Weaning off zolpidem (Ambien)

The only sleep med that truly works is a benzo....but doctors don't like to prescribe it. They say it's addictive but so is every other sleep med, including Zolpidem (Ambien) which is extremely addictive buy doctors are fine prescribing that. Sleep is extremely important for a person's overall health....I say whatever it takes to get your sleep is fine as long as there is no abuse with the medication.

I agree w you cindisue . There is no really non addictive sleep med ..it’s why I don’t want to use the trazodone that may have helped last nite. Supposedly it’s non habit forming yet I google it and read that it too needs weaning off — c’mon ! But as you say - if you find something that helps and don’t abuse it Go for it ..
I do trust my doc tho. He’s very conservative and careful- so I’ll see .. maybe the traz will go in the trash one day too - thanks for yr reply

You should reconsider taking a sleep med....because sleep is sooo important for our overall health! Seriously....who cares if you have to take a sleep med every night....as long as it's helping you get the sleep you so desperately need!!

Thanx. I’ll reconsider. But not ambien. I’ll look for another one … my best friend is sticking w hers ! But it’s not lasting thru the nite now.., ..
she and I discussed the female population needing sleep meds more than males . Were we “ made” to care and worry and nurture ? Are we unable to dismiss life’s woes at bedtime ??? My husband can sleep as soon as he hits the pillow ! I wonder - but my brother cannot sleep - lots of emotional issues …..hmmm
Anyway I do know I’ll be taking something for the rest of my life ….just gotta find it

When I weaned off of Ativan, I did a much slower weaning than the doctor recommended. Took six months but I’m finally off it. In its place, a sleep therapist prescribed a low dose of mirtazapine which has been working for me.

degarden_girl, I too thought I was stuck on Ambien....but talked to my doctor about wanting off it because it would only give me 3-4 hours of sleep and then bad anxiety during day...... my doctor gave me a medication that would take care of both my issues, sleep and anxiety.....plus the new med would substitute for the Ambien so I could quit the Ambien immediately....no tapering..... my new medication is Lorazepam, which is a benzo which some people think is very bad. Quite the opposite for me. Takes care of both my sleep issues and my anxiety issues and I usually (95% of time) only take 1mg at night. Lifesaver for me!!

what is the dose (mg) of lorazepam works for you?

We all want to get some sleep and we each have to find what works for ourselves … it’s so individual … I’m finding it’s a “ trial and error” situation … and I hate the process! And after every try I want to go back to taking my trusty zolpedim ( which doesn’t work that well) and stay in my comfort zone .you go nowhere if you stay in yr comfort zone ! Then comes a glimmer of hope w another method So I go for it …. Last nite I slept thru the nite for the first time in a month … I took 50 mg of trazodone w my half zolpedim- 2 1/2 mg- but I was already exhausted from spreading mulch all morning w a neighbor - so who knows ???!!! I almost fear going to bed I never know - so far I’m half optimistic - I quit smoking in1974 - it took at least 100 tries ! Oy ! Good luck to all of us !

I take 1mg at bedtime...and then sometimes another .5mg towards morning if I wake up and can't get back to sleep.

I agree w you cindisue . There is no really non addictive sleep med ..it’s why I don’t want to use the trazodone that may have helped last nite. Supposedly it’s non habit forming yet I google it and read that it too needs weaning off — c’mon ! But as you say - if you find something that helps and don’t abuse it Go for it ..
I do trust my doc tho. He’s very conservative and careful- so I’ll see .. maybe the traz will go in the trash one day too - thanks for yr reply