Weaning off Ambien

Options
shorfi
shorfi Member Posts: 791
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

I am trying to wean off now. I started last Tuesday, but needed to take an Ambien on Friday because I was exhausted.

Recently weaned off Lexapro and feel so much better. This is hard especially when you have anxiety about going to sleep.

Anyone of you have any success with this? Reading the forums suggested that many persons have gone off cold turkey, and this is what I am trying to do.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Paula66
    Paula66 Member Posts: 1,728
    edited April 2012

    I for one had fears about stopping Ambien.  I had tried so many times but was unsuccesssful.  I finally put my mind to it and stopped cold turkey.  I took my last pill and thru away the bottle so I wasn't tempted to call in a refill.  It did take me the better part of a week to get used to it.  But now I am sleeping really well.  I know everyone is different so hang in there, you can do it.  I was starting to get worried that I wouldn't ever be able to sleep right if I didn't quit taking them.  Good luck and hang in there you will do it!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • shorfi
    shorfi Member Posts: 791
    edited April 2012

    I'm so afraid to throw away my bottle of sleeping pills.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Paula66
    Paula66 Member Posts: 1,728
    edited April 2012

    I too was afraid.  But I did what I had to do and that was to completly get rid of them and go cold turkey.  I will admit it was a rough go at first, but I was not going to let that little white pill have anymore control over me.  So much of this BC had control me and I finally had to start letting go so I could move on.  You can do it!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Paula66
    Paula66 Member Posts: 1,728
    edited April 2012

    I take Tammoxifen. I take it in the morning. My insomnia was more from all the crap from chemo and surgerys.  I just wanted sleep and wasn't getting it.  Thats what lead me down the ambien path.  I just finally had to go off of it completely and deal with sleepless nights. I was a walking zombie, going cold turkey, but for me I just was tired of a pill for this a pill for that.  It really didnt take me as long as I thought it would.  To tell you the truth by day 5 I slept like I did back in the day's before BC came in the picture.   Watch your caffine intake also.  I have noticed that as I have aged I can't consume it in the quanities that I use to.  Good Luck!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Paula66
    Paula66 Member Posts: 1,728
    edited April 2012

    LOL I hear that one!  Its funny how even something like your gummy vitamins are like that.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dogsandjogs
    dogsandjogs Member Posts: 1,907
    edited April 2012

    I have always been too scared to take sleeping pills -worried if there was some kind of emergency I wouldn't wake up!  I have no problems going to sleep, but wake up around 3 for some reason. I then do some sit ups or other exercises while lying in bed. That usually tires me out enough to go back to sleep until 5:30 or so.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • shorfi
    shorfi Member Posts: 791
    edited April 2015

    Great idea about doing sit ups in bed. I'm going to try that next time I wake up.



    I was on tamoxifen for 1 year and 4 years of Arimidex. This cancer journey had me on so many meds and like you Paula lead me on the Ambien path. I also take Amitiza for chronic by FlashBeat" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">constipationimage along with Diovan for high blood pressure, the latter being prescribed because it was a side effect of taking the Arimidex.. My BP has been controlled for almost 6 years. I'm at a stage in my life where I do not want to be taking all these pills, hence one of the reasons why I wanted to stop 'needing' the Ambien.



    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Miles2Go
    Miles2Go Member Posts: 120
    edited April 2012

    My experience with Ambiem was a nightmare.

    • Gaba Calm is an over-the-counter product with which my experience is a dream come true.  It's a sublinqual (dissolves under your tongue), easy to use at bedtime.
    • Available at Vitamin Cottage in bottles of 30 or 60.
    • Low cost.
    • Flavors are orange or peppermint.
    • Used long-term with no side effects; however I recommend taking it with 4 hours available to sleep.

     History for taking Gaba Calm is Tinitis (ringing in my ears).  With the Gaba Calm tablet tucked under my tongue, a recorded ocean wave (on a loop) and my mantra make going to sleep easy.

    I hope this information is helpful.  Namaste, CMG

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories