Nicaine
09-10-2006, 06:26
SWIM is really puzzled how the drug companies have pushed Ambien as a substance unlikely to cause tolerance, dependence or withdrawal symptoms. Well, doh... it's a short-acting medication taken *once per day*!
Imagine if they came out with a new Benzo called Xanax and said well, you take 1mg once/day (max) and that's it. Oh yeah, and it has very little potential for tolerance or dependence, when taken as prescribed! LOL.
Anyway... in SWIM's view, Zolpidem (A) does have a potential for tolerance, dependence, withdrawal symptoms and downright addiction if taken any more often than once nightly. Twice nightly could easily do it. Also, (B) reports of abuse have escalated because the stuff simply feels good/relaxing. Dunno about that nonsense regarding zolpidem's selectivity in terms of GABA receptors, but to this lab bunny it's more relaxing than klonopin and probably rivals Xanax in that department, even at the usual 10mg dosage. No way is Zolpidem a party drug, but man does it feel good when it starts coming on. Euphoric, peaceful, calm and uninhibited.... quite a combo. Light delusional thinking (mostly when SWIM's lying in bed in the dark) add an additional measure of charm to this pleasurable, easy-to-like substance.
SWIM hasn't noticed any overt tolerance yet -- he's working on a bottle of 30 pills prescribed late last month, and has 11 or 12 of them left. They'll likely be gone in less than a week, and SWIM will have to go back to every-other-night sleep routines to stay on schedule... with the Ambien gone, he's gonna have to get used to actually being tired again at bedtime :D.
P.S. See Wikipedia's entry, in particular the section titled "Recreational Use and Abuse" : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zolpidem
Gotta love it... if Adderall is called "A+" on the street, they're calling Ambien "A-" ;)
Imagine if they came out with a new Benzo called Xanax and said well, you take 1mg once/day (max) and that's it. Oh yeah, and it has very little potential for tolerance or dependence, when taken as prescribed! LOL.
Anyway... in SWIM's view, Zolpidem (A) does have a potential for tolerance, dependence, withdrawal symptoms and downright addiction if taken any more often than once nightly. Twice nightly could easily do it. Also, (B) reports of abuse have escalated because the stuff simply feels good/relaxing. Dunno about that nonsense regarding zolpidem's selectivity in terms of GABA receptors, but to this lab bunny it's more relaxing than klonopin and probably rivals Xanax in that department, even at the usual 10mg dosage. No way is Zolpidem a party drug, but man does it feel good when it starts coming on. Euphoric, peaceful, calm and uninhibited.... quite a combo. Light delusional thinking (mostly when SWIM's lying in bed in the dark) add an additional measure of charm to this pleasurable, easy-to-like substance.
SWIM hasn't noticed any overt tolerance yet -- he's working on a bottle of 30 pills prescribed late last month, and has 11 or 12 of them left. They'll likely be gone in less than a week, and SWIM will have to go back to every-other-night sleep routines to stay on schedule... with the Ambien gone, he's gonna have to get used to actually being tired again at bedtime :D.
P.S. See Wikipedia's entry, in particular the section titled "Recreational Use and Abuse" : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zolpidem
Gotta love it... if Adderall is called "A+" on the street, they're calling Ambien "A-" ;)