Weaning off zolpidem (Ambien)

Medical marijuana. If you live in a State which allows it, make an appt with a MM MD for an authorization to apply for a license. It took a year to perfect the right dosage that allows me to sleep thru the night and not feel a "hang over" the following day. You can then purchase from a legal dispensary where you will find "heads" but you will also see people with serious problems seeking relief. A short time ago I saw a young person who had sustained terrible burns to their face... my heart goes out to them. It is simply a miracle for me waking up after 7hrs of sleep and actually feeling great! Many years spent feeling fatigued which colored my whole day.

I took /take Ambien AKA: Zolpidiem and used to be Rx’d 10 mg doses Q @ pm. Then came a change about 6 yrs ago... I was told the max allowable for females is/ was 4 mg and men 5 mg. Sooo that was a hard shock on my system... all I can say is ask your MD if you should be detoxing period. If soo... buy a pill cutter... take it down slow and lower q @ week... ie 1/2 the pill for 2 weeks... then 1/4 the pill q 2 wks.. then 0!! I tried to take melatonin but I had bad nightmares & got no sleep. I know humans need sleep to reboot... so at least 5 hrs guaranteed is valued. I wear a memory foam sleep mask.. no nightlights.. or Computer w/ o blue blocker glasses.. I dim my screen... & sip in Camamille (sp?) tea.. also warm shower that allows my body to cool down to signal my body it’s sleep time! Also, I exercise... to try to tire my body... to boost the chances I will fall asleep. A tip I use.. I sprinkle baby powder inside my pillowcase... it comforts me... let’s me chill to go to sleep! Do NOT take Benadryl! It is an anticholergenic which hastens dementia/Alzheimers! Look up this class of Rxs... I won’t take them and ask my MD if she forgets!!

Good Luck!!

Do NOT go cold turkey!! Could cause a medical emergency... ie Heart attack!!

I'd be a little cautious with the baby power in the pillow. One of the components of most baby powder is talc, which is find for the bottom, but should not be breathed. Not good for the lungs.

Many drugs have side effects (i.e. your body over responding to some component), more or less depending on the person, lifestyle, environment and how long they are taken. I didn't know about the Benadryl (diphenhydramine). Makes you wonder if anyone reads the warning labels?!?

Hi - I have been taking Zolpidem for less than 2 months. Some pain/nerve issues and now tinnitus due to a head injury. I started a tapering schedule with my Doctor. I am down to a quarter pill a night of a 5mg tab - he was suggesting I continue to go slowly. A couple of nights I had a challenge and had to restart as I took another half pill. I was wondering how long you were taking it and did you taper or just come off of it naturally?

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

@onewhoknows
I was just curious if you are willing to share the dosage of your melatonin you took?
Take care,
Jake

Thanks for the reply! I am sorry you go through the seizures but it sounds like the medication helps a lot. I haven’t had real sleep issues until recently. I have had some health challenges as well and anxiety about them plays a factor for sure. I am becoming much more accepting through faith and time. I seem to have items that are not solved easily or are genetic with no solution. (Elevated LP(a) which landed me in the ER and Cath lab and tinnitus) The ear ringing is something I will have to get used to - ambien is helping but it isn’t something I want to do long term. I slept longer on more of a pill a little less on the 1/4 pill. My next goal is 1/8 then start try nights without it.

I've been on Ambien, prescribed by different neurologists since 1990s due to sleep deprivation. At times, I had to to use 20 mg Ambien in order to sleep. Had sleep study on 2015, diagnosed with sleep apnea, but the specialist did not follow up on his own study order. On 10/2019, had 2 sleep studies, indicated sleep apnea. Have been on CPAP since last November which has helped me markedly. I have been able to reduce the dose to 2.5-5mg and at times, don't use it at all.

That is so wonderful after so many years! Very happy for you.