The FDA approves generic Ambien

I'm so glad I found this discussion board. I noticed that TEVA 10mg Zolpidem (Ambien supposedly) often does not work for me. I took 15mg, 2 hours ago, and I'm wide awake. Never had this problem before.

There should be more disclosure on generic formularies to patients. My doctor told me that generics are legally permitted to have as much as 30% less of the active ingredients.

Anyone else heard this or have an opinion.

Much Thanks!

I used to take ambien in the past, fell asleep within 30 minutes. Tried taking generic zolpidem and I was up all night.

I was switched to the Teva / 94, and it does not work by any stretch; unless NOT sleeping, terrible headache, sweating and intractable depression the next day are what you are after. Teva Zolpidem sucks!

And now they've made CR generic and that has the same problems. I have to take a non-generic 10 mg (cost, about $5/night) with a generic CR just to get 3 hours of sleep and I wake up with a splitting headache. This never happened with the name brand.

Hello FDA and health insurers, are you listen to your zombie nation?

The TEVA manu. may work but the Maylan doesn't. It is the purple pill with the M22. I took my first one 5 hrs ago and it is 4:21am. Was on a different generic last month and they switched. I take many generic medications when necessary but this drug is like taking a placebo. I am wide awake. Usually it begins to affect me within 30 minutes to and hour. This sucks. This is not Ambien..... Nor anything similar to it.

I ALSO am on the generic Ambien. However, the company TEVA's product does not work AT ALL! My pharmacy recently switched me to Dr. Reddy's version, and I cannot say how WONDERFULLY well this one works. TEVA ought to be brought up to the FDA and made to reimburse people for every single prescription of generic Ambien that we have had to buy. I am disgusted by this company.

I always had good luck with Ambien. Three days ago I started on Zolpidem by Teva and no luck. Iam awake till 2 am. I went to Generic Ambien on the computer and they give a list of the manufacturers. I'm going to checkout the other brands. Good luck to you all. Dee

I have taken Ambien Teva for over 2 years now and did notice that after trying a different manufacturer there seemed to be a difference so I switched back to Teva. If I take a whole tablet I only sleep for 2 hours and it is out of my system. I started taking 1/2 tablet at bedtime and when I wake up I take the other 1/2 tablet and that seems to help me sleep better. The pharmacy will not refill that med early in my area so If taking more than prescribed you are out of luck for getting more. I did not know that there were others like me with this same situation. I have mentioned it to the pharmacy and they say they have never heard of anyone complaining of the difference in how it should be working. I have to try the Mylan brand tonight and if it does not work I am taking it back and going to a different pharmacy.

I have learned my lesson for good! Never, ever, ever again will I waste my money on Teva Ambien. It is completely ineffective! It is best to go without any sleep for one night, and hold onto your RX Ambien prescription while you search each pharmacy until you find another lab that makes a "effective" formula. Unfortunately, I have found only good generic ambien from other countries. Although, it's a bit risky to buy it this way. Just my honest opinion.

Teva Zolpidem is useless. I want my money (and my old Ambien) back.

So tired wrote:

I too have been switched to the generic Ambien (Zolpidim), I took it 3 and a half hours ago and am still wide awake. I am looking for some information as to why the generic would be different...but have been told there have been no complaints of this by the doctor and the pharmacist. Hope it works for you!
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If the high dose prescriptions don't seem to work for you and your exercising and eating well, maybe you should try some more unorthodox remedies. I know there's a list a mile long of wives-tales about snake urine and garlic to cure insomnia but there are always a few extra tips and tricks that can help. I just found this guys blog who posts different tips and ideas to help with insomnia.He also adds entertaining stuff like nightly song suggestions to help you sleep. He only has a few posts but hes been updating them regularly. Its pretty cool some of the stuff he mentions, Id say its worth at least checking out.
Here's the link, hope this helps!: http://insomniaticmeats.blogspot.com/

Ambien user wrote:

I have taken Ambien Teva for over 2 years now and did notice that after trying a different manufacturer there seemed to be a difference so I switched back to Teva. If I take a whole tablet I only sleep for 2 hours and it is out of my system. I started taking 1/2 tablet at bedtime and when I wake up I take the other 1/2 tablet and that seems to help me sleep better. The pharmacy will not refill that med early in my area so If taking more than prescribed you are out of luck for getting more. I did not know that there were others like me with this same situation. I have mentioned it to the pharmacy and they say they have never heard of anyone complaining of the difference in how it should be working. I have to try the Mylan brand tonight and if it does not work I am taking it back and going to a different pharmacy.

If the high dose prescriptions don't seem to work for you and your exercising and eating well, maybe you should try some more unorthodox remedies. I know there's a list a mile long of wives-tales about snake urine and garlic to cure insomnia but there are always a few extra tips and tricks that can help. I just found this guys blog who posts different tips and ideas to help with insomnia.He also adds entertaining stuff like nightly song suggestions to help you sleep. He only has a few posts but hes been updating them regularly. Its pretty cool some of the stuff he mentions, Id say its worth at least checking out.
Here's the link, hope this helps!: http://insomniaticmeats.blogspot.com/

I just did a search on google asking what would be the cause of my Ambien not working at all. I haven't taken any in weeks and then it dawned on me. After reading through threads. In the beginning the first Doctor I had gave me Ambien (brand name) and I had to switch Dr's when she left and the new bottle I was given looked different and they worked completely different. The brand Ambien always worked for me within 15-30 minutes. My mouth would get dry and that was my CLUE it was starting! My muscles relaxed and then if I didn't go right to bed I would start doing daring bizarre things, but I knew enough to go to bed and stay there.

With the TEVA generic Ambien, one has absolutely no affect on me, so I take 2, sit another hour that's not doing anything.I haven't had anything to eat because they tell you not to eat anything fatty before them. Sit hours longer, so I cave in and take a 3rd, which I know, maybe shouldn't have but I need to go to sleep!
Crappy thing is, I have Medicaid, there is no way they would Medicaid would approve me to take brand names would they (even for a co pay or something?) Because I'd rather pay something then get pills that are affecting my body, but yet not doing their job. My provider got my Medicaid to improve it the Ambien CD 12.5mg, but I'm sure that was a generic???? That had even slower effects on me! I really wishI could get the REAL AMBIEN that help me sleep so sound the first year or so!

Shirley wrote:

I'd like to add my 2 cents to Ambien vs Zolpidem thread. My pharmacy gave me Zolpidem manufactured by Mylan. I noticed the difference immediately: it takes a long time to kick in, my sleep is still troubled and I'm groggy when I wake up. Seems like the only difference between taking it or not taking it is that I'm groggier when I do take it.

This is similar to my experience with Zolpidem. I was able to get to sleep initially as I am often able to do. However, I am only able to sleep a few hours at a time before getting up and wandering around in a fog and the biggest drawback is that I am groggy all the next day and even have a lingering headache.

I did notice the hard shell on this pill and was thinking maybe I should crush it so that while sleeping and my digestive system was slower that it would all absorb more quickly (I assumed that it was on there for a reason and the "experts" would have known better if it was going to be an issue).

Seeing all of the side effects and dependancies to this stuff I am wondering if it is worth it at all and I may just resort to reading until tears - I am sure I can find a nice technical read to put me to sleep ;-)

Joshua wrote:

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If the high dose prescriptions don't seem to work for you and your exercising and eating well, maybe you should try some more unorthodox remedies. I know there's a list a mile long of wives-tales about snake urine and garlic to cure insomnia but there are always a few extra tips and tricks that can help. I just found this guys blog who posts different tips and ideas to help with insomnia.He also adds entertaining stuff like nightly song suggestions to help you sleep. He only has a few posts but hes been updating them regularly. Its pretty cool some of the stuff he mentions, Id say its worth at least checking out.
Here's the link, hope this helps!: http://insomniaticmeats.blogspot.com/

I have been on a healthy diet of primarily fruits, vegetables, meats and lactose free dairy for 3+ years and have been going to the gym 3 or more times a week for an hour or so and have more problems now than ever. I think I know the reasons that I have my insomnia but I just wanted to throw in that diet and excercise while they can't hurt may not help. I would still recommend diet and excercise in general but note that my doctor stressed eating your last meal of the day in the early evening/afternoon and NO caffiene after 2-3 PM. Also, he said that excercise should be done as early in the day as possible because it too can be a stimulant that can prevent good sleep.

So tired wrote:

I too have been switched to the generic Ambien (Zolpidim), I took it 3 and a half hours ago and am still wide awake. I am looking for some information as to why the generic would be different...but have been told there have been no complaints of this by the doctor and the pharmacist. Hope it works for you!
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"Nauseated" I too have been switched to Zopidim and find that I am slightly nauseated during the day, this lasts until bedtime