Z-Drug Support Group (Lunesta, Imovane, Zimovane, Ambien, Sonata, Zopiclone)

[[ka...]]

Hi Mandala,

 

I am sorry you took it that way.!!! I can totally read between the lines. (even being sleep deprived my brain is not that slow). Its my anxiety being huge today.. I keep surfing when I don t need to.  I have internalized too many different peoples experiences.

Anyway, thank you so much, and I will try and keep everyone posted on my progress....you have given me hope!

[[Ca...]]

Hi Mandala,

 

I am sorry you took it that way.!!! I can totally read between the lines. (even being sleep deprived my brain is not that slow). Its my anxiety being huge today.. I keep surfing when I don t need to.  I have internalized too many different peoples experiences.

Anyway, thank you so much, and I will try and keep everyone posted on my progress....you have given me hope!

 

Kayden

 

Mandala definitely knows her stuff.

That being said, everyone must choose their own path on this journey.

 

One thing I can tell you about my journey is that you can survive on a lot less sleep than you think. I spent about a year getting 1-2 hours total a night.

I looked for all kinds of things to help it but something in my sleep mechanism got so broken that nothing helped for a long time.

Both Mandala and I have been plagued with similar symptoms .

 

Carol

[[ka...]]

Hi Carol, Mandala,

 

I totally didnt mean to disrespect Mandala or anyone else here. This forum is all that is keeping me going some days.  I am in awe of what lots of people have gone through on here and survived, and completely appreciate any help, suggestions, encouragement I can get. I live in fear of having to quit working due just to sleeplessness, and thats without any w/d s! I feel like my life is miserable... I used to sleep really well (as long as it was quiet) and stupid travel decisions put me in this jam.

 

Anyhow, I do now have another set of questions for you guys. So last night I took my 3.75mg Ambien and 25mg Seroquel (didnt want to drop TOO fast) and after several hours woke up and could feel the seroquel trying to sedate me but it was unsuccessful so I took more ambien, which didnt last that long either.  I was originally thinking that I would drop to 12.5 mg seroquel tonight in search of that perfect dose, but am wondering if this is too fast.  I have only been on seroquel about 3 weeks, so I wasnt expecting any w/d symptoms, but now am wondering if last night maybe there was some rebound insomnia? Even though it felt sedating? or was it just (another) bad night... so hard to tell!  I know you can't advise re:dose but any suggestions would be welcome....

[[Ca...]]

I am not the one to give sleep or dose advice as I had no success with sleep.

 

Once I hit interdose withdrawal and started updosing to major amounts of zopiclone and also added major amounts of trazadone, sleep was almost nonexistent.

I am not exaggerating either.  I was taking zopiclone and trazadone in little amounts every 3 hours throughout the day to counter anxiety.  Then at night I would take much larger doses of both and try to sleep. My sleep mechanism was solo messed up that Even with the major drugging I only slept for a little while (hour or two) and Then would have brain vibrations and no sleep.

I only used the seroquel for 2 nights 200 mg. each night and it was more like a date rape drug . I was drugged and felt that I couldn't move but I was not sleeping.

 

I hope that you find a way not to have your life too disrupted by this.

You have caught it early so I believe that there is a good chance for you to find a way out before you are pulled totally under .

I wouldn't hesitate to use melatonin or tryptophan or 5 htp or amytryptlin at this time.

None of it will give you a wonderful sleep but at least in time your brain will heal and you will get some sleep.

Good luck

 

(I also have used audio meditation and such to help me now a days)

This would not have made any difference 2 years ago though.

I needed to have some healing behind me before this works even a little.

 

I still have a very broken sleep but I get enough to allow me to function sort of.

 

Carol

[[ka...]]

Hi all,

So I am on a roller coaster just figuring out what meds will get me through at minimum until I can taper. there is good and bad news... I am on more ambien but less seroquel. Would rather it was the other way around but what can I do. I think I can get by with 3.75 mg ambien and 12.5 seroquel at bedtime and then 2.5mg ambien and 12.5 seroquel  in the night when the first round wears off.  I hope. At least today my brain is functional which is better than yesterday.  No dreams ==no brain function.  How did it come to this? 

 

anyhow my questions are two:

 

1) when I taper the ambien (not too worried now about the lower dose of seroquel, at least for now), should I taper both doses at once? One at a time? 

and

2) in a month (its 2 months until I have enough time off work for a full taper) I have about 9 days free of work...would it be worth it to try and taper the ambien down maybe a quarter tablet or would I likely be wasting my time and suffering unnecessarily. I know some have slept through their tapers (jealous of Worried Dad!!) but so far my experience with cutting back has not gone so well. I would have that nine days, then back to work for about a month... then my real taper begins. yikes.

 

thanks for any comments...it seems there is not so much activity on here with z-drugs. My hope is that its because people have less trouble getting off them, rather than that they dont know to look on a benzo site for help (HAH!)

Kayden

[[Wo...]]

should I taper both doses at once? One at a time?

 

People often use antihistamines (seroquel is an antihistamine) to get off benzos and z-drugs for sleep. Tapering off the Ambien would be preferable. Then worry about the seroquel.

 

2) in a month (its 2 months until I have enough time off work for a full taper) I have about 9 days free of work...would it be worth it to try and taper the ambien down maybe a quarter tablet or would I likely be wasting my time and suffering unnecessarily. I know some have slept through their tapers (jealous of Worried Dad!!) but so far my experience with cutting back has not gone so well. I would have that nine days, then back to work for about a month... then my real taper begins. yikes.

 

A month is a long time for your dependency to get worse. I wouldn't wait. But nobody knows your personal situation better than you.

[[Ca...]]

I wouldn't wait either. Yes antihistamines do work a bit.

I used unisom (benadryl) for quite a few months and then I slowly stopped it also.

 

I would suggest an arsenal of different things on hand. Not just the seroquel.

Unisom, melatonin, sleepy time teas . Possibly amitryptilin.

Carol

 

[[so...]]

Well I am on day 14 of my zopiclone taper and its going well! 

I have tapered 5% .....my total nightly dose was 12.5 mg

I have had on and off strong headaches but this is totally tolerable

I will see how it goes when I do the next cut in a few days

 

I am relying on seroquel (half a 25mg tab) at the moment but I did order some unison so going to try that instead soon.  Probably will wait for a weekend to try it

I sleep about 4 hours (even before the taper started)

I think its partially because of midnight nicotine withdrawal waking me up

[[ca...]]

I have been tapering from ambien 10mg for three weeks now..I file done some once a week..It seems the first shaved how ambien of the week, and that night are the only problem I encounter. .Having said that it's the first night of each new week when I have problems sleeping..practically no sleep at all..What should I expect when I'm all done taking ambien for good...Will I only have that problem on the first night?

[[ca...]]

Just wondering about my question! No one has answered..Must be this thread isn't active..Or maybe no one cares really about the ambien taper. I'll try again!

[[Ca...]]

Just wondering about my question! No one has answered..Must be this thread isn't active..Or maybe no one cares really about the ambien taper. I'll try again!

 

I can only speak for myself but I read your post and did not reply not because I don't care but because it isn't really answerable or at least it would be difficult to predict your outcome.

 

everybodys experience is unique.

I certainly wish you fast healing.

 

My own story is not at all like your own so I don't really think that my opinion is valid for you.

 

i hope that someone else will have something useful to answer to you.

 

I wish you well.

 

Carol

 

[[Wo...]]

I have been tapering from ambien 10mg for three weeks now..I file done some once a week..It seems the first shaved how ambien of the week, and that night are the only problem I encounter. .Having said that it's the first night of each new week when I have problems sleeping..practically no sleep at all..What should I expect when I'm all done taking ambien for good...Will I only have that problem on the first night?

 

I've been off for 4 months now and have only had about 5 bad sleeps in that period (and by bad I mean 5 hours which isn't really bad). It is hard to say how it will be for you but if you practice good sleep hygiene and maintain a positive attitude (don't get frustrated as it only makes it worse) you will have better success.

[[ge...]]

PLEASE HELP ME MAKE THE LAST STEP:

 

Had about 3 months of ambien exposure nightly and on the tapering cycle now. 

 

Down to about 2.5 mg ambien/night which is a quarter tablet....that has been a major accomplishment for me.  Can I just C/T here and start skipping the dose at night? 

 

Main symptom is racing heart and cortisol keeping me awake.  I can usually make it a few hours to 1:30 am then awake and take the ambien which puts me down until 5 am if I am lucky.

 

SO PLEASE...WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP

What is my next step....just stop taking the quarter tablet and suffer through the night until I get used to it? 

 

Do I have to take yet smaller doses to taper off?  2 mg, 1 mg .5 mg then stop....arghhh, can't make the tabs any smaller from here.

 

Please comment if you have been through an ambien wd...THANKS!

 

 

[[Wo...]]

Down to about 2.5 mg ambien/night which is a quarter tablet....that has been a major accomplishment for me.  Can I just C/T here and start skipping the dose at night?

 

You can try it and see how it goes. Another option would be to file the pill down further to smaller amounts. When I did this it wasn't scientific. I just visually filed a bit more off over time. It really depends on your personal situation, i.e. are you working and can't risk not sleeping for a night? Congrats on making it this far!

[[Ca...]]

I crushed them up and then divided them. it is amazing how even 1/4 crushed up can be divided into 4 little doses.

Carol

[[ro...]]

Dr just prescribed me Lunesta.???? She also put me on valium for 9 days after being off benzo for 2 yrs. I haven't had any sleep since tapering off the deseprimine.

My fault for starting it again.

[[Wo...]]

Dr just prescribed me Lunesta.???? She also put me on valium for 9 days after being off benzo for 2 yrs. I haven't had any sleep since tapering off the deseprimine.

My fault for starting it again.

 

Two months of sleep isn't worth years of recovery. There are other ways.

[[Br...]]

I have been tapering from ambien 10mg for three weeks now..I file done some once a week..It seems the first shaved how ambien of the week, and that night are the only problem I encounter. .Having said that it's the first night of each new week when I have problems sleeping..practically no sleep at all..What should I expect when I'm all done taking ambien for good...Will I only have that problem on the first night?

 

Hello Carleeta.  Depending on how long you have been taking Ambien, your genetics and the rate of taper, you may find that you still need time after you get to zero in order to heal. 

 

As you have been taking Ambien for 7 years and seem to be doing a relatively fast taper then you may find you will continue to heal after reaching zero. 

 

(You may find it useful to put your medication history in your sig.)

 

 

 

 

[[ro...]]

Worried dad....that's 2 yrs of very very little sleep.

 

My nights hallucinating as a result.

 

Idid not take it and I will never take another benzo.

[[Ca...]]

Worried dad....that's 2 yrs of very very little sleep.

 

My nights hallucinating as a result.

 

Idid not take it and I will never take another benzo.

 

Robbin P

 

I am 2 1/2 years off and have also had at least 2 years of almost no sleep.

1/2 year pre-off and 1 1/2 post-off. Take heart that for the last 6 months I have seen improvement in my sleep. nothing like good or normal sleep but sleep that feels good and Although the surges wake me up every 1 1/2 hr. I feel rested the next day.

It is still quite tenuous but I will take it! For so long I was worried that My body would never again be able to quietly slip through to sleep phase.

 

I am sure you know exactly what I am talking about.

 

Anyways just wanted to connect with you. I have also had bad benzo brain so although I believe that we have crossed paths over the years, I know longer remember

 

Love Carol

[[ro...]]

Carole....I feel so bad I caved and the Dr gave me valium for 9 nights, after 2 yrs of being strong.

 

The stuff is still in my system after 3 weeks.  I feel so awful. My GI stuff is back the sleep is awful the burning , the vibrations are back and a lot had gotton better,  I wonder how long I set my self back

[[ca...]]

I'm about down to 6mg of ambien from 10mg which I started on February 18, 2014...Each week I file equal amounts off of seven pills...What I do experience is when my new week starts with the shaved ambien, there are one or two days of very little sleep...The rest of the week seems fine...Was just wondering if it will continue this same way when I am done with ambien...What should I expect at that time...I think I am going slow enough, although not sure...

[[Wo...]]

I'm about down to 6mg of ambien from 10mg which I started on February 18, 2014...Each week I file equal amounts off of seven pills...What I do experience is when my new week starts with the shaved ambien, there are one or two days of very little sleep...The rest of the week seems fine...Was just wondering if it will continue this same way when I am done with ambien...What should I expect at that time...I think I am going slow enough, although not sure...

 

You've made good progress. Good for you! It sounds manageable. It is good that you are sleeping fine most of the week. Nobody knows how you will react when you get down to nothing. Sleep hygiene is so important in this process. I know I sound like a broken record but it is. Congrats on your progress to date.

[[Bu...]]

Want to start my taper off 20mg ambien but going down by 5 has not yielded a doable reduction(not falling asleep) any suggestions will b heard, I am also taking 6mg melatonin as well as 20 mg valerian.

[[Ca...]]

Want to start my taper off 20mg ambien but going down by 5 has not yielded a doable reduction(not falling asleep) any suggestions will b heard, I am also taking 6mg melatonin as well as 20 mg valerian.

 

See my signature.

I was taking close to what you are taking give or take a few additional things.

The ambien (zop) totally stopped working for me along with making me extremely sick.

I found that at the beginning, melatonin, valerian, tryptophan. All do not help at all.

I got slight relief (by that I mean 1 1/2 hours a night of sleep) by using

amitriptyline 10 mg

Or

Dimendhydrate (Benadryl)

As my sleep mechanism slowly healed I was able to stop those and switch to valerian and melatonin.

Now I am managing most often with only 2 mg. of slow release melatonin.

I get about 7 hours of very interrupted sleep.

I am happy enough for it.

 

Good luck.

Carol