Ambien Withdrawal

[Scared179]

Does anyone know how long you have to take Ambien CR to become dependant and have withdrawal symptoms? I have been taking it for a couple of weeks, sometimes not every night but at least the past week and a half every night. I am not taking it anymore starting tonight but am nervous about getting symptoms from this and I just got off of Hydrocodone. Thanks.

[sicraw]

I have taken 10 mg a night for 5 years.  Off and on I would get aches under my rib, but they would go.  Nothing else seemed off.  I had a hysterectomy (major surgery) and after that, it seems that ALOT of side effects of ambien started.  I'm going to list some and see if others have had the same thing.  High anxiety/panic attacks, face flushing, sweating, my right side hurt (like I either had kidney stones or gall bladder stones - which I don't have either since I had an ultra sound), my bladder hurt (dr thought I had a UTI, which I didn't) and my right eye was really sore.  I quit ct (which after reading, I probably shouldn't have) and am on almost two weeks.  The first week was hell.  Especially the panic attacks.  I used an over the counter sleep aid, because I knew that if I had to deal with no sleep at all and all this other stuff, I would be in the hospital.  Most of the day things are gone - I actually feel pretty good - almost to my normal.  I have cut my over the counter sleep aid in half and will go on something more natural in the next few days.  It seems the only lasting effect is a side pain by my lower right rib.  I touch it and it is sore.  I think it is myalgia.  Anyone have any of these symptons and how long will it take to really clear from my system?

[plotdot]

I was in the hospital for a bad reaction to Levaquin when they gave me Ambien to help me sleep. I slept, but was awakened by what felt like an electric shock going through my body from the right side to the left, especially through my head. I refused to take Ambien after that, but had a "brain zap" three more times before it stopped. When I got home I researched Ambien and way down in the list of side effects was "sensation of electric shocks." No kidding! When I told my doctor he said that means I can't take Ambien or a bunch of other related sleep aids. When I have the need for a sleep aid now, I take two Benadryl, but only the dye-free version (the regular version makes me restless).

[beenthere53]

The thing about Ambien is that affects different people in different ways.  I was on 5 mg of ambien nightly for a couple of months when I started getting heart palps.  After undergoing tests, etc, we read where it could be a side effect of ambien.  By then i had taken it nightly for 5 months.  I quit the ambien, and that's when everything came crashing down.  Of course there were sleepless nights, but the anxiety attacks, crazy blood pressure and heart rhythm changes, awful generall feelings engulfed me.  I had brain "zaps" that felt like electrical charges going off in my head.  I could not drive or function normally. I lost down to 98 lbs. My poor husband took me to doctors, medical tests, etc....The neurologist thought it was ambien withdrawal but the others weren't so sure since people go on and off ambien all the time....It took about 6 months to return to normal.  If you are one of those who has this reaction, hope you have a large support network, and a faith community which helps tremendously.  Just remember, you aren't going crazy, and you will have ups and downs in your recovery.  

[ambienkills]

Hi, hope you are getting good sleep now.  And hopefully you are not taking Ambien.

I was prescribed and taking 100mg of Ambien a night for a year and a half.  That's 10 10mg pills per night.  Before that I was on 10mg for a few years.  I was arrested for something I have zero recollection of doing.  I spent 5 days in jail, on my face, dying, in medical watch.  Then 5 months at an inpatient treatment facility.  I did not sleep for 26 days.  The first night I slept, I got 2 hours of sleep and felt like a new person.  I didn't sleep for another couple of nights, then had 5 hours of sleep one night.  From there it only got better.  It has been about 250 days since I have taken Ambien and I get GREAT sleep and am in the best health of my life.  It can be done.  Although I DO NOT recommend cold turkey if you have taken Ambien for a long time or at high doses.  Good luck!

[staind0317]

yeah I'm withdrawing from Ambien now truthfully I also had to withdraw from alot of pain killers and find this alot easier then that except the no sleep thing ***** but ambien is part of the Benzodiazepines family or also just benzo like ativan,xanex,klonopin,and Valium ect which is dangerous to withdraw from its not recommended to just stop cold turkey without talking to your doctor about it better to try and tamper off of it, not all drug can cause death from the withdraw but Benzodiazepines and alcohol are the two things that can so remember that

[AmbienWithdrawlSurvivor]

By now, I'm hoping you've conquered getting the Ambien monkey off of your back. I am on day 5 of Ambien withdrawl.  The first 72 hours were pretty bad: zero sleep, sweats, severe stomach pain, headache, neckache and backache, diarrhea, nausea. I cold-turkeyed it as I wanted off Ambien ASAP.  Was up to nearly 20 mgs a night every night for sleep for two months. Getting zero hours of sleep day after day can make you feel like you're going to die, but remind yourself that it WILL get better. Day 4 was a breakthrough with some light sleep here and there through the night but with weird dreams; the stomach pain went away mid day, and the other aches were gone by mid day as were the sweats. Day 5 is here and the sleep was better than Day 4 with no weird dreams (that I can remember). I'm very hopeful now. I was put off of work for 2 weeks during this process so that I wouldn't have that added pressure of worrying about work while trying to beat my Ambien addiction. I should add that after one night of no Ambien, although I felt miserable with no sleep, etc., my head seemed clearer and I didn't have that "druggy" feeling that Ambien would give me during the day.Withdrawl is no picnic but it's soooooo worth it to get off this stuff!

[PromisedLand]

other than trouble sleeping a full night, I noticed that dreams returned when I did sleep, but that's about it.


Jim

[Addict63]

The instruction sheet recommends no more than 10 days in a row. You fall well within those guidelines. I think you'll be fine, after your sleep catches up in a couple of days. You could possibly have slight symptoms, but most likely not. Tons of natural stuff to use instead, like Melatonin, Yogi Bedtime Tea, Valerian Root are just a few.

Once you get back to normal sleep count your blessings. To quote what I learned from someone from this forum: when we take sleep meds we're borrowing sleep from our future.

I only took Ambien for slightly less than a year and I'm on a long taper from it right now. I'm not sure when and if I'll ever get back to normal sleep. If I had it to do over I ever never would have touched the stuff.  

[Scared179]

What kind of symptoms did you have? I was only taking 1 per night and skipped a few nights also. I will start taking the Melotonin instead.

[PromisedLand]

Yes, you shouldn't have too bad of a problem..I took it every night for 3 weeks a few years ago..I substituted benedryl..started with 2 for a few nights, then 1 and I was fine.


Jim

[LeaAnn807]

I think you will be ok after that short of a time.  I took it for YEARS and had horrific WDs from it.  Didn't sleep for weeks after I stopped.  If you quit now, you might not sleep well for a few nights, but hang on!  It will not be as bad now as it would be later!!!

Good luck!