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Ambien stopped working
Hi everyone. I’m hoping to get some advice as I feel a little lost and the doctors I’ve spoken to so far haven’t been able to come up with a solution to my problem.
I’ve had insomnia and also wake up a lot for year. It started with noisy neighbours and construction work (before then I had no issues). During this time I also developed chronic pain that made it even harder to sleep.
My dr prescribed “light” sleep medications to begin with. Some didn’t work, some gave side effects, and some did work for some time. But since I had no control over the noise in the area, eventually I had to move on to Ambien (and gigantic ear plugs).
So, I was on Ambien for a few months, started at 5mg but then noticed I had to take 10mg as my body was getting used to them. Eventually I moved and got rid of the noisy neighbours, but my body was so used to my crazy sleeping habits that I couldn’t go back to my regular hours. I would still wake up the hours my neighbours used to wake me up.
I tried my very best to stay at 10mg of Ambien but eventually I found myself waking up every second hour or so, having to take more to fall back to sleep. I got scared and called my dr, who gave me diazepam (5mg) and told me it should help me break this vicious cycle.
It did. The very first night I slept all night and only needed one Ambien. It stayed like this for a few months and my plan was to taper off everything, but then bad things happened in my life and it didn’t feel like a good time. I was too afraid to not get any sleep while going through so many struggles.
And now I’m kinda back to where I started. My body is so used to Ambien that sometimes I can’t even fall asleep on 10mg (even tho I’m still on diazepam as well). If I do fall asleep, I wake up after 4 hours, sometimes after only 1-2 hours, and it’s impossible to go back to sleep (my chronic pain isn’t helping).
Since I’m already on Diazepam I can’t use this to control the issue this time. My dr told me to try 7,5mg Diazepam and even 10mg but for some reason it’s not working. Quite the opposite. So I’m staying on 5mg.
What can I do? Has anyone been in a similar situation? I really want to get off both Diazepam and Ambien, but at the momemt my goal is to just find a safe way to sleep through the night because I haven’t slept in months!
Could I maybe slowly taper off Diazepam and add something else so that 10mg Ambien will be enough to sleep through the night?
Sorry this got so long. I’d be so grateful for any ideas or advice.
Kind regards /Emmabell
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@emmabell My first question is to why the tapering off? Is it because of side effects and are you working with your doctor on a tapering off plan?
I was on sleep meds for years and noticed that my anxiety and depression worsened and my body no longer knew how to sleep. If one has been on sleep meds for years then the tapering off process will also take years.
Some things I’ve tried is medical marijuana but not good for me. I’ve also tried CBD oil with no THC along with 1mg of melatonin. Please take care.
This might be of some help with those struggling to sleep while lowering medications. It's a 25 minute audio on YouTube by a hypnotist that helps with relaxing and falling asleep. Look for Paul McKenna-Sleep. I listen in beds with ear buds when I want to relax and get ready to sleep. I've just starting taking Trazodone again, 50-100mg/night. My insomnia started early this year, a few weeks after I had Covid.
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2 ReactionsTapering off the diazepam because it was prescribed for sleep but is not working anymore for me. I want to come off zolpidem as my body is so used to them that I need 20-30mg a night. I want to get back to sleeping without them or at least not have to take so much. I get many side effects from them. No dr is helping me, they don’t know how. I’ve reached out to several.
In my country cbd is forbidden.
Thank you for your reply.
Thought I’d add the tapering off ambien is not going great mainly bc I keep waking up from my chronic pain, bladder issues etc. I wish some doctor would take interest in helping and maybe finding me better alternatives for sleep but sadly they say there’s nothing more I haven’t already tried (I find that hard to believe). Oh well…
Hey there. I hear everything you are saying but no one has mentioned that drug companies have been lowering the effectiveness of these medications. Everyone is so scared of taking something because of others not following the rules. The anxiety that my doctor's are putting on us is affecting our minds. Stop worrying about what you're taking so much. I think the stereo typing is horrible for patients who have actual issues. I have zolpidem. Doesn't work most nights because of the manufacturing of the drug. No one tells us this they just make us feel guilty and therefore it's our own issue to figure out. That's no way for us to be treated. If I pay for Ambien and not a generic brand I sleep great. Occasionally I still don't get sleep but I needed to stop the nonsense of others because my chronic pain and insomnia aren't there's it's mine. I unfortunately am not like others and I'm done giving a shit about how bad meds are. People that have to function in this life need to be less affective by others. Easier said than done. Stop worrying about the meds and realize you may need them. That's my opinion. Doctor's won't go against the government and what they think works best for us. I think doctor's should be stepping up. But they don't get paid or the dea bothers them by harassment that it's not worth having us as patients but if we don't get the help we need them we can't work and contribute to society like we could. It's tough to be a patient these days. I hope things change for you and soon. I'm not trying to start a fight here just giving you some real facts on the meds at least that's what all the trials are coming up with.
I take the three of the generic of Flexeril (tizanidine) with 10 mg of Ambien. Works pretty well.
Have also used CBD from FOCL. I take two about 1/2 he before bedtime.
Also, turn down or off most of the light sources in your home an hour before bedtime. Don’t use cellphone, computer or TV. Read quietly. It really signals your body that it is time for sleep. Good luck!
Hey there again, everyone. I just wanted to say hang in there. We're good people and mean well, and truly want to get relief and help others as we're trying to cope. It's not an easy journey. I've always heard getting rid of people in your life that creates more anxiety, isn't healthy to be around, I truly believe that now. God bless all of us.
cainrox1....You are EXACTLY RIGHT!! About everything....the doctors don't care about us...they just think these meds are Really BAD......BS! We need them for ourselves because it's about quality of life! So what if I need an anxiety med once in awhile....SO WHAT! It's not like I'm addicted to them....but even if I did need them everyday....and some people do....that IS NOT WRONG....these meds are helping us! Isn't that what doctors and medications are supposed to do??? And....you are also soooo right about the generic manufacturers NOT making these meds effective!! Shouldn't that be illegal to sell a medication to people that is TOTALLY INEFFECTIVE?? I don't get it.....Mylan used to make the sleep med Flurazepam....which was GREAT!! It Actually Worked! But I guess they got too many lawsuits from people who abused it....and I'm sure they caught alot of flak from the anti-drug natzi's......so it's no longer being made....the only sleep med that ever worked for me.....so I'm on the Ambien sleep/no sleep train now.....and I don't even take it every night....I can take it 1 night and the very next night...I can't sleep if I don't take it....this is CRAZY! What the heck is going on with these companies?? I mean....make medications that work.....PLEASE
I am a hardcore insomniac, and have tried just about everything. Cognitive behavioral therapy might help to ensure that you have good sleep hygiene. The other thing I take with my 10 mg of Ambien is three tizanidine (Flexeril). But I don’t have the problem with waking up in the night that you do. Good luck!
Something that has helped me with zolpidem is to hold it under my tongue and let it slowly dissolve. It’s not the best taste but it doesn’t bother me anymore, T seems more effective this way.