Ambien and mirtazapine

I went through this same thing with my precious in-laws. You cannot stop Ambien COLD TURKEY, or you will have horrific side effects if you have been on for a long time.

You have to wean yourself off slowly. I am sorry to say, but Mirtzapine (Remeron) works the same way. If you decide to come off of that, you will have to wean yourself off slowly too.

I am sorry you are going through this. It was so hard for my in-laws, but, they got through it...you will too. Praying for you.

There are timetables online for tapering down off ambien.

I will give you my two cents - but having a reliable physician to guide your transition is very important - a psychiatrist or sleep specialist/neurologist. I took Ambien for quite some time in my early 40's. It helped me sleep but I had bad night sweats and work up in a fetal position from anxiety. A primary care doctor switched me to Lexapro and Xanax and there was no issue with weaning or issues because the combo of those two drugs helped me much more than Ambien ever could. I stopped the Lexapro cold turkey after a few years - NOT advised!!! I continued the Xanax until a psychiatrist switched it to Klonopin, which I continued for 12 years. When I moved from FL to GA, all the doctors I saw told me what a bad drug Klonopin was and that I needed to get off it. I had only taken 1mg at bedtime for 12 years and it worked, so I was really surprised. Once I was "forced" to taper off, it took a painfully long time to do so, and the young psychiatrist I was seeing gave me no exit plan at all. He discharged me at the end of the taper because they don't treat Seniors and I was going to be 65. Gave me an rx for Vistoril - no help. Primary care doctor gave me mirtazapine but sadly, it did not work at all for me - I gave it 4 months and had horrible insomnia and anxiety. He finally sent me to a sleep specialist and she was the first doctor here in GA that affirmed my lifelong insomnia and need for real medication to treat it. She even offered to prescribe Klonopin again since I obviously did not abuse it or increase dosage and it worked for both anxiety and sleep. I declined because I know it is not good as we age and was so horrible to wean off. We tired Ambien but it caused nausea and anxiety, switched to Lunesa, and I have to say, this one has been consistent to help me sleep without much anxiety. I do get night sweats and muscle tension/leg cramps some nights but I sleep through the night. Everyone is different, and our response to meds is different. So my advice is, find a doctor who understands you and is compassionate and willing to find what works for you and help in the transition. Best of luck!!!! Maybe the mirtazapine will work for you as it does many others - just not me!

Mirtazapine didn't work for me either. May I ask what strength of Lunesta you take?

Doctors should give you an anxiety medication while tapering off Ambien. Ambien is the WORST! It gave me horrible anxiety and only kept me asleep 3 or 4 hours.... and had to take more.... just as addictive as benzos but doctors have no problem giving out Ambien and you have to fight to get a benzo....which are HANDS DOWN THE BEST ANXIETY AND SLEEP MEDS OUT THERE. Good luck to you. I was determined to get off Ambien and I did with the help of Lorazepam I was able to stop Ambien without tapering. Lorazepam is a great medication....helps both anxiety and sleep! But good luck getting it! I just don't get it.....doctors will prescribe anything else that is just as addictive! And most don't work like benzos do.

I have a prescription for 2mg plus an extra 1/2 tablet (1mg) if needed in the middle of the night. It is working very well, and being able to sleep helps with anxiety. I particularly enjoy dreaming again as during the 9 months of insomnia, even if I did sleep, I stopped dreaming.

With all due respect, please stop saying that benzos are the best meds for anxiety and sleep. They DO NOT work for everyone. They work for you and that’s wonderful! Insomnia and anxiety can be devastating. Obviously the reseeech on benzos is making doctors leery of them. Each of us are different genetically. There is currently a genetic test that can determine which drugs work best for you. Mirtazapine works for me; lorazepam did not and I had to slowly wean off. tried CBT, trazadone, lunesta, medical marijuana. Had side effects or they didn’t work. Finding a good sleep medicine doctor and therapist makes a world of difference.
Best wishes to all of you!!

*research

What dose of mirtazapine do you take? I tried 7.5 mg one night and it helped but I was extremely sleepy for 3 days afterwards so stopped taking it.

The lower you take the sleepier it makes you. I’m on day five of taking 15mg.