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Weaning off zolpidem (Ambien)

Sleep Health | Last Active: Mar 15 5:39am | Replies (459)

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@peajayiam

Looking for information on how to stop taking Ambien as I've been taking it for about 18 years. Anyone have any ideas?

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Replies to "Looking for information on how to stop taking Ambien as I've been taking it for about..."

Welcome to Connect, @peajayiam
You'll notice that I moved your message to this discussion about weaning off Ambien. I did this so you could meet others talking about getting off this drug, like @robbinr @blazytracy @bernese53 @arachel and others.

Peajayjam, click VIEW & REPLY to see the previous messages posted.
While we wait for others to join in, would you mind sharing why you've decided to get off Ambien now? What led to this decision?

I had been on Ambien on and off for roughly 15 years. I was so addicted that I went to a primary care doctor who was truthfully not very good, but I went to her because she gave me Ambien. I had no problems with Ambien in the begining. However, I began to get these stomach pains if I took the Ambien for more than a few days straight. Sometimes I took the Ambien and dealt with the stomach issues because I needed to sleep I had to work. I told a friend at work about my insomnia and she suggested I try marijuana. She gave me some; and I found that it helped. I then started using it and it helped so I only took Ambien when smoking didn’t work. When I moved to another state It was more difficult to get the Ambien, and I was having more and more tummy issues and when I had an episode where I woke up one morning with a frying pan and the left overs from last nites dinner and potato chips in my bed I knew it was time to stop and I did. I smoke nightly to sleep, And once in a while I will take an Ambien. It’s not a perfect solution, But at least I get some sleep; which I need in order to help me with my Hypothyroidism, IBS, and Srogens That’s pretty good for hard-core insomniac like me.