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Weaning off zolpidem (Ambien)

Posted by lusia @lusia, Dec 9, 2017

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

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robbinr | @robbinr | Feb 6, 2018

I Tried Melatonin and it was fine for one night. Slept well. Next night - Horrible nightmares! I recently found an herbal formula with just a pinch of Melatonin and it has been helping tremendously. But like anything else, you can get too much Melatonin for your body to process. RR

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donga | @donga | Feb 6, 2018
In reply to @robbinr "I Tried Melatonin and it was fine for one night. Slept well. Next night - Horrible..." + (show)
Profile picture for robbinr @robbinr

I Tried Melatonin and it was fine for one night. Slept well. Next night - Horrible nightmares! I recently found an herbal formula with just a pinch of Melatonin and it has been helping tremendously. But like anything else, you can get too much Melatonin for your body to process. RR

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Are you willing to share what the herbal formula is that is currently helping you?

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Gary, Alumni Mentor | @gman007 | Feb 6, 2018
In reply to @georgette12 "what a great discussion! my psych dr. continually tells me that RESTORATIVE sleep is vital. He..." + (show)
Profile picture for georgette12 @georgette12

what a great discussion! my psych dr. continually tells me that RESTORATIVE sleep is vital. He is less concerned with "addiction". i take 10 mg of ambien at night. in terms of addiction...for any med, this is what i finally decided. excuse me, world. i need help and i will no longer suffer if there is a chemical or even non-chemical, something that works. i don't nag smokers, drinkers, over-eaters, workaholics and exercise-aholics. all of which change the chemistry and biochemistry in one's body/brain/emotions.

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Some excellent points Georgette! I made a commitment to myself that when I quit drinking and smoking that I would not make an effort to tell everyone I saw doing either what great harm they were doing to their bodies and that they could quit if they really wanted. Life choices must be made by everyone for their life and it is not our place to judge, but I will offer support if anyone asks because they are attempting to make a lifestyle change. I think your making a choice that is best for you and your health, regardless of what anyone else thinks, is admirable.

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Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Apr 19, 2018
In reply to @robbinr "I Tried Melatonin and it was fine for one night. Slept well. Next night - Horrible..." + (show)
Profile picture for robbinr @robbinr

I Tried Melatonin and it was fine for one night. Slept well. Next night - Horrible nightmares! I recently found an herbal formula with just a pinch of Melatonin and it has been helping tremendously. But like anything else, you can get too much Melatonin for your body to process. RR

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Hi, @ robbinr -- wondering how things are going for you, especially with your sleep? I think @donga was interested in the herbal formula you found helpful. Are you still taking it?

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blazytracy | @blazytracy | May 22, 2018

I’m currently trying to do that also. My Drs will NOT write me any more prescriptions for Ambien...after I had been on it for 8 years...so I’m trying the Melatonin. So far, not working very well at all. I would do anything for 8 hours of sleep at night!

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robbinr | @robbinr | May 22, 2018
In reply to @bernese53 "Hi, I have been taken Ambien since Sept. 2001. Like many of us, I had problems..." + (show)
Profile picture for bernese53 @bernese53

Hi,

I have been taken Ambien since Sept. 2001. Like many of us, I had problems falling asleep after the events of 9/11. I have struggled with insomnia for most of my adult life. Initially, I was taking 5 mg of Ambien as needed but after a few years, I was prescribed 10 mg which I have been taking every night for the last ten years. I saw both a neurologist and a sleep specialist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester for an episode of Transient Global Amnesia (not related to Ambien use). Both were concerned about the DOSE of Ambien but not its frequency; the FDA has recommended a dose of less than 10 mg for women. Not one of my many doctors has suggested stopping the Ambien entirely. I also take Effexor and Wellbutrin for chronic depression; both enable me to get out of bed in the morning and live a relatively normal life.
Best of luck,
Helen

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Hi, I have been taking Ambien since 1995. I also take Cymbalta and Wellbutrin. My Dr. doesn't want to prescribe Ambien for me anymore and while I have signed up for a Sleep Study and some CBT to get more information about my sleep, the thought of not having Ambien to ensure a few hours sleep makes me panicky. Is this some new trend with Drs to not prescribe drugs that are proven to be effective? Is this part of the Opioid witch hunt? Very Frustrated. RR

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1 reply
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robbinr | @robbinr | May 22, 2018
In reply to @georgette12 "what a great discussion! my psych dr. continually tells me that RESTORATIVE sleep is vital. He..." + (show)
Profile picture for georgette12 @georgette12

what a great discussion! my psych dr. continually tells me that RESTORATIVE sleep is vital. He is less concerned with "addiction". i take 10 mg of ambien at night. in terms of addiction...for any med, this is what i finally decided. excuse me, world. i need help and i will no longer suffer if there is a chemical or even non-chemical, something that works. i don't nag smokers, drinkers, over-eaters, workaholics and exercise-aholics. all of which change the chemistry and biochemistry in one's body/brain/emotions.

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Amen to that! I am in the club of "IF IT HELPS - TAKE IT". So true that all the aforementioned habits (smoking, drinking, over-eating, over-working/exercising) are just another branch of the "How I cope with Life" cycle. I try Melatonin occasionally, and get wicked, frightening dreams with it. Even a little bit of Melotonin..Ack! R

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Profile picture for robbinr
robbinr | @robbinr | May 22, 2018
In reply to @robbinr "I Tried Melatonin and it was fine for one night. Slept well. Next night - Horrible..." + (show)
Profile picture for robbinr @robbinr

I Tried Melatonin and it was fine for one night. Slept well. Next night - Horrible nightmares! I recently found an herbal formula with just a pinch of Melatonin and it has been helping tremendously. But like anything else, you can get too much Melatonin for your body to process. RR

Jump to this post

Sleep Wave by Nutri-Health. It's got lots of "sleep aid" stuff. I think it helps, but I'm not willing to go without having Ambien on hand.R

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Profile picture for Lisa Lucier, Moderator
Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | May 24, 2018

@robbinr -- thanks for sharing the herbal formula you found helpful, or as an adjunct to Zolpidem (Ambien). Have you found it to be a problem to continue to get prescriptions like @blazytracy mentioned experiencing?

@blazytracy -- if the melatonin is not working well for you, what are you considering doing next to try and get some sleep?

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8 replies
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blazytracy | @blazytracy | May 24, 2018
In reply to @lisalucier "@robbinr -- thanks for sharing the herbal formula you found helpful, or as an adjunct to..." + (show)
Profile picture for Lisa Lucier, Moderator @lisalucier

@robbinr -- thanks for sharing the herbal formula you found helpful, or as an adjunct to Zolpidem (Ambien). Have you found it to be a problem to continue to get prescriptions like @blazytracy mentioned experiencing?

@blazytracy -- if the melatonin is not working well for you, what are you considering doing next to try and get some sleep?

Jump to this post

Lavender has helped me extremely!!!!!! I start diffusing it in my bedroom about 1/2 hr before bed, also sprinkle some drops on my pillow, roll some on the bottom of my feet, wrists, and a tad under my nose...I LOVE IT! I switch between Lavender and Serenity...those are 2 of my favorites for sleeping. I’m also going to try the Serenity Restful Complex softgels next..

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