Whats better for sleep? Immediate release only works for a short time and then i wake up in the middle of my sleep. I haven't tried Ambien Cr but want to try it, whats the half life on it? Is it as effective as the IR Ambien? And how long does it take to kick in?

I took Ambien CR and it worked well for me at first and I was able to stay asleep. After awhile it was the same and the price difference was a big reason that I went back to the plain generic.

Ive tried both. I have been on ambien for 5 years. My doc tells me that it is ok to take as long as it works. Personally; I like the regular ambien better than the CR. I have noticed that some generics are not as good as others so I have to make sure to go to the right pharmacy to get my script.
I know its bad but; the CR is better if cut in half and taken all at once. I know that you are NOT supposed to crush, chew, etc CR tablets but it does the trick. The price difference is a HUGE turn off. I can't believe the difference. It's 5.00 with insurance for 30 tabs of the generic and 34.00 for 30 of the CR. Does anyone know when they are going to make a generic CR version?
Oh yeah, ask your doc if he has samples. drug reps LOVE to hand out samples to docs like candy. My doc once gave me 20 samples for free

Hrmmmm, haven't tried cutting it in half. I have to take the CR since I do wacky mean stuff on the regular. The CR does help me keep from waking up in the middle of the night though.

I THINK they won't come out with a generic until 10 yrs after the med was introduced. They are allowed to do that to recoup the R&D cost it took to make the med.

I'll have to try your suggestion. It keeps me asleep, but doesn't put me to sleep.

That was my issue with this med too. It wouldn't put me to sleep like the regular ambien did. I think it released it too slow. When I cut it in half and swallow it; it does put me to sleep and keeps me asleep...if only it were not so expensive!

Ambien worked very well for me for a couple of years. As I started taking it daily, I seemed to develop a tolerance. As you all say, it would only keep me asleep for a couple of hours.

My understanding is this is a common occurrence with Ambien called "rebound insomnia". As you become tolerant, you begin to wake up after 4 or so hours.

The answer was Ambien CR, which releases about half the dose initially to put you do sleep, and the rest dissolves slowly to keep you asleep. Also, I believe it allowed the company to maintain a patent on CR for a few more years in the US. There is no generic Ambien CR here that I know of.

I do okay with ambien if I do not take it every night. I try an ambien-break on weekends using benzos, otc sleep meds, etc.

Nice info. Thanks.