleep efficiency was better and the overall percentage of REM as against non-REM sleep was better balanced. All these improvements were measured at 179 days. As an addition to the original design, a polysomnogram was taken after a further 90-day period. As compared to baseline, all the primary criteria showed continuing levels of improvement except for stage 3 sleep. No serious adverse side-effects were observed.
Conclusions
As against other hypnotics, Ambien improves sleep over a long period of administration and may enable patients to re-establish a more normal sleep pattern.
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4. Future trends
There is increasing evidence of a growth in Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among children and general evidence that a significant minority of children currently experience some degree of sleep disruption. The research sector has slowly begun to re-evaluate its ethical concerns about the inclusion of children in research studies. As it stands, there is very little scientific data about the effect of Ambien on children. In the near future, the collection of data may begin.
It is reported that Ambien has proved effective in re-establishing some brain activity in three patients in a permanent vegetative state. The report states that when the first test subject was given Ambien for restlessness one night, he was briefly able to communicate verbally and to interact with people around him for the first time since his accident. This restoration of function persisted until Ambien was eliminated from the body and the effect has been repeated with gradually improving results over six years since the first dose. This effect has been replicated in two other patients over periods of time varying between three and six years. During this time, Ambien’s efficiency has not declined nor have there been any side-effects. Brain scans have shown that previously dormant areas of the brain resumed work while Ambien was in the body. This contradicted the medical assumption that brain damage was irreversible. The need for further research is indicated.
The so-called restless legs syndrome is a disorder affecting about 6% of the general population, with more women than men affected. It has both a genetic and, as yet, unknown other causes. Symptoms occur during pregnancy and at the same time as kidney failure, various disruptions of the central nervous system, spinal disorders and rheumatoid arthritis. Researchers suggest that the syndrome is connected to the operation of the dopaminergic system and the body’s iron metabolism. Because the benzodiazepines have made useful contributions as treatment, research is underway to determine whether Ambien may represent alternative treatment possibilities.
How does cognitive behavioural therapy help?
One of the best alternatives to simple reliance on a drug like Ambien is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT teaches you a new set of behaviours around the "activity" of sleep. You have to "relearn" the association between going to bed and falling sleep. |
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The habit of sleep
Before you start taking Ambien or alongside a course of Ambien, you should change your habit patterns and practise relaxation techniques to help you get to sleep. |
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