Weaning off zolpidem (Ambien)

Posted by lusia @lusia, Dec 9, 2017

taking 5mg ambian for 20 years can melatonin help to ween me off

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Sleep Health Support Group.

@medicmikey

Was on Ambien from May 2004 till May 2017. Started at 5mg and at one time, was taking 70mg (yeah you read that right) a night. I was on 12.5mg er when I had just had enough. It is easy to form a dependency or even an addiction to Zolpidem and have your life or lifestyle depend on it. Currently, I take one Tylenol pm, 1 10 mg melatonin and smoke some cannabis about an hour before bed. If you are going to break a long term dependency on Ambien, cannabis is key in my opinion. It treats anxiety, depression, insomnia and has anti-inflammatory properties and the CBD’s help with memory and nerve repair and have been known to kill toxic cells like cancer. Cannabis has no “next day grogginess” and comes in raw form or edibles, drops, mist and can even be rubbed on ( transdermal ). The LD50 ( lethal dose that it takes to kill 50% populous) is 1500lbs consumed in 24 hours which is just about impossible. It’s worth a try if it’s available to you. Moderation as always is the key.

Jump to this post

What happens when you travel ? Are you stopped at airports for carrying Cannabis?

REPLY
@medicmikey

Was on Ambien from May 2004 till May 2017. Started at 5mg and at one time, was taking 70mg (yeah you read that right) a night. I was on 12.5mg er when I had just had enough. It is easy to form a dependency or even an addiction to Zolpidem and have your life or lifestyle depend on it. Currently, I take one Tylenol pm, 1 10 mg melatonin and smoke some cannabis about an hour before bed. If you are going to break a long term dependency on Ambien, cannabis is key in my opinion. It treats anxiety, depression, insomnia and has anti-inflammatory properties and the CBD’s help with memory and nerve repair and have been known to kill toxic cells like cancer. Cannabis has no “next day grogginess” and comes in raw form or edibles, drops, mist and can even be rubbed on ( transdermal ). The LD50 ( lethal dose that it takes to kill 50% populous) is 1500lbs consumed in 24 hours which is just about impossible. It’s worth a try if it’s available to you. Moderation as always is the key.

Jump to this post

Was curious if you get the munchies. This is my biggest with ambien - an hour or so after taking, I need to eat everything in sight.

REPLY
@sndishpr

Was curious if you get the munchies. This is my biggest with ambien - an hour or so after taking, I need to eat everything in sight.

Jump to this post

Nope.

REPLY

I have been taking ambien 10mg and melatonian for a number of years. I have struggled with insomnia since I was a child. My doctor wants me to stop ambien and suggested a low dose of Elavil (25 mg). I've been concerned about the effects of long term use. Elavil is an anti depressant but they have found that low doses help with sleep and symptoms of fibromyalgia. I decided to give it a try. I've been taking it for a week. I have been a little disappointed that the elavil doesn't "turn of my brain " like ambien does. I have felt like I was more awake and have been more restless in bed. But. I have been alert and not tired at all. So, I'm going to continue with the elavil. I've decided to remain calm and not freak out when I wake more in the.night. as long as i continue to function during the day. I wish you all the best of luck!!
By the way, it took months for me to wean myself off effexor. Started with 1/2, then1/4. Then little tiny bits until I didn't feel withdrawal symptoms. Keep trying! You can do it!!

REPLY
@bernese53

I have been taking 10 mg of Ambien for the last ten years. I have tried melatonin but it did not work for me. I understand that it is important to be under a doctor's supervision when you cut back on Ambien. Anyone here who has been successful in terms of cutting back/quitting Ambien?

Jump to this post

I was just started on 10 mg ambien recently. Let me know if you were successful in cutting back/quitting.

REPLY

I successfully weaned off ambien cold turkey. Even though it didn't make me do weird things ( eat, have sex, drive without knowing it) I truly believe it was the best thing to get off of. I'm back to trazedone 50mg to start and feel much better. Sleep is still a problem but I am getting about 4 uninterrupted hours, then do get back to sleep again with a little struggle.

REPLY

Very very proud of you. I will be off in 2 weeks. I had to sweat off. I am sleeping better also. Yeahhhh to both of us.

REPLY

I also suffer from sleep problems sine I was a teenager but never took anything except melatonin . I was on a variety of medication last year since I went almost 5 days without any sleep ( which was cause by severe back pain), I was admitted to the hospital and then they put me on several different medications ( trazadone, tranazapam, Seroquel xr 200mg, , Seroquel 200mg, and clonazepam .5 mg twice a day. I am currently only taking Seroquel xr 50 mg and .5 mg clonazepam at night and in the morning . I wake up at least 3-4 times at night and at times have difficulty falling asleep and getting back to sleep when I wake up. I was wondering if it possible to take melatonin as well with these medications. Also , I have heard that Nocturest might help but I can't take it . The ingredients are magnesium citrate, theanine, melatonin, valerian, passionflower, lemon balm, hops and camomile. I also have started drinking lavender and camomile tea just before I go to bed for the past two days and that seems to work as well as taking the clonazepam pill at least 30 min to an hour before I go to sleep instead of just before I sleep. I seems to be working so far.

REPLY
@linda66

I also suffer from sleep problems sine I was a teenager but never took anything except melatonin . I was on a variety of medication last year since I went almost 5 days without any sleep ( which was cause by severe back pain), I was admitted to the hospital and then they put me on several different medications ( trazadone, tranazapam, Seroquel xr 200mg, , Seroquel 200mg, and clonazepam .5 mg twice a day. I am currently only taking Seroquel xr 50 mg and .5 mg clonazepam at night and in the morning . I wake up at least 3-4 times at night and at times have difficulty falling asleep and getting back to sleep when I wake up. I was wondering if it possible to take melatonin as well with these medications. Also , I have heard that Nocturest might help but I can't take it . The ingredients are magnesium citrate, theanine, melatonin, valerian, passionflower, lemon balm, hops and camomile. I also have started drinking lavender and camomile tea just before I go to bed for the past two days and that seems to work as well as taking the clonazepam pill at least 30 min to an hour before I go to sleep instead of just before I sleep. I seems to be working so far.

Jump to this post

@linda66 - so sorry to hear about the sleep problems you've had since you were a teenager. Your episode of going 5 days without sleep with the severe back pain sounds extremely rough. Glad to hear you are getting some degree of relief with the teas and the clonazepam at least 30 minutes before bed.

As far as whether melatonin can be taken with the quetiapine (Seroquel) and clonazepam, my suggestion would be to ask a pharmacist or your doctor, and perhaps ask one or both about other sleep remedies if the teas and the clonazepam are not sufficient over time.

I'm guessing others in this discussion might be interested in what you've found with the lavender and camomile teas. What kind of effect are you feeling from the teas? Are you noticing feeling more sleepy after drinking them?

REPLY

So far I have been able to sleep at night , I am only waking up once or twice at night but I fall back to sleep right away. I think changing the time that I take the clonazepam has helped. I used to take it just before I went to bed. Now I take it about 30 to 45 minutes before I sleep. I also make sure that I get about 30 to 45 minutes of exercise a day. ( even with the back pain ) .

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.