Weaning off zolpidem (Ambien)

Posted by lusia @lusia, Dec 9, 2017

taking 5mg ambian for 20 years can melatonin help to ween me off

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Sleep Health Support Group.

Yes-weaning of Ambien
I take 2.5 mg Ambien and 5 mg Melatonin
also .75mg of Pramipexole for jumpy legs.
CPAP for last 20 years
not certain Melatonin any good

REPLY

Melatonin I feel is a waste of $$ does absolutely nothing for my sleep, I think it makes me feel worse.

REPLY

I doubt it....Ambien is a strong sedative while Melatonin is a very light medication that doesn't even work for alot of people. You may want to try Mirtazapine or Trazodone, or Lunesta.

REPLY
@kawanhee

I am not just “repeating what I’ve heard or what the doctors say.” I have first hand experience with a dose lower than yours. It stopped working for me and I refused to increase the dose.
Good for you that you’ve found something that works for you.
But I will reiterate that there are safer meds out there.
Happy Holidays!

Jump to this post

kawanhee....the "safer meds" you are talking about...DO NOT WORK for everyone unfortunately. May I ask how long you took the Lorazepam before it stopped working for you?

REPLY
@cindisue

kawanhee....the "safer meds" you are talking about...DO NOT WORK for everyone unfortunately. May I ask how long you took the Lorazepam before it stopped working for you?

Jump to this post

Please refer to other sleep posts in which you asked me that. Thanks

REPLY
@kawanhee

Please refer to other sleep posts in which you asked me that. Thanks

Jump to this post

There are soooo many posts to look thru....40 pages!! You couldn't just tell me again? Really??

REPLY
@kawanhee

long term use of lorazepam is not recommended for long term use.

Jump to this post

kawanhee, I know people who have taken Lorazepam longer than 2 years and they are doing great! They have not had to increase their dosage. And the original dose is still working great for them! So that kinda blows your theory/statements about Lorazepam.

REPLY
@bokay2014

Hello to everyone, I have taken Ambien for years. My original prescribing doctor retired and now I have been seeing a different doctor. ( A few doctors in between the original doctor and the one I am seeing now. The doctors in between retired or moved on.). Just wanted to clarify that so you won't think that I am hard to deal with...because I'm not.
The Dr I am seeing now has been my gp doctor for about 4 years. She has been making me take complete bloodwork and urine panels every six months in order to stay on my Ambien. She says that the FDA or whomever is the governing watchdog of this drug requires her to do so.
Does that sound right? Is this true? I am 73 and in good health but take a few other prescriptions besides Ambien 10 mg. Thanks for any feedback that you all provide. I am new to this panel.

Jump to this post

Yes. I have to go through the same routine because big government wants to regulate its use.
I was off of Ambien for two years but started it up again a few days ago because sleep issues caused by sciatic pain when laying down. Really helped a lot to get a complete night of sleep.

REPLY
@polishcolonel

Yes-weaning of Ambien
I take 2.5 mg Ambien and 5 mg Melatonin
also .75mg of Pramipexole for jumpy legs.
CPAP for last 20 years
not certain Melatonin any good

Jump to this post

Dr took me off zolpidem & hydrocodone cold turkey… he must be in trouble or afraid of being in trouble, BUT I can’t get 2 hours of sleep, maybe 4 total since he did that!

Melatonin is a joke! Does nothing even 30-40 mg. don’t work…..what can I talk him into?
(Multiple back fusions…2 compression fractures right now…Ortho.Dr. ignores me too)

REPLY
@cbeasley

Dr took me off zolpidem & hydrocodone cold turkey… he must be in trouble or afraid of being in trouble, BUT I can’t get 2 hours of sleep, maybe 4 total since he did that!

Melatonin is a joke! Does nothing even 30-40 mg. don’t work…..what can I talk him into?
(Multiple back fusions…2 compression fractures right now…Ortho.Dr. ignores me too)

Jump to this post

cbeasley, that is horrible that he took you off those meds cold turkey! You should have went to another doctor and told them what happened! SO WRONG!! But if you want to ask your doctor for something else...try asking him for Lunesta or Mirtazapine. Lunesta you should ask for 2mg and mirtazapine 15mg. He should have gave you another sleep med when he took you off of the zolpidem....but I'm thinking the reason he took you off both is because those 2 meds shouldn't be prescribed together.... anyway, good luck. Another one to ask for is Flurazepam or Lorazepam. Both work great.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.