Weaning off zolpidem (Ambien)

Has this happened to anyone? I have been taking Ambien for more than 6 years and always got a great nights sleep. (6.25 mgs.) Always worked fine. Last month I picked up my refill as usual. Took one, no sleep. Next night, same thing. Same thing for a week. Unfortunately, I had to go into the hospital for a bad UTI. I asked for Ambien and they gave me a 5 mg. I slept like a baby. Even with interruptions for vitals, went right back to sleep. Came home, took the 6.25 mg. No sleep. My dr. says it's impossible. "All mags. have to sell the same ingredients." I asked my dr. to prescribe the 5 mg. He did. I slept. Any opinions??

Hi. With Ambien, been on it 20 years now, I get some sleep. If I don't take it I get NO sleep. But I really am done being held prisoner to this drug. The doctors tell me I'm not addicted but that it's habitual. I tend to disagree. My body is surely addicted. I really just want to stop it. I'm barely sleeping so why bother. Plus it opens the door for me to try other non-addictive, OTC or even CBD options if I'm off Ambien. I'm just trying to figure out how to wean off properly. I've gone from 10mg to 5 mg for several months now. How do I wean from 5 mg now? Do I try to cut half in half to get approx 2 mg or do I skip nights to wean? 20 years on his drug is a very long time so I need to be careful. That I know. Can anyone advise?

Does anyone get severe anxiety when going off Ambien?

Please don't misunderstand what I am about to say. The less drugs we all take, the more our bodies would function as they were meant to, but some people don't have bodies that function in a normal method when unmedicated. My mother never wants to take anything that she could become "addicted" to. An addiction typically drives the need for more of something because you are getting something other than simply the medicinal benefits from the substance. My mother if 76 years old and if she needs 10 mg of ambien for the rest of her life, she will have a much better quality of life for what I hope are at least 20 more years than if she were passing that time groggy and half asleep because she did not take her ambien. Unless God decides to rewire my brain one night, I imagine I will be on a cocktail of 3-4 meds for anxiety and depression for how ever long I am still on this earth. without them, my quality of life would be far worse than current and I can't imagine a friend who would still be within shouting distance if I were unmedicated. Am I addicted top them? My answer would be no because I get no sense of euphoria from them and don't want to know if I would if I took a couple of extra one day. Am I dependent on them? Absolutely. I will turm over the soapbox to someone else at this point, but that is my take on meds that help us live better lives.

Dr took me off zolpidem & hydrocodone cold turkey… he must be in trouble or afraid of being in trouble, BUT I can’t get 2 hours of sleep, maybe 4 total since he did that!

Melatonin is a joke! Does nothing even 30-40 mg. don’t work…..what can I talk him into?
(Multiple back fusions…2 compression fractures right now…Ortho.Dr. ignores me too)

kawanhee, I know people who have taken Lorazepam longer than 2 years and they are doing great! They have not had to increase their dosage. And the original dose is still working great for them! So that kinda blows your theory/statements about Lorazepam.

Yes...ask your doctor for lorazepam

There are soooo many posts to look thru....40 pages!! You couldn't just tell me again? Really??

Cindisue, are you a medical professional? I have stated in several posts that I am not. I can just comment on what works for me and what doesn’t. I can also comment on research I’ve found and what medical professionals whom I respect have told me. I have struggled with sleep issues for many many years. I don’t need your inflammatory comments about what “blows my theories/statements.” I believe responses should be in a respectful way.
This site is a support site.

No longer engaging with you. Your tone is not supportive or respectful. Very judgemental