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
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
@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?
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?
@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?
Thank you so much for your comments. Up until recently, I have been content with my dependence on ambien. Before I started taking it, I would literally be dragging my butt through the day just looking forward to bed time. Ambien has indeed changed my quality of life and I don’t debate that. But my family has been on me to quit and have convinced me that I am in denial about my “addiction”. I have never read about anyone who does take ambien every day but would love some positive feedback from those who do. It might help me get over my issues. Again, thank you. I am going to rethink this decision.
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.
Thank you so much for your comments. Up until recently, I have been content with my dependence on ambien. Before I started taking it, I would literally be dragging my butt through the day just looking forward to bed time. Ambien has indeed changed my quality of life and I don’t debate that. But my family has been on me to quit and have convinced me that I am in denial about my “addiction”. I have never read about anyone who does take ambien every day but would love some positive feedback from those who do. It might help me get over my issues. Again, thank you. I am going to rethink this decision.
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
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 — 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?
I had been on Ambien on and off for roughly 15 years. I was so addicted that I went to a primary care doctor who was truthfully not very good, but I went to her because she gave me Ambien. I had no problems with Ambien in the begining. However, I began to get these stomach pains if I took the Ambien for more than a few days straight. Sometimes I took the Ambien and dealt with the stomach issues because I needed to sleep I had to work. I told a friend at work about my insomnia and she suggested I try marijuana. She gave me some; and I found that it helped. I then started using it and it helped so I only took Ambien when smoking didn’t work. When I moved to another state It was more difficult to get the Ambien, and I was having more and more tummy issues and when I had an episode where I woke up one morning with a frying pan and the left overs from last nites dinner and potato chips in my bed I knew it was time to stop and I did. I smoke nightly to sleep, And once in a while I will take an Ambien. It’s not a perfect solution, But at least I get some sleep; which I need in order to help me with my Hypothyroidism, IBS, and Srogens That’s pretty good for hard-core insomniac like me.
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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?
I had been on Ambien on and off for roughly 15 years. I was so addicted that I went to a primary care doctor who was truthfully not very good, but I went to her because she gave me Ambien. I had no problems with Ambien in the begining. However, I began to get these stomach pains if I took the Ambien for more than a few days straight. Sometimes I took the Ambien and dealt with the stomach issues because I needed to sleep I had to work. I told a friend at work about my insomnia and she suggested I try marijuana. She gave me some; and I found that it helped. I then started using it and it helped so I only took Ambien when smoking didn’t work. When I moved to another state It was more difficult to get the Ambien, and I was having more and more tummy issues and when I had an episode where I woke up one morning with a frying pan and the left overs from last nites dinner and potato chips in my bed I knew it was time to stop and I did. I smoke nightly to sleep, And once in a while I will take an Ambien. It’s not a perfect solution, But at least I get some sleep; which I need in order to help me with my Hypothyroidism, IBS, and Srogens That’s pretty good for hard-core insomniac like me.
Never helped me, but you might as well try and see if it helps you. Everyone is different.
I will chip in..my Doctor is balking at prescribing it for me. It is a monthly struggle to get her to provide the prescription. Robbinr