Stopping Ambien - Pain Management Message Board

mikesgirl · 10-06-2006, 10:01 AM

I have been taking ambien for about 6 months now and I have decided that I want to stop it. I orginally started taking it because i was having a lot of pain issues that were keeping me awake.

Usually I take just 5mg a night, and thats it. I am hoping that will make it easier to stop than it is for some people who take more. My doctor wants me to take it one less night a week until i am no longer taking it. I don't mind using it as needed, but I don't want to use it every day anymore. I want to improve my life, not just take a drug to knock me out. I want to sleep in a more natural way.

Last week I took 10mg one night. Some time during the night, I got up and went from my bed to the couch. I brought my cell phone and 2 pillows with me. The thing that really scared me was that I have no recollection of it. My husband says he told me I was snoring and that I smacked him and then got up and went to the couch. I dont remember that either, and the whole thing has made me rethink about taking this drug. I don't want it any more. I don't like the way I feel emotionally about taking it.

I am scared about it, becuase I know some people have had some major issues with stopping, but I think a lot of that has to do with how much and how long it was taken.

Thanks to all for reading...K

badoldback · 10-06-2006, 12:13 PM

Hey Mikesgirl,
I hear you. I would take my Ambien and sit at the table reading until I felt sleepy. The next day I would pick up my book and not remember the whole last chapter I had read. I was taking 10mg per night and it was not difficult to stop. 50mg of Benadryl helps.

ozzybug · 10-06-2006, 01:05 PM

Mikesgirl-
Oh, I had a horrid experience with Ambien. Several years ago, during a very stressful time, my primary doctor prescribed Ambien and the very first night I took it, I had the worst, most vivid nightmares and then woke up on the floor! I also felt drugged all day the next day even though it's not supposed to do that to you. I never took another one. Flushed every last pill down the toilet. I have a cousin who takes it and has never had a problem though.

I can totally understand your concerns. If you do need something for times you really do need it, have you ever tried Sonota? I've heard great things about it. I personally don't like to take a sleep aide, but sleep is really important and sometimes you really do need something.

Or, how about Melatonin? It's an herbal supplement and can be found in most health food or vitamin stores. I've used it before (after the Ambien incident) and got great results. I never felt groggy the next day either. Melatonin is something that your body naturally creates to trigger your body to go to sleep, so it is safe. Some people get no results from it, but, it's like that with anything really. It might be worth a try.

Good Luck & let us know how it goes.

Lezlee

scotty12 · 10-06-2006, 03:56 PM

I have stopped taking ambien numerous times in the past few years.
I had been taking 10 mg nightly for 6months or longer and stopped cold turkey.no problem although it may take a while to fall asleep at first.

melatonin is a good natural sleep aid,especially when you stop taking the ambien,it will help

i never had any problem with ambien but ive heard many stories of people forgetting things that they did at night after taking ambien.

ambien cr is approved for long term use but regular ambien is not.
i tried Lunesta but i was too drowsy the next morning.

Shoreline · 10-06-2006, 04:19 PM

Hey Scotty, I really haven't heard horror stories of Ambien withdrawal. The biggest problem is bbecoming dependent on needing it to fall alseep.

As far as forgetful' memory loss" That's pretty common, I have more cigerrette burns in my legs and clothes than I can count. I can't feel my thighs so it was the smioke that woke me when they actually cought on fire. The final straw was when I started making the bed at about 3 am with my wife still in it. I would binge on sweets, wander the house and not remeber how the peanut butter got in the freezer. It's not a benign sleep aid, but I don't think it;'s going to be a huge problem discontinuing other than falling alsleep, if it still does that for ya.

I haven't figured the answer to sleep out yet, being exhausted from working out or working part time seems to work better than any pill I ever took.

I do remeber a comercial last night for the new sleep med, Rem "something", It said 70% of adults experience sleep problems at least several nights a week. Are they suggesting 70% of the population needs to take sleeping pils. The idea that there is a pill for everything has gotten pretty extreme. 10 years ago, you couldn't get a pill for anything, now people go with shopping lists of meds they have researched and talked to others about. The idea that because they make it, it should be OK to take it only makes the manufacturer and the politians ritcher as the pharmacy industry spends more on lobbying than the next top 3 combined. Interesting fact. The pharm industry has 3 lobbysist for every congressman and seneor in washington, all lobbying to hurry through trials and get their med on the market and keep it name brand only. No negotiations on medicare drug priices? Hello, What *** doesn't negotiate. Sorry to get off topic. It would be nice if it was easy as taking the right pill, but it really isn't despite how much money the industry throws into the sytem.
Good luck, expect a few sleepless night, But I'm sure you will sleep when your tired enough.
Take care, Dave