@robbinr — thanks for sharing the herbal formula you found helpful, or as an adjunct to Zolpidem (Ambien). Have you found it to be a problem to continue to get prescriptions like @blazytracy mentioned experiencing?

@blazytracy — if the melatonin is not working well for you, what are you considering doing next to try and get some sleep?

Lavender has helped me extremely!!!!!! I start diffusing it in my bedroom about 1/2 hr before bed, also sprinkle some drops on my pillow, roll some on the bottom of my feet, wrists, and a tad under my nose…I LOVE IT! I switch between Lavender and Serenity…those are 2 of my favorites for sleeping. I’m also going to try the Serenity Restful Complex softgels next..

While essential oils smell wonderful, and do have the sequiterpenes (sp?) that cross the blood/brain barrier, they are not going to help that much for someone who has raging insomnia. I still have an underlying condition that changes my ability to sleep and Lavender is not going to cut it.

My husband found an edible MMJ product that helps me get to sleep. It won't keep me asleep, but it better than just laying there:} I am doing a sleep study tonight and then I am going to try some CBT with the Sleep Center to try to change my sleep cycle. And Yes, my DR. is starting to buck on refilling any prescriptions. This might force me to look for another Dr. I still have Fibro and all its baggage. R

Oh! Very interesting! Please let me know how the sleep study goes. I may be interested in one of them also!!!

I understand! Anxious to hear about the sleep study!

If you suspect anpea, the sleep study will justify your Dr. to prescribe a CPAP machine to keep your airways open while you sleep so you don't get woken by the autonomic system trying to keep you from suffocating…It doesn't take a lot of airway disruption to spark that response. R

No, I do not suspect apnea. My brain just doesn’t shut off. Ever. LOL

That's very interesting, @blazytracy. Glad the lavender oil has been helpful with getting some sleep. Are people with allergies and asthma generally okay with oils like that?

@robbinr — that's too bad about the doctor also becoming more hesitant on refilling prescriptions. I imagine it's frustrating to have found something that helps and then potentially lose access to it.

The sleep study sounds like an excellent idea. Fingers crossed that you get some really good information from that.

Also interesting that you will be doing some CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) to try to change your sleep cycle. Will you report back about how that goes?

Oh YES! Especially for people with allergies and asthma!!

I posted this reply when I first started to withdraw from Effexor and looking forward to the day when I could eliminate ambien from my daily cocktail of drugs. After 6 months of gradual withdrawal from Effexor, I'm back on it. Severe withdrawal and decreased levels of serotonin are to blame. Therefore, I am still dependent on ambien for sleep. I don't know if I can even attempt an ambien withdrawal until and if I can get myself back to some sense of sanity from the effects of withdrawing from Effexor. I am very upset and depressed right now so I don't plan to change anything else right now.

I seem to recall that Effexor is very difficult to withdraw from. And I have friends that had severe withdrawal symptoms after skipping just a few days. I quit Effexor when it stopped being "Effective":} But I remember starting on Cymbalta at a low dose while reducing the Effexor. It does send one into a tailspin doesn't it? Have you ever tried 5-HTP? You might talk to your doc about it, if you are still talking to a doc. Buck up bucko! I expect you to overcome this bump and move on to greater discoveries. What is the big deal about Ambien? Has there been new research that indicates it contributes to Alzheimer's or something? I don't get it. I can't sleep without it. RR

Looking for information on how to stop taking Ambien as I've been taking it for about 18 years. Anyone have any ideas?

Welcome to Connect, @peajayiam
You'll notice that I moved your message to this discussion about weaning off Ambien. I did this so you could meet others talking about getting off this drug, like @robbinr @blazytracy @bernese53 @arachel and others.

Peajayjam, click VIEW & REPLY to see the previous messages posted.
While we wait for others to join in, would you mind sharing why you've decided to get off Ambien now? What led to this decision?

@robbinr Totally understand. I have yet to find anything to help w/ restful sleep or, at times, even fitful sleep. Any idea what causes your insomnia?