I have appreciated reading your many posts. I was especially interested in this post that speaks of having seizures that were medication induced. Once you discontinued the med, did the seizures end? Are there specific types of meds that cause seizures? Do you currently take anti-seizure meds?
I think for me, I took it for so long it became a security blanket. I would almost panic If on a business trip and I forgot to bring the medication. Just going down 30 percent and now able to go into a deeper sleep, has been reassuring. Hope this helps someone.
Taken 10 mg. For years & my dr. Will no longer give me a script. I am now in that panic mode! Help, looking for the best way to stop. I am 67 and still working.
I am at half dose of ambien. Still waking a couple of times however. Working on meditation and have STOPPED worrying about going to sleep. Thanks for checking. Not an easy process.
Taken 10 mg. For years & my dr. Will no longer give me a script. I am now in that panic mode! Help, looking for the best way to stop. I am 67 and still working.
Try Trazodone. You can take up tp 300 mil. Prescribed by my doc. I would try to wean off ambien, to hard to quit cold turkey. Your doc. Should agree to this.
I think for me, I took it for so long it became a security blanket. I would almost panic If on a business trip and I forgot to bring the medication. Just going down 30 percent and now able to go into a deeper sleep, has been reassuring. Hope this helps someone.
Hi. Am new to Connect. I’ve been on ambien (5 mg) for years. Absolutely a security blanket. I also take .25 Xanax and a melatonin. My doctor wants me off the ambien and Xanax and thinks therapy to reduce stress and anxiety is the answer. I have no stress or anxiety at this time in my life, I couldn’t be happier. However, If I don’t take the ambien at bedtime, I eventually take it hours later after not sleeping, Need help in weaning.
Hi. Am new to Connect. I’ve been on ambien (5 mg) for years. Absolutely a security blanket. I also take .25 Xanax and a melatonin. My doctor wants me off the ambien and Xanax and thinks therapy to reduce stress and anxiety is the answer. I have no stress or anxiety at this time in my life, I couldn’t be happier. However, If I don’t take the ambien at bedtime, I eventually take it hours later after not sleeping, Need help in weaning.
Go slowly is my advise. I know where you are. I was on 15 mil. For 20 years. I have been listening to meditation apps just before bedtime. This is helping me. Teaches me to clear my mind so that I can fall asleep. Also focusing on not worrying about sleep. You will make it will through this. One day at a time. Message me anytime.
Go slowly is my advise. I know where you are. I was on 15 mil. For 20 years. I have been listening to meditation apps just before bedtime. This is helping me. Teaches me to clear my mind so that I can fall asleep. Also focusing on not worrying about sleep. You will make it will through this. One day at a time. Message me anytime.
My biggest fear is the fear of not falling asleep! Don’t know how therapy will help. The therapist I spoke with said that first I must overcome my anxieties and then work with my doctor help me wean off meds. Thanks for the encouragement.
Hi Helen:
Thank you for taking the time to tell your story. I sometimes feel that I'm the odd one out having to rely on both antidepressants and ambien at the same time. After reading many posts here at Mayo Clinic Connect, I am realizing that I'm not such an odd duck. My doctors also don't discourage me from taking the ambien, but my family doctor has suggested that I begin lowering my Effexor dosage and has been helping me with the process. I've been taking Effexor for 15 years and I am willing to cut it down or get off of it entirely just to see how I do without it. I always had a problem with insomnia but didn't realize that there was a drug out there that would make such a difference in my quality of life. In 2001, my first husband died of cancer at age 54. I was his caretaker and held down a full time job at the same time. Sleep consisted of an hour or two before I had to get up to tend to my husband. Then I would try to get back to sleep for a while before it would start all over again. I was a hot mess before I ended up at the doctors office. He made sure I understood how important it was for me to sleep and prescribed ambien. I was lucky enough to have my mother in law spend some time helping me and I was able to try the ambien. It was right then and there that I realized that I didn't know what a good nights sleep was. I've been taking it ever since. I wonder if I could live without the ambien now, but I am so afraid to try. They say, if its not broken, don't fit it, but in this case does that still apply?
Hi there, I was taking ambien for several months, however believe it was messsing with my mind. I don't really know if it was just ME....but it scared me that I needed this to sleep...and sleep I did.
Because I do like to have drinks several times a week, it truly is not recommended to take ambien with alcohol, therefore....that is what I believe is what was happening. Strange mind things going on.
I am exhausted every day now, trying to decide what to do.
Thinking of going back on trazedone, which helped with sleep for a couple years but I seemed to reach a tolerance level and kind of stopped working.
Why do we hear such bad things about ambien, if Dr's keep prescribing?
I am at half dose of ambien. Still waking a couple of times however. Working on meditation and have STOPPED worrying about going to sleep. Thanks for checking. Not an easy process.
Meditation, playing calming sounds (app-I love).... plus rubbing sleep lotion on does seem to help. Melatonin really doesn't seem to help me but I take 10mg a couple times a week...
I hate feeling lost, foggy and tired but really need to find a miracle drug that doesn't mess with me!
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Hello Susan
I have appreciated reading your many posts. I was especially interested in this post that speaks of having seizures that were medication induced. Once you discontinued the med, did the seizures end? Are there specific types of meds that cause seizures? Do you currently take anti-seizure meds?
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2 ReactionsTaken 10 mg. For years & my dr. Will no longer give me a script. I am now in that panic mode! Help, looking for the best way to stop. I am 67 and still working.
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1 ReactionHi, @mickie75 - thinking of you and wondering how it's going with the zolpidem (Ambien)?
@maryshipley -- how are things going with the lower doses of zolpidem (Ambien) and increasing the trazadone?
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1 ReactionI am at half dose of ambien. Still waking a couple of times however. Working on meditation and have STOPPED worrying about going to sleep. Thanks for checking. Not an easy process.
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Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsTry Trazodone. You can take up tp 300 mil. Prescribed by my doc. I would try to wean off ambien, to hard to quit cold turkey. Your doc. Should agree to this.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsHi. Am new to Connect. I’ve been on ambien (5 mg) for years. Absolutely a security blanket. I also take .25 Xanax and a melatonin. My doctor wants me off the ambien and Xanax and thinks therapy to reduce stress and anxiety is the answer. I have no stress or anxiety at this time in my life, I couldn’t be happier. However, If I don’t take the ambien at bedtime, I eventually take it hours later after not sleeping, Need help in weaning.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionGo slowly is my advise. I know where you are. I was on 15 mil. For 20 years. I have been listening to meditation apps just before bedtime. This is helping me. Teaches me to clear my mind so that I can fall asleep. Also focusing on not worrying about sleep. You will make it will through this. One day at a time. Message me anytime.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsMy biggest fear is the fear of not falling asleep! Don’t know how therapy will help. The therapist I spoke with said that first I must overcome my anxieties and then work with my doctor help me wean off meds. Thanks for the encouragement.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsHi there, I was taking ambien for several months, however believe it was messsing with my mind. I don't really know if it was just ME....but it scared me that I needed this to sleep...and sleep I did.
Because I do like to have drinks several times a week, it truly is not recommended to take ambien with alcohol, therefore....that is what I believe is what was happening. Strange mind things going on.
I am exhausted every day now, trying to decide what to do.
Thinking of going back on trazedone, which helped with sleep for a couple years but I seemed to reach a tolerance level and kind of stopped working.
Why do we hear such bad things about ambien, if Dr's keep prescribing?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionMeditation, playing calming sounds (app-I love).... plus rubbing sleep lotion on does seem to help. Melatonin really doesn't seem to help me but I take 10mg a couple times a week...
I hate feeling lost, foggy and tired but really need to find a miracle drug that doesn't mess with me!