Difficultly Sleeping and Using Ambien

sounds perfectly normal. it's a sleeping pill, so she shouldn't be calling you(or you calling her) when she's trying to sleep. it's a very safe drug for the vast majority of those that take it. some people have side effects, but that's true of ALL drugs. i have used ambien on and off for several years, and i can't complain about it. my husband is a pharmacist, and he fully supports me using it when i need it.

45 minutes after she takes the Ambien, she should be in bed, in a dark,comfortably cool room---not talking on the telephone.

Yes, the slurred speech would be normal, as the drug is trying to put her to sleep. Schedule your phone conversatons for a specific time of day---either before she has taken her pill or after she wakes up.

Yes it is normal with Ambien. I am not saying it is right or a good thing - just that it is a common side effect.

Ambien was similar to being drunk for me. Actually, better - no hangover. My husband uses lunesta.
S.

Agree with last 3 posts. It is normal for the ambien. If your mother is sleeping and has no hangover, then the problem is not hers. She probably feels better after sleeping than not. If you recognize that she is slurring her speech and doesn't remember the conversation than why do you insist on talking to her when she has already taken the med? It is designed to put her to sleep and onset of sleep is usually within 30 minutes.
I think the person who has the problem is you. And frankly it sounds selfish. You say YOU are frustrated. That your husband doesn't need anything, so imply that your mother shouldn't either. NOT once did you refer to her well being about getting enough sleep or being safe at her job, or unsafe from lack of sleep. Or supporting her decision to seek help in getting enough sleep. You imply that you want her on a different medication to make it less frustrating for you.....but what does she say. She is 50 and I presume that she can pick her own medications and knows how to take them. I think you need to think that insomnia is a horrible thing. And working night shift is a whole different thing than working dayshift, and goes against the natural cycle of the body.
Unless your mother is asking for your help, I would leave well enough alone and let her get some rest, that she not only needs, but deserves. I would wait for the mother-daughter chats until she wakes up refreshed and ready to start the day. I would also consider your own selfish tendencies and the whining about your frustration at not having her accessible when you want to talk, instead of what is really best for her, and her sleep.

That's a hard shift to work for most, so I understand why she needs help sleeping.

I agree that she should be in bed and not talking on the phone or otherwise once she's taken the pill.

Ambien is a med I don't like, but some do. A doc gave it to my girl who couldn't sleep and she went psycho on us and was extremely violent. I was so upset that he gave that to her and mad at myself that I didn't read more about how strong it was but I trusted the doc to know best.

I say leave your mom alone, in her bed, safe and sound, and don't try to talk to her.

I think its sweet you're so concerned for your Mom.
Ambien is actually very safe yet a very strong sleep aide.
I used it through high school to help me get sleep because w/out it, I could literally stay awake all night from the stress of school.
It was the only sleep aide I've ever tried that put me to sleep fast and I didn't have that tired groggy feeling waking up.
However, make sure she's not in any way taking more than what her doctor prescribed. That's when she can have problems.
You mentioned your hubby never had to take anything to help him sleep but I feel as if most men fall to sleep much faster than women.
We women tend to think more and stress more and can become so tired that it's harder to fall asleep so I wouldn't worry about her needing to take it to help her get some sleep.
Take Care!

Since she is in her 50's, most women start having insomnia, it's part of the normal meopause symptoms. Compound it with working night shift and she is pretty much hosed in the sleeping department. Ambien works quickly and is pretty strong. She really should take the pill and go straight to bed. I would save the talks for before she takes her pill or when she wakes up. The slurred speech is normal. The bad thing about Tylenol PM is the hangover in the morning.

I have taken Ambien and others like it. Once you take the pill, you have to do nothing else. You take it and lay down. It works immediately. Every person is different but what you describe is normal especially since she has been on it only 6 months. My tolerance is a bit high and I still can't do much after taking the pill.