I have been taking it for a LONG time(‘96) I’m unable to tolerate Melatonin; bad nightmares! The hardest time was w/o any when Workers Comp refused to pay my Rx & Medical visit expenses. Also when the dosing changed. Women were 1/2 the dose of men. You’re right to taper yourself off... but you may need to attach a post it to the bottle to remind you to 1/4 it!! ! I would try... but a body needs sleep min of 4 hrs nightly. Best is REM sleep ... I’m having insomnia as a result of my Dx. Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome... Analklizing Spindylethesis ( Arthritis of my spine) & spinal stenosis. ( narrowing of the spinal canal & growth of bony spines on the bone the spinal cord passed thru. My insomnia is bad!! I font eish to fall asleep when driving... so I use thecRx. Now I learned that Guifinosen (Mucinex) ) helps w/ the pain as well as Turmeric & Glucosamine Chondroitin (BID (2 X daily. Plz try it... maybe it will help you w/ your ability to sleep!!! I also drink Sleepy Time Tea to help induce sleep.... Good Luck! I keep on researching and trying to improve mynqualitybif my sleep .
M

@jeffkboyce
I don’t remember specifically how long I took Ambien but it was no doubt less than one year however I never took it every single night. I don’t believe that is safe to do. There have been studies done which show a decrease in life expectancy who regularly take sleeping medications. I haven’t thoroughly investigated or analyzed those studies so I can’t really speak as to the validity of their claims. However I would never take sleeping medications on a regular basis over a long period of time. I suffer from insomnia and if I sleep fine if I don’t fine.
But as I recall I never had any problem coming off Ambien at all probably because I never took it on a regular basis. If I remember correctly I just stopped yet with no problems. I don’t believe in taking medication if it’s not absolutely necessary. However, I have no choice but to take seizure medication which for me according to my doctors is a life-saving medication even though they never controlled my seizures for 44 years but due to my history of convulsive status epilepticus the doctors insisted that I take them (up to 30 a day.) I am now down to only 10 which is 10 too many but if I don’t take them I will have seizures usually within 24 hours. I do sleep better if I would get more exercise. I sleep better if I go for a walk in the evening provided it’s long enough.
I hope you find an answer to your sleep issues however there are alternatives (sometimes) besides prescription medication which in my own personal opinion often do more harm than good. I have my doctor quite well trained now, whenever she wants to give me a new prescription she asks me “may I give you a prescription” which I usually reply “probably not” “but I’m willing to listen to why you think it’s necessary” sometimes I take them but usually not.”
Sorry Jeff I sort of went off on a tangent.
Take care of yourself and get some good quality sleep,
Jake

@jeffkboyce Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. It sounds like you have a positive and collaborative relationship with your provider. I am sure you are grateful for the slow taper.

I'm wondering if you would be interested in the Hearing Loss and Brain & Nervous System groups.

- Hearing Loss https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/hearing-loss/

- Brain & Nervous System https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/brain-and-nerve-diseases/

You did not mention hearing loss but there are discussions around tinnitus in the Hearing Loss group. You did however mention a head injury.

May I ask how long ago your head injury and tinnitus occurred?