Ambien support

[[Ne...]]

Hi! Someone on Reddit recommended your site and I've found it to be supportive and helpful and am excited to join! I've had "issues" with Ambien for five years now. Currently Ambien free for five days but it doesn't take much for me to relapse. I am looking for support and ideas to stay sober, and to share stories with those who have similar issues.

Thank you!

[[ma...]]

Hello Newday42

 

Welcome to Benzo Buddies.  Congratulations on deciding to get off of the Ambien.  There are many BB members who have successfully discontinued this drug. Did you taper off slowly?  While Ambien is not a benzo its a z drug and does impact the same part of the nervous system as a benzo.  It is important to taper slow and gradually off these types of medications.  It is generally suggested to taper no more than 5-10% every 10-14 days,  this helps to minimize withdrawal effects.

 

I will leave a link to the Ashton Manual, although it discusses benzo withdrawal, there is some information about Z drugs.

 

Professor Ashtons Manual

Z-DRUG SUPPORT GROUP

 

We have a very helpful and friendly community. Please feel free to ask questions. So that members can respond with the appropriate information Please take time to add a signature (history of meds/doses etc) it will help members give you relevant advice. 

 

Go to the top of the page and select PROFILE then choose forum profile then insert drug history into the text box and remember to click change profile

 

Welcome aboard

Magrita

 

[[al...]]

Welcome Newday42,

Ambien was my demon drug. At least it became that when I started taking it too often and had to increase my dosage. The prescribing info for Ambien says that it is only intended for short-term use at no more than 5 mg. for females and 10 mg. for males. I actually was not aware of this so I was taking too much and grew tolerant to it to the point where 20 mg. did not put me to sleep for more than a couple of hours.

 

I don't know if you experienced the need to take more of the drug to fall asleep and if you are now experiencing insomnia and other withdrawal symptoms since you got off, but my advice is to get rid of your pills and do not refill your prescription. It is very much recommended that people ease off benzos to reduce the potentially nasty withdrawal symptoms, but there is a debate on whether it is best to just get off of Ambien rapidly or do so via a slow taper. The drug has a very short half-life so you can actually experience anxiety, depression and a bunch of other withdrawal symptoms between dosages. This is why some folks (myself included) simply opt to do a rapid taper and just hang on for the ride.

 

If you are still off of the drug I would suggest not getting back on again because going off and on can actually make things worse in the long run. Keeping your bottle of pills around means that you are thinking of taking them if things start to get a little rough again. Doing this is like not paying a bill in the hopes that it would go away, when in reality interest just adds up.

 

Congratulations on your decision to get off Ambien. It is not a nice and safe sleeping aid like people often believe. It can be real nasty drug when improperly used.