HI, @tennbee – will you talk more about the 10 mg dose being a little too much for your body to process? What have you experienced at this dosage? Interestingly, @earl66 also talked about feeling a 10 mg dose was too much, and maybe can explain further what he experienced.
@clutch – how's your sleep going after tapering off the zolpidem (Ambien)?
Thank you Lisa.
I was able to wean off the Ambien pretty easily, but traded the witch for the devil by doing so. Had to depend on benzos for sleep. I actually think I should have tried it the other way around. Anything has to be better than weaning off benzos. Wouldn't recommend them to anyone for anything, except in very extrememe anxiety disorders.
I find Ambien 5 milligrams is the least harmful way to fall asleep and at 70 I’m not worried about being addicted. If it’s not one thing, it’s another!
Thank you Lisa.
I was able to wean off the Ambien pretty easily, but traded the witch for the devil by doing so. Had to depend on benzos for sleep. I actually think I should have tried it the other way around. Anything has to be better than weaning off benzos. Wouldn't recommend them to anyone for anything, except in very extrememe anxiety disorders.
A friend of mine has been doing benzo's for a long time….he is mid 60's and literally can't get off of them. He can't sleep. He use to do ambien and was fine. He lives around finding his script or he is going to have a heart attack
A friend of mine has been doing benzo's for a long time….he is mid 60's and literally can't get off of them. He can't sleep. He use to do ambien and was fine. He lives around finding his script or he is going to have a heart attack
@earl66
Hi,
I think until your friend makes a conscious decision to stop these meds or the doctor puts a stop to it there is little that can be done.
I do believe there are better sleep aids than Benzodiazepines in my opinion anyway. I told my doctor after getting of Klonopin when she tried to give me another Benzo drug “If your so fond of them you take them. Benzodiazepines are the drug of choice but it depends on how you take most drugs as to how safe they will be. Your friend shouldn’t rely on any medication to sleep on a nighty basis. There are other things that aid sleep.
No tv
No music
No cell phone use
No computer use
Sleep in a cool room with fresh air
Get plenty of light during the day to help your body efficiently use Melatonin
No caffeine at least 4hrs before bed
Go to bed and get up at the same time
Don’t nap
cognitive behavioral therapy.
I hope your friend can get off these meds and rely on his own body to do what it can do better than these drugs given the chance. But his body needs help. If he needs to do things that are conducive to sleep. We tend to take advantage of our bodies and expect it to function perfectly when we abuse it. Ain’t Hanna happen I’m afraid.
Good luck to your friend,
Jake
@earl66
Hi,
I think until your friend makes a conscious decision to stop these meds or the doctor puts a stop to it there is little that can be done.
I do believe there are better sleep aids than Benzodiazepines in my opinion anyway. I told my doctor after getting of Klonopin when she tried to give me another Benzo drug “If your so fond of them you take them. Benzodiazepines are the drug of choice but it depends on how you take most drugs as to how safe they will be. Your friend shouldn’t rely on any medication to sleep on a nighty basis. There are other things that aid sleep.
No tv
No music
No cell phone use
No computer use
Sleep in a cool room with fresh air
Get plenty of light during the day to help your body efficiently use Melatonin
No caffeine at least 4hrs before bed
Go to bed and get up at the same time
Don’t nap
cognitive behavioral therapy.
I hope your friend can get off these meds and rely on his own body to do what it can do better than these drugs given the chance. But his body needs help. If he needs to do things that are conducive to sleep. We tend to take advantage of our bodies and expect it to function perfectly when we abuse it. Ain’t Hanna happen I’m afraid.
Good luck to your friend,
Jake
@jakedduck1 – Hi. FYI – after using Ambien (5 mg) and Xanax (.25] religiously for many years, I made a decision to wean myself from these drugs. You may read my journey on this blog. I worked with a cognitive behavioral sleep therapist for 5 months. I practiced all the aids you mentioned. Bottom line, I now take 37 mg Trazodone nightly and sleep pretty well. My PCP is thrilled that I am off the other meds. Without this amount of Trazodone, I spent weeks sleep deprived. Understand, not everyone can sleep without some help, even practicing all you suggested. Trazodone seems to be the drug of choice of many psychiatrists.
@jakedduck1 – Hi. FYI – after using Ambien (5 mg) and Xanax (.25] religiously for many years, I made a decision to wean myself from these drugs. You may read my journey on this blog. I worked with a cognitive behavioral sleep therapist for 5 months. I practiced all the aids you mentioned. Bottom line, I now take 37 mg Trazodone nightly and sleep pretty well. My PCP is thrilled that I am off the other meds. Without this amount of Trazodone, I spent weeks sleep deprived. Understand, not everyone can sleep without some help, even practicing all you suggested. Trazodone seems to be the drug of choice of many psychiatrists.
@sndishpr
I agree many have sleep issues but I believe there are reasons people can’t sleep and those issues need to be addressed. Trazodone is a good choice if someone is depressed or has anxiety problems. To often doctors don’t investigate the reason for sleeplessness. I hope your being treated for the actual reason why your having these issues.
Jake
@sndishpr
I agree many have sleep issues but I believe there are reasons people can’t sleep and those issues need to be addressed. Trazodone is a good choice if someone is depressed or has anxiety problems. To often doctors don’t investigate the reason for sleeplessness. I hope your being treated for the actual reason why your having these issues.
Jake
@jakedduck1 I am not depressed or have anxiety issues. My sleep therapist and PCP agree that some people are miserable sleepers and that Trazodone is their drug of choice for me.
@jakedduck1 I am not depressed or have anxiety issues. My sleep therapist and PCP agree that some people are miserable sleepers and that Trazodone is their drug of choice for me.
I have consulted a sleep specialist about my concerns. He feels that there is no problem with me taking 10mg per night as long as it works for me. I have seen him regularly for the last 2 years. I also discuss the situation with my family doctor. He also doesn’t feel there is any reason to discontinue. I, on the other hand, want to get off of it. The doctors think it would be too stressful to try to withdraw and don’t encourage it. Presently, I am trying to get off of my antidepressant drug, Effexor, with the help of my family doctor. Maybe I should get over the Effexor withdrawal before attempting the ambien, but I do want to find out how best to go about it.
Hi Arachel,
I sure wouldn’t try going off Effexor and Ambien at the same time. I would do the Effexor first…slowly if possible. You’ll need your sleep because the side effects are trying. Then if you want to get off the Ambien wean yourself off that with the help of a sleep specialist.
This was a special on Lynne Ling Show on CNN recently. You may want to watch. and talk to your doctor.If you or anyone you know is taking a benzodiazapine medicine, this is a 'MUST SEE?HEAR'.
Pls! Please watch this to the very end! GOTO: https://youtu.be/Yh54uj6qH98
Hi, @arachel – wondering how you are doing? You mentioned going back on venlafaxine (Effexor) and cutting back on Zolpidem (Ambien) instead. Is your sleep still restless?
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.
Sorry, I bumped a button and lost what I started. Basically, take one pill and crush it – then mix / shake it with 3 mg of water – use two syringes [ 1mg. and a 3mg. ] to measure out 1/100 reduction per day until you get down to 0. It will take 100 days. You will have to make a chart with your reduction schedule. Double check your math! Log each day and the reduction on a calendar. You should talk to your doctor first. This is the only way to slowly wean off very slowly. Your brain may fight the reduction and you may not sleep from time to time. Remember, this is hard, a pain in the butt. It will work. I will be working on a table of measurements sometime this winter and post it to this site (if allowed). Good luck.
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Thank you Lisa.
I was able to wean off the Ambien pretty easily, but traded the witch for the devil by doing so. Had to depend on benzos for sleep. I actually think I should have tried it the other way around. Anything has to be better than weaning off benzos. Wouldn't recommend them to anyone for anything, except in very extrememe anxiety disorders.
I find Ambien 5 milligrams is the least harmful way to fall asleep and at 70 I’m not worried about being addicted. If it’s not one thing, it’s another!
A friend of mine has been doing benzo's for a long time….he is mid 60's and literally can't get off of them. He can't sleep. He use to do ambien and was fine. He lives around finding his script or he is going to have a heart attack
@earl66
Hi,
I think until your friend makes a conscious decision to stop these meds or the doctor puts a stop to it there is little that can be done.
I do believe there are better sleep aids than Benzodiazepines in my opinion anyway. I told my doctor after getting of Klonopin when she tried to give me another Benzo drug “If your so fond of them you take them. Benzodiazepines are the drug of choice but it depends on how you take most drugs as to how safe they will be. Your friend shouldn’t rely on any medication to sleep on a nighty basis. There are other things that aid sleep.
No tv
No music
No cell phone use
No computer use
Sleep in a cool room with fresh air
Get plenty of light during the day to help your body efficiently use Melatonin
No caffeine at least 4hrs before bed
Go to bed and get up at the same time
Don’t nap
cognitive behavioral therapy.
I hope your friend can get off these meds and rely on his own body to do what it can do better than these drugs given the chance. But his body needs help. If he needs to do things that are conducive to sleep. We tend to take advantage of our bodies and expect it to function perfectly when we abuse it. Ain’t Hanna happen I’m afraid.
Good luck to your friend,
Jake
@jakedduck1 – Hi. FYI – after using Ambien (5 mg) and Xanax (.25] religiously for many years, I made a decision to wean myself from these drugs. You may read my journey on this blog. I worked with a cognitive behavioral sleep therapist for 5 months. I practiced all the aids you mentioned. Bottom line, I now take 37 mg Trazodone nightly and sleep pretty well. My PCP is thrilled that I am off the other meds. Without this amount of Trazodone, I spent weeks sleep deprived. Understand, not everyone can sleep without some help, even practicing all you suggested. Trazodone seems to be the drug of choice of many psychiatrists.
@sndishpr
I agree many have sleep issues but I believe there are reasons people can’t sleep and those issues need to be addressed. Trazodone is a good choice if someone is depressed or has anxiety problems. To often doctors don’t investigate the reason for sleeplessness. I hope your being treated for the actual reason why your having these issues.
Jake
@jakedduck1 I am not depressed or have anxiety issues. My sleep therapist and PCP agree that some people are miserable sleepers and that Trazodone is their drug of choice for me.
@sndishpr
Hi
I hope you sleep like a baby every night!!!!!
💤 💤,
Jake
Hi Arachel,
I sure wouldn’t try going off Effexor and Ambien at the same time. I would do the Effexor first…slowly if possible. You’ll need your sleep because the side effects are trying. Then if you want to get off the Ambien wean yourself off that with the help of a sleep specialist.
This was a special on Lynne Ling Show on CNN recently. You may want to watch. and talk to your doctor.If you or anyone you know is taking a benzodiazapine medicine, this is a 'MUST SEE?HEAR'.
Pls! Please watch this to the very end! GOTO: https://youtu.be/Yh54uj6qH98
Hi, @arachel – wondering how you are doing? You mentioned going back on venlafaxine (Effexor) and cutting back on Zolpidem (Ambien) instead. Is your sleep still restless?
Sorry, I bumped a button and lost what I started. Basically, take one pill and crush it – then mix / shake it with 3 mg of water – use two syringes [ 1mg. and a 3mg. ] to measure out 1/100 reduction per day until you get down to 0. It will take 100 days. You will have to make a chart with your reduction schedule. Double check your math! Log each day and the reduction on a calendar. You should talk to your doctor first. This is the only way to slowly wean off very slowly. Your brain may fight the reduction and you may not sleep from time to time. Remember, this is hard, a pain in the butt. It will work. I will be working on a table of measurements sometime this winter and post it to this site (if allowed). Good luck.