Last month, finally, a generic version of ambien was released. (Ambien is the most popular prescription sleeping pill.) Costco has them (at least thru their mail-order pharmacy): 30 10mg pills cost $12.47, with free shipping.
The reason this is a hot deal is only partly the availability of the generic (the brand name costs $133.) The other part is Costco. 30 pills at Walgreens of the GENERIC version is $114.99!! I realize that Walgreens and other local pharmacies charge more than Costco, but I've never seen a 10x price differential before.
Only problem is that Ambien has been known to cause semi-permanent memory loss. Especially if you take one and then wake up after only an hour or two and stay awake (not a good idea). Also, many people have been known to SLEEP EAT, Yes eating everything in the kitchen with no memory of it the next day (My father used to do that, all the ice-cream missing next day!). Sweet Dreams !
I would sleep clean. Would wake up the next day and the house would be clean but I didn't remember doing it.
ChrisF
Senior Member
posted: May. 20, 2007 @ 3:16a
For some people it works wonders. For some it doesn't. Side effects will vary from person to person. It's probably not great to take it for an extended term, but then again, there aren't many good sleeping drugs out there as of yet.
Last time I checked (2 weeks ago) SF local stores didn't have the 10mg size yet. it's a smooth ride tranfering the rx from the warehouse to the central office.
That's the "old" Ambien not the "new" Ambien C/R which is why it's now available in generic.
. queentut said: Last month, finally, a generic version of ambien was released. (Ambien is the most popular prescription sleeping pill.) Costco has them (at least thru their mail-order pharmacy): 30 10mg pills cost $12.47, with free shipping.
The reason this is a hot deal is only partly the availability of the generic (the brand name costs $133.) The other part is Costco. 30 pills at Walgreens of the GENERIC version is $114.99!! I realize that Walgreens and other local pharmacies charge more than Costco, but I've never seen a 10x price differential before.
MisterEd said: That's the "old" Ambien not the "new" Ambien C/R which is why it's now available in generic.
The only reason there is an Ambien-CR is because the companies patent expired on regular Ambien. Every manufacturer comes out with a me too drug trying to retain market share when one of their Blockbuster drug goes off patent.
mike4cards
Senior Member
posted: May. 20, 2007 @ 9:08a
I got my 30 day supply from my local independant discount drug store and it was $ 8.99 for 30 of the 10mg tablets of ZOLPIDEM. They work as well as the Ambien that they replaced and I am enjoying the $ 41.00 savings.
mike4cards said: I got my 30 day supply from my local independant discount drug store and it was $ 8.99 for 30 of the 10mg tablets of ZOLPIDEM. They work as well as the Ambien that they replaced and I am enjoying the $ 41.00 savings.
There was an occasion in which I took two Ambien inadvertantly before I hosted a BBQ... I was spontaneously sleep walking - into walls, tables, etc. I'd doze off in midsentence and wake up and finish it. Had some crazy dreams about the devil and he was wearing some really crazy shoes...
For people worried about side effects: You don't have to take the full 10 mg. dose. It's easy to break a tablet into halves or thirds, and for some people that's enough to get to sleep while lowering the risk of aftereffects.
My absolute favorite side effect in any drug commercial, mentioned in the Ambien ad: MAY CAUSE DROWSINESS!
ChrisF said: For some people it works wonders. For some it doesn't. Side effects will vary from person to person. It's probably not great to take it for an extended term, but then again, there aren't many good sleeping drugs out there as of yet.
Val
Ancient Member
posted: May. 20, 2007 @ 12:32p
Thank you so much for this post. My mom takes this and is paying for the brand name. I checked on the generic version With the mail in pharmacy she uses, it would be $187.51 compared to $21.73 for Costco pharmacy. That is a huge savings.
robby69 said: The only reason there is an Ambien-CR is because the companies patent expired on regular Ambien. Every manufacturer comes out with a me too drug trying to retain market share when one of their drugs goes off patent.
Exactly what my physician said when he was handing me a bag full of Ambien CR samples... I use it when I travel, as I can't sleep in an airplane without it (or a 2 by 4). Great for jet lag, too, the first night overseas.
These are also available thru Caremark and other company mail order drug plans... mine would cost $20 for 90 tablets (zolpidem 10 mg).
zevilone said: ambien is fun.....if you fight off the sleep you will hallucinate.....and ambien + jagermeister = party timeI certainly hope you're only making a bad joke...
Markfaafp
Senior Member - 1K
posted: May. 20, 2007 @ 10:33p
All this talk has gotton me very tired. I think that I will go to sleep.
I could use some Ambien now. I have never tried it, do I just ask my doctor for a prescription? Is it something to be embarrassed about? Would I need to schedule an appointment specifically to get a prescription? Any info would be greatly appreciated.
My doc gave me a RX for Ambien... (the 4 hour, pill, not the 8 hour one).
I also got the opposite of this pill.... It is called Provigil. Provigil will help keep you awake, as long as you stay active. Provigil keeps you awake, as Ambien, would help keep you asleep, and as Viagra, helps keep you hard (i guess)
I work graveyard, and there is a disorder called 3rd shift disorder, I recall... kinda funny, that there is a symptom/disorder for everything here in America!
queentut said: 30 pills at Walgreens of the GENERIC version is $114.99!!
funny that ... i just picked up (on friday) a refill of ambien and the pharmacist substituted the generic zolpidem ... noticed the price difference (i only pay $10 copay). the manufacturer of the generic i received was Teva, which makes all kinds of generic drugs.
Corganiacs said: benadryl 25 mg knocks my sorry ass out. I take 2 benadryl, 100mg elavil, muscle relaxer, triazolam, and drink alcohol, and still don't sleep.
Or I can take Ambien and get to sleep. This deal is extremely hot IMO, as Ambien costs $120+ on my current HDHP. I haven't slept well in years, except for the couple of times I bit the bullet and paid up.
It certainly does have it's negatives, but if you actually go to sleep when you take it, you can avoid most of them.
I do have a problem with waking up after 3-4 hours, but at least I get that much sleep. Ambien CR doesn't have enough of the quick-acting Ambien to put me to sleep, so it's not a very good solution for me.
Has all Ambien gone generic, or just the "regular" version? I'm interested in the CR
Also, to clarify...you don't have to be a member of Sam's or Costco to use their pharmacy. I think there's something illegal about that which is why it's open to everyone regardless of membership (heard it on the local news, so you know it's true )
JayGatsby
Senior Member
posted: May. 21, 2007 @ 11:10a
slackerace said: Has all Ambien gone generic, or just the "regular" version? I'm interested in the CR
Ambien CR = new formulation = new patent, new FDA approval, etc.
So, no, only the regular Ambien is generic. It will be a LONG time befor Ambien CR goes generic, by which time there will be better generics available anyway (Rozerem, Lunesta, etc).
If you have insurance, Rozerem seems to be the best choice now, as it has no dependency effects. If you have no insurance, $12 for Ambien is a great deal.
youngchemist2003
Senior Member
posted: May. 21, 2007 @ 11:11a
I'm a Pharm.D student. Thought I'll provide some basic information on Zolpidem (aka Generic Ambien) we have.
DrugPoint® Summary ZOLPIDEM TARTRATE Details in DRUGDEX® ZOLPIDEM Tradenames
* Zolpidem is a hypnotic agent unrelated to benzodiazepines, or barbiturates. Zolpidem binds the benzodiazepine (BZ) receptor subunit of the GABA-A receptor complex, which is hypothesized to be responsible for sedative, anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, and myorelaxant properties. The preferential binding of zolpidem to the BZ1 receptor may explain the relative absence of myorelaxant and anticonvulsant effects as well as the preservation of deep sleep (stages 3 and 4) of zolpidem at hypnotic doses .
Details in DRUGDEX® ZOLPIDEM # Pharmacokinetics Absorption
* Oral, tablets: rapid * Oral, extended-release tablets: initial rapid release followed by slow release core * Bioavailability: (Oral, tablets) 70% * Effect of food: decreases bioavailability
# Distribution
* Vd: 0.54 L/kg * Protein binding: 92.5% (range 92.4% to 92.6%)
# Metabolism
* Hepatic
# Excretion
* Renal: 48 to 67% * Fecal: 29% to 42% * Dialyzable: no (hemodialysis)
# Elimination Half Life
* Adult, tablets: 2.5 h to 2.8 h (range 1.4 h to 4.5 h) * Adult, extended-release tablets: 2.8 h (range 1.6 h to 4 h) * Elderly (greater than 70 y), tablets: 2.9 h * Elderly (greater than 64 y), extended-release tablets: 2.9 h (range 1.6 h to 5.5 h) * Chronic hepatic insufficiency: 9.9 h (range 4.1 h to 25.8 h)
Details in DRUGDEX® ZOLPIDEM Contraindications
* hypersensitivity to zolpidem tartrate or any component of the product
Details in DRUGDEX® ZOLPIDEM Precautions
* abrupt withdrawal; may cause severe withdrawal symptoms * anaphylaxis; may occur as early as the first dose * angioedema; potentially fatal swelling of the throat, glottis, or larynx have been rarely reported (may occur as early as the first dose) * concurrent use of alcohol or CNS depressants; may increase risk of complex sleep-related behaviors * depression; may exacerbate symptoms including suicidal thinking * diseases or conditions that affect metabolism or hemodynamic response * elderly or debilitated patients; increased risk of impaired motor and/or cognitive performance * exceeding recommended dose; increases risk of complex sleep-related behaviors and other adverse events * hepatic impairment; drug elimination may be prolonged * renal impairment * respiratory impairment; may depress respiratory drive * sleep-related behaviors, complex; possibility of patients performing activities while asleep, with no memory afterwards; includes sleep-driving, making phone calls, and preparing and eating food * sleep apnea, mild to moderate; may depress respiratory drive
I personally took some Ambien couple of years ago, for stress induced insomnia. It's a very potent sleep-aid, as I can't fight it to stay awake. The main concern is that you shouldn't use it for long, as you have the potential to become dependent on it.
Sanofi wanted to hold onto the patent hence came out with the CR version. Once that expires they will come out with the SR version which will be claimed to be "better".
fentonpcrackshell
Senior Member - 3K
posted: May. 21, 2007 @ 11:24a
Yeah, we pay ~$1.30 (cost) for #30 at my job. we are baffled as to why it is so cheap tho, since generic drugs usually take quite some time to come down in price; at least to this level. This is an insane cost for a 1st to market generic. Even the once-cheaper benzodiazepine alternatives (namely restoril) cost more than this. The only thing I can figure is that Sanofi-Aventis manufactured a LOT for Prasco, knowing that their patent expiry was around the corner, and that forced the other mfr's down in price. But even that would be shooting themselves in the foot by causing people they've successfully switched over to CR to switch back because of price. Maybe not since the AWP is still very high. I dunno. Anyways, if you are taking the brand still and are weary of generics, go for Prasco- they are made by the brand name mfr still (they don't make their own drugs). only difference is the imprint. IQ70 said: Sanofi wanted to hold onto the patent hence came out with the CR version. Once that expires they will come out with the SR version which will be claimed to be "better".Technologically they usually are better...
markrussellsmith said: The best cure for insomnia is a good night's sleep
Luckily I don't usually have problems sleeping, but when I do I take melatonin. A pot of 300 cost about $5 from Costco and will probably last me a lifetime.
You ignorant ***. Insomnia is a medical problem with SERIOUS consequences on people's health and quality of life. You also become a danger when you're operating cars or machines without sleep. It's EASY to say get a good nights sleep but there are millions of people suffer and there if something works, you use it.
Ambien is a good drug because it clears your system quickly and doesn't cause PHYSICAL dependence like Benzo (where you get physically sick if you discontinue a regiment). s
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