Disappointed with Generic Sleeping Pill

I'm surprised you didn't recommend melatonin for this person. It's a herbal capsule that enhances relaxation and sleep. My wife and I have used it for years, always with positive results and no after effects. It's also very effective to combat jet lag.

I have the same problem with generic Ambien, And guess what ? When my Doctor prescribed the generic, I took it to Wal-Mart to see if I could get the $4 prescription & it wasn't listed. I just had to pay the copay.

When I asked about the Ambien cost, The generic actually cost me about 20 cents more per tablet than the name brand Ambien. I asked my insurance company about this & was told that the copay is not based on per tablet prices. So the next time I will ask for something that doesn't have a generic version, If possible.

How can I learn where the generics are manufactured -- India, China, or where?

I use a calcium/magnesium/zinc pill when I'm having a problem sleeping. I sleep all night long after taking one.

I had tried all the conventional sleep aids, both prescribed and over the counter, including the solutions mentioned above. Melatonin was the only one that worked and that eventually lost its ability to affect my insomnia. I eventually tried Fatigued to Fantastic Revitalizing Sleep Formula, which has continued to be helpful for 3 years now. It has ingredients which are not normally mentioned in alternative sleep aid articles - such as Jamaica Dogwood.

I too have had bad experiences with generic Ambien. I have a tendency towards depression and whenever I take the generic Ambien, I find the next day I am more emotional and sometimes have suicidal thoughts.This is not the same as regular Ambien and doesn't even look the same. I never had these problems with regular Ambien.

Diphenhydramine works very well for me as a sleep aid. It does not require a prescription.

I was also switched to generic Ambien but have not noticed any real difference. A difference I did notice once was between Ambien and Ambien CR, the CR seemed more effective. My doctor said there is no real difference but I swear it worked better.

I've had the same problem with the generic of Ambien. Also what irritates me is that with my copay, I pay about 20 cents more per tablet for the generic than the actual Ambien. Insurance tried to explain, But got nowhere with them.

I had knee replacement 6 months ago, with post surgery sleep loss. Physician suggested that instead of 'sleep meds' I try OTC 2-25mg caps of diphenhydramine hydrochloride (non-addictive), active ingredient in antihistamine (allergy med), similar to another post here. I use house brand @ about 50% less than name brands --- has worked fine. Still taking it, tho planning on going to 1-25mg cap and determining how that works.

I think that diphenhydramine works well, but causes severe thirst that can wake you up from your sleep, causing again, restlessness. For about the past year, I've been taking NatraSleep from GNC. It's inexpensive, doesn't cause restlessness and has the typical herbal ingredients that help to induce sleep. I've found it's the only thing that's helped me, and hasn't lost its effect over time.

I recently had to take a decreasing dose of Prednisone which kept me awake. The Dr. prescribed Ambien, but my drug plan made me use the generic. I tried it two nights and it did not work. Only made me dizzy when I got up to the bathroom. The brand name Ambien does work.

Been taking Ambien for quite a while. The generic (Zolpidem) works just as well for me. I think its all in the head. You figure, new pill made who knows where won't work. Try not thinking about it. Herbal pills are not good for everyone. I have a cardiac condition. An herbal could affect me conversely.

I switched to the generic for Ambien and had some bad side effects. I would fall asleep quickly but couldn't stay asleep. There was a heaviness in my chest and I had trouble breathing. I had trouble catching my breath. This happened for about a month. As soon as I stopped the generic, it went away. The problem only occurred when I started taking the Zolpidem.

I don't have any problem with the generic for Ambien but that doesn't mean it will work as well for other people.
Ambien CR has more of the active ingredient (6.25 vs 5 mg and 12.5 vs 10 mg) than the regular Ambien - that is the difference.

Generic Ambien 10 mg tabs are not scored, making it difficult to split when I just want to take a half a tablet after I have been sleeping for 3 or 4 hours without taking any before I begin to sleep.

I was surprised to read the info. about Ambien vs Zolpidem. I have complained to my Dr. and pharmacist ever since being switched, and they act like it is in my head. Now I know it is not after reading all of the posts. There is a difference.

I have been taking Ambien for years. My doctor switched me to generic when it became available. I have had several different generic kinds and they absolutely do not work!

I may or may not fall asleep. If i do it's only for 3 hours at max. I recently noticed a strange smell when i use the bathroom and now i can smell it like it's just emitting from my pores. Generic Ambien is the only med i'm on so i'm sure that's what caused it. I will pay the $60 my drug plan requires for name brand and never ever try generic again. I don't know how they get it past FDA

the generic ambien is a very poor generic of the original. i'm not sure if it's the fillers or what but i am awake 2 hours after taking the pills? i think they need to redesign the ingredients....especially if this is a concern. i recommend everyone having a problem with this to inform doctors, pharmacists, and even write the drug company.

I have tried name brand Ambien and the generic. Neither did anything for me. I tired 10mg and 15mg. Lunesta didn't do anything for me either. Benadryl worked but gave me restless legs so it was pointless since I wasn't getting a solid nights rest. Unisom worked but left me hung over the whole next day at half a pill. Rozerem was the only thing that has worked, granted I can only take half a pill or I feel hungover. I guess everybody is different. You just got to find the dosage and med that works for you.

I don't understand why pharmaceutical companies say generic is the same. It is not! Every time I refill my Ambien rx it's from a different manufacture. They all work different. With some brands I only sleep 2-3 hours.

I had been getting the generic version of Ambien from Target and it worked so well. Recently I switched to Rite Aid and have not had a good nights rest since.

My husband has been taking ambien for over 15 years. We just recently moved (in dec) and switched from wal-mart to rite aid. He was getting the generic at both pharmacies, but only in the past few months has he had any problems. He literally went from sleeping like a log to tossing and turning all night.

Today I made him call the pharmacy and the pharmacist actually told him that he (after 15 yrs) was probably just getting too used to it - NEVER was there any mention of this "problem" that I have only discovered since searching the WWW tonight! My husband called his doctor and he called in a prescription of the name brand ambien at a cost of $290!! for a 30 day supply!

That's $280 more then we normally pay - which to my husbands sanity is worth it, but seems unfair just the same. I can't believe what a problem this is - and I'm wondering if it is the reason why since moving I too have had problems with a prescription for birth control I've been taking.

I was taking 1 from from wal-mart and since moving the prescription to rite aid in Jan, I've been all messed up and even had a lump in my breast last month. Never had a problem before moving the prescription. I think back to how many generic prescriptions our kids and us have taken over the years never knowing what an epidemic this is and it scares the life out of me!

I hope someone takes notice and makes these pharmacies change - they should not be allowed to make all of their decisions based solely on "bottom line" when dealing with the health of their patrons.

I've been taking ambien for about 5 yrs, for the last 4 months they have been giving me generics.. I can't sleep, my tummy is so bad now, I get up throwing up all day from taking the generics the night before. My hairs falling out so bad I've developed alopecia areata, I've had test done to see if there were any other reasons why I would be throwing up or losing hair but everything looks beautiful as they put it.

Brand ambien was a life saver for me especially for someone who suffers with bad insomnia and horrible migraines from not sleeping well, but these generics are making me so depressed and ill. I'll discontinue use myself since my Dr. "Didn't know they were giving me generics" I'll suffer from insomnia for a while but hopefull my hair will grow back.

Brand name always worked great for me. Then I got Mylan generic about the first week generics were available. I took 1.5, then 2, then 2.5 tabs eventually over the first week or 10 days because of lack of potency. I actually took the pills back to the pharmacy because I thought there must have been a mistake because they did NOTHING. Nope. The stock bottle was used so much apparently it was right there an arms length away from the person I talked to at the counter and she poured a couple out and they were the same. She looked at me like I was some kind of nut job.

By the way, I'm a hospital pharmacist. This is the first issue I have ever had with a generic med of my own. I paid extra for the brand name until that rx ran out. I still get Mylan a year or so later from them. It works now about half as well as brand name this last year. I swear there was no active ingredient in the Mylan product the first few months I was getting it.

What many people do not know is that the FDA, in terms of "Bioequivelency"
allows a margin of error between 80 - 125 percent commensurate with the brand. The 80 - 125 rule has remained, sadly, very "hush hush" but if you do some research, you will find that what I am saying is correct. This is why generics may be less, or in some cases, more potent, than the brand.

Brand name Ambien worked well for me for a few years. When generic was available and I started taking it, it seemed to be okay. In the past few months, the generic I've been getting at Wal-mart makes me feel terrible. Their price actually went down recently and i was told that generic drugs can come from many different drug companies.

Walmart will buy it from the company who offers it the cheapest at the time. My guess is that because it's such a popular drug, more and more companies are making generic ambien (zolpidem). I'm convinced that my generic I have now is very different from brand name ambien.

I actually stay up later than I normally would and I feel really weird--almost like a strong anti-cholinergic effect. I also feel really weird and horrible mentally the next day. It took me a while to realize that it was like I was taking a totally different drug. I'm never taking it again.

These comments about generic Ambien are all over. I can't believe someone hasn't launched a class action lawsuit over this. The only reason I'm saying this is because at the moment I got up out of bed in the middle of the night because of that crappy generic stuff I just got from the pharmacy and now have nothing to do but read online that it's true.....

I've been using Ambien for years and my new doctor switched me to zolpidem. Under current regulation, there can be variations in potency with generics. Different pharmacies carry different brands of zolpidem. I currently get mine at CVS here in CA and I swear it doesn't work as well as what I used to get with Longs. There is also no scoring. One thing I have noticed, tho, even with Ambien, it's effect does diminish over a long period of time.

I went through the same thing. However a different brand of generic worked. I switched back to my old pharmacy generic and all is fine, in fact I take half a pill on their generic. All the generics are not the same, if one does not work switch pharmacies, find out what brand you are taking now, call around and see if someone in your area uses a different generic. They do make a difference. It is awful not to be able to sleep, I know... good luck

I have had insomnia problems for months now. I went to the doctor and he prescribed the generic Ambien called Zolpidem. I tried it for a few days and felt drowsy and could not function the next day. I became very depressed and will go back to Ambien CR 6.25. I tried to not take anything before bedtime but am not having good results along those lines, not getting enough sleep is making me miserable. I have tried Melatonin and am still drowsy the next day. I can't function very well with not getting enough sleep.

omg. I received Zolpidem yesterday to help with my insomnia - it literally did nothing, I tossed and turned all night. My finance said I woke him in the middle of the night (which I do not remember), I do not feel like I slept, I feel like I had a lucid sleep if that makes any sense. I got mine from Walgreens, I was so upset I called the pharmacy in the morning... and the only way for me to get the Ambien version was for me to call my doc, get a new Rx, and pay an additional $200+ since my insurance will no longer pay. I have taken Ambien before and whatever I took last night was not it - not even close... it is remarkable how this drug passed as generic.

I have been taking Zolpidem 10 mg for over 2 years (I am very under-insured/self employed with little or no discount for medicines ...The Zolpidems do not work for me by taking just one so I cut a piece of another to hope that will work) when that doesn't work and I take the last bit of Zolpidem (which now means I have ingested 20mg's) and it gets me to sleep about an hour + later but I wake up in the night, etc. and takes me a long time to really feel awake and not groggy.

Sometimes I feel depressed the next day.... Recently I visited a friend and she gave me one of her brand name Ambien-CR.12.5... OMG... I could not believe the difference in how peaceful my sleep was.... I didn't wake up during the night and I felt fantastic and not groggy the next day. I was convinced these were not close to being the same drug. I called my Walgreen's and even the pharmacist took me to the side and said that his wife gets no response from them either. WHAT??

Now I am really mad.... what the hell is going on here? So, my doc changed the script to the Ambien CR12.5 and $312 is what they wanted. Even with the insurance it is still over 300. Needless to say, I sucked it up to settle for the Zolpidem (which still costs me $60. I went to get it filled today at Walgreens and took 20 mgs and am absolutely sure it's a different batch cause here I am at 4:06 am and WIDE AWAKE... Bitch all you want about politics, but these are the posts that everyone making decisions for us on health care should read.

Everyone is SO right! The generic Ambien (Zolpidem) is horrible! I am taking the 10 mg dose and it did absolutely nothing! Then, I started taking (2) 10 mg tabs at night just to be able to fall asleep (not stay asleep). I asked my doctor for an increase in the dose but he refused! Before I lost my insurance, I was taking the generic Sonata (brand is cost prohibitive) and got an excellent night's sleep but even the generic is out of my price range! So back to the generic rip-off Ambien....

The poster who mentioned "bio-equivalency" is correct. A generic has to be at least 80% of the ingredients of the brand. Never heard of a generic having MORE of the active ingredient and yes, there is a difference in generic drug companies! So guess what? For an insomniac, Sleep Apnea and narcolepsy patient, I guess I am at the mercy of the governmental regulations concerning generics. Even with insurance, most insurance companies won't pay for the brand without a high co-pay if at all.

If I did not think even a hour of sleep was worth it, I would pitch the generic Ambien and just wait until I can get or afford the generic Sonata!

RUTH..... Just because it works for you doesn't mean that when it doesn't work for me it's all in my mind. I always get generics, no matter what drug it is. To me there is absolutely no difference. Until today. I was prescribed Ambien and I asked for the generic Zolpidem. The doc said to take a half a pill the first couple of times. 2 hours later I felt nothing so I took a whole one (tripling the doctor recommended dosage). It's been 4 hours since then and I'm still awake, typing this.

I feel absolutely nothing. it made my hands and feet sweat for a little while but that is the only noticeable effect. It simply does not work for me. I have never tried Ambien brand or the controlled release. I'm wondering if they might work or if I should just try another medication entirely. Can anyone out there help me out and suggest some options or alternatives to Ambien? Is Lunesta better?

Ambien 5 worked great for me: after 30 minutes, 8 hours of restful sleep. HEAVEN! I was excited when generics became available. Money in my pocket!! I had no thought that it would have any result different than "real" ambien. Generic Zolpidem 10 has various outcomes based on manufacturer. Zolpidem 10 manufactured by Teva has zero value. No sleep. None. Zolpidem 10 manufactured by Northstar has fair value. 60 plus minutes until 4 hours of restful sleep. After my poor result with Teva zolpidem, I then decided to look it up on line. WOW!! I couldn't believe how many comments confirmed that this was a genuine issue. How can this go on for years?!?!

Target is now switching from Northstar to Sandoz. Does anyone have any experience with this manufacturer?
This is a list of manufacturers that I have found, and some input from collective comments.

Do you have a comment regarding any of the manufacturers listed below? Thanks!

Actavis Elizabeth
Apotex -- mixed results, more positive
AuroBindo Pharma
Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories
Dr. Reddy's Laboratories -- Consistently found ineffective
Genpharm, L.P.
Mutual Pharmaceutical
Mylan Pharmaceuticals -- mixed results, more negative
Prasco Laboratories -- mixed results
Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals
Roxane Laboratories
Sandoz Pharmaceuticals
Synthon Pharmaceuticals
Teva Pharmaceuticals -- Consistently found ineffective
Watson Pharmaceuticals -- one positive comment
Wockhardt Americas

I deal with CVS. I did not know ambien cr had a generic until 4 months ago. My pharmacy said it was not out yet. Looking at the dates of your comments, zolpidem was out April of 08. Is Florida that behind???

PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: AMBIEN CR IS THE SLOW RELEASE FORM, AND WAS PROTECTED LONGER THAN THE REGULAR RELEASE.

Hi I've been trying to get off the generic ambien and just this past weekend got my refill and noticed walgreens switched manufacturers from teva to mylan, and the mylan doesn't allow me to sleep at all, I've done nothing but toss and turn for the last two days, anyway I bought some melatonin and was wondering how much do you take at night to help you sleep, I took one 5 mg last night and it did relax me and let me into a light sleep but not a deep sleep.

I've been taking Ambien for well over 10 years and when the generic, zolpidem, came out I began taking that. I guess that was a year or so ago. Over the past few weeks I have noticed problems falling asleep. And this morning, at 4:20, when I was still wandering around, completely wide awake it dawned on me that this generic was simply NOT working. The manufacturer of the generic I'm using is Sandoz.

I know I'm going to have to switch back to the brand, which is going to cost a fortune. I don't want to pay an arm and a leg for this med.

I used to defend generics as equivalent to brand name drugs, but lately I've been noticing that not only does the zolpidem not work, the generic zyrtec (cetirizing) and generic allegra don't work either. This is ridiculous.

This makes me sick, I have been taking Ambien CR for over 3 years now to help with my acute insomnia. I had to fight with my prescription service to get it instead of a worthless generic, for 90 pills I paid @$98.

Now our coverage has changed and I can only get 30 pills at a time for $101 from Costco. I've tried the generics two other times with absolutely no luck. It is horrible not to sleep. I don't know what to do because I cannot afford the $100 a month but cannot afford not to get sleep.
Sleepy in Northern CA.

My doctor told me to use a generic brand of sleeping pills because it would be a lot cheaper than what he would give me. I now use equate Nighttime Sleep Aid. it worked but only for a week or so and now it seems like it does nothing for me but just make me feel wide awake.

I have had terrible insomnia for years and was initially prescribed Ambien CR 12.5. My insurance company wanted the generic (zolpidem) prescribed instead. I have been taking the 10 mg. tablets for months now with no success. I'd rather spend the extra $$$ on Ambien (as much as I don't want to), but I think it's got to be better than typing at 4:45 a.m.

Why with so many complaints against Teva's version of Ambien is nothing being done? I am a nurse, another poster was a pharmacist. I also took my bottle back to the pharmacy thinking there had been a mistake. Something is terribly wrong with Teva's version of Ambien, and to prove it throw me into a sleep study and feed me as many Teva tablets as you like - I will remain wide awake. Give me one Ambien, and I will sleep like a baby.

I just got zolpidem ER from a local pharmacy in NJ. I don't know who the manufacturer is. They are round blue pills. They are HORRIBLE. Both Ambien and Ambien-CR were much better.

I was prescribed generic ambien for insomnia. I use Walgreens pharmacy in Massachusetts and they carry the Teva brand generic, for me it is not effective in inducing sleep. Finally I was visiting a friend who is also prescribed a generic form of ambien, he saw that I took my Teva brand and was still wide awake so the next night he gave me a half of his version of ambien.

His brand put me out in fifteen minutes, it was amazing that one brand was that much more effective than another. He uses Aurobindo 10mg pills and they work just as good as the original ambien did for me years earlier. The problem is finding a pharmacy in my area that carries that particular brand of generic.

The Sandoz generic version seems to work pretty well for me. Ask your pharmacist to order the next time from Sandoz.

On Zolpidem since 9/11/2001. Began taking generics through Rite-Aid (northeast) and found the round white worked fine and that I sometimes even cut them in half if I was going to bed after 1 AM so I do not oversleep. However occasionally Rite Aid runs out of one manufacturer and give me others; here is what I have experienced:
With Mylan, I can't even begin to fall asleep as I get a drug induced anxiety symptom, my heart rate increases in little bursts and its scary. So I don't take that at all. If they try to give me that I automatically ask for something different

With NorthStar, I need to double the dose for a solid restful nights sleep. Unfortunately I then run out of them before the insurance will pay for a refill.

With the (round white - I don't know the name) I seem fine and can sleep fine.

Remember that any medication will work differently on everybody, but that it also depends on what you ate, how much food is in your system? The pill will be absorbed differently especially if you ate a meal that taxes the digestive resources (steak, salad potato)at 8:30 PM and then expect to fall asleep by 11... also, did you consume alcohol? That affects the absorption too and sometimes renders the medication ineffective, for me....

Thanks for the interesting posts. I learned a lot about the generics and will check back for more information..

I hope all have a wonderful restful sleep if possible. Insomnia is relentless and it sucks because the pace of life does not slow down for any of us to "catch up" does it?

B Well.

The best medication for sleep (anxiety & depression) for me is TRAZADONE. I've used this for 15 years and have recommended it to many people. It is an old drug and very inexpensive. Some people report feeling "drugged" the next day. Fortunately, I feel amazingly refreshed. Without it, I don't get into a deep sleep. I just feel like I "drift" all night. I hope you will ask your physician for this. It has been a life saver for me.

I agree with Betty; I was prescribed Trazodone for depression and my Doctor told me to continue taking Zolpidem for sleep. The combination of the 2 works to put me to sleep, and keep me asleep for the entire night. Sometimes I am tired in the morning, but not often. Just be sure to take these meds when you are in the bed, ready for sleep.

I have been dealing with this issue also its nice to know I am not alone, but am sorry for all of you guys too, there is one generic that I have found that really works and I have tried almost all of them, is a lavender colored round pill larger kinda aspirin sized, its made by mylan and it really works, it's light purple and works as well as the name brand, walgreens seems to be the only ones I can get to special order them for me, but stay away from the ones that come pre-bottled in 30 count and are capsule shaped they are sealed and do nothing at all for me.