Has anyone used Ambien to help nerve pain? I use it and it helps for several hours?

I can believe I found this thread!
Yes, Zolpidem has probably saved my life! After a Total Right Knee Replacement three years ago, I developed severe chronic sciatic-like symptoms with pain and burning running down the back of my right thigh and Hamstring down to the back of my knee. I have had 6 epidural steroid injections in the lumbar spine, been on all the usual drugs like Gabapentin, Lyrica, Duloxetine, and Effexor, plus Tramadol without any relief at all. I noticed that Ambien (Zolpidem) taken for sleep almost immediately made the pain go away at night. So, one day I tried 1/2 pill in the middle of the day and viola, pain gone! I have been using it during the day ever since then for pain relief! The only problem is the effect only last for a couple of hours and I don't have enough Zolpidem to treat it this way all the time. The Doctors think I am crazy and are now recommending a Spinal Stimulator. I also wish a clinical trail could be conducted to officially explore this amazing effect on severe nerve pain.

Get your AMBIEN from a liberal PSYCHIATRIST. I believe it helps my Trigeminal Neuralgia.

I have used it and it works far better that lyrica only trouble u can only get 30 tablets need to study this it is amazing

I have had ME/CFS for 26 years. Zolpidem is the only sleep medication I can use that does not worsen my brain fog and fatigue the next day. Even Better, Zolpidem diminishes the severe intensity of my 3 day episodes of whole body, buzzing electrical pain to a point that is tolerable without making me sleepy. Usually 1/2 a tablet will carry me for 4-6 hours. I have these episodes several times a month, so figuring out Zolpidem helps was a Godsend to me. Over the years I have been to many pain specialists and neurologists and tried everything they suggested, as well as all the dietary changes and supplements that were reported to help.

Drug Companies - Please do the research and get Zolpidem approved for intractable nerve pain. Please!!! It is hard for me to manage my allowed supply for both my insomnia and episodes of severe pain.

Yes! I actually have had severe pain for 7 years. Have tried gabapentin, lyrica, Cymbalta and narcotics which either no help or make it worse. I discovered by taking ambien for sleep that it helped my pain and so I tried it day time and cut in quarters and it helps me. I do not drive on it, but this is the only thing that gives me relief and a little quality of life. My pain doctors think it's weird, but they allow it. I don't like taking it, but its that or level 10 pain. I have crps, central pain, fibromyalgia, hernia mesh pain and more. I do get some side effects, but I pray that it could be used off label so that I would feel better about taking it. I am allowed 2, but I back off because tolerance happens.

It seems to work well to relieve Musculo/skeletal pain and arthritis. Zolpidem(Ambien)is a controlled substance, so dosage and quantity limits apply, including refills without a new Rx. But I got off narcotics for arthritic pain due to a broken ankle by taking Ambien.

Individuals who remark that "Ambien is a sleeping pill and should not be used for other purposes." should research "off label use" of MANY MODERN PHARMACEUTICALS. This is widespread and helpful. It actually is safer for patients to have physician oversight. For legal and insurance reasons it is not "talked about" in a public setting. Same reason most docs won't talk about physician assisted suicide. Before Kevorkian made the publicity so focused, docs would tell terminal patients that "when it gets too intense just tell me and I will turn up the morphine drip". I heard one say, "since Kevorkian I'm afraid to do this"

Yes !

Ambien or Zolpidem is a very effective sleep medicine. It's considered in the family of "hallucinogens". It can put you to sleep very quickly, so you should only take it when you are at home. Doctors will not prescribe it off label for pain because of the dangers of falling asleep while using the medication. Also, Ambien is a Federally controlled substance, Schedule 4, and doctors and pharmacies are limited to dosage and quantity restrictions(1 tablet/day). Also, insurance companies have the same limits, or they will not pay for the medication. Suggestion for pain(it really does work): get a good pill cutter and determine what is the minimum dosage that will keep you awake, while at the same time reduce your pain issue. My doctor prescribes the maximum dosage(10 mg). If I'm up and about or at home but not in bed, 5 mg will stop my arthritis pain in my ankle(broken years ago), and not put me asleep. But I use the other 5 mg for sleep at night in bed with lights out. Good luck.

It's been two years since I've seen these post. I hope someone is in here . I have chronic bad pain and overactive nerves pain. When I take ambiens it lowers my pain so greatly that I have quality of life. I hate to know doctors don't take this seriously and shrug their shoulders as it's a joke. Ambien is not only a sleep meds it has other benefits too. I'm wondering how do we talk to change laws on this medication?

It works great

Yes it works better than lyrica

Yes I could not believe how much Ambien helps my neuropathy... Wow

I have a telling experience, I took 10mg Ambien due to insomnia but after hours no effect then took another and eventually fell asleep. It should be noted I am taking 25mg Amitriptyline which can be used for nerve pain but that is not why I am prescribed. Anyway a day or two later without dosing Ambien I get a burning stabbing pain in the leg but thinking it is a physical issue try to extract whatever is causing the issue, to no avail. I notice that the pain when investigated seems to spread slightly, the locus gets bigger. My theory is whatever Ambien does for people to relieve neuropathic pain it will cause an increase in symptoms when stopped being taken, given I went from no pain to significant pain in such a short amount of time and with one dose (I do not take Ambien often at all).