Try doing a slow taper. I guess I was Verizon y fortunate. I've been on them since 1999 and I didn't have trouble getting off them. I switched to Alteril, which is not habit-forming and is all natural. Melatonin also helps a lot of people. Ask your doctor for a very slow taper.
Ambien and Xanax taught me the ugly rule about mood & mind altering drugs and the paybacks: If you take something for sleep, to stop taking it you will have to go through a bout of insomnia that's twice as bad as the original bout. If you take a Benzo for tranquility THAT payback is very dangerous indeed when you try to stop, and of course all your tranquility goes completely out the window when you stop. Some of these drugs are instant teaching machines, insert a pill and learn a lesson. The bummer about the whole thing is many of us really needed or actually need the drugs when they're prescribed to us. As explained on my drug fact info sheets "your doctor feels the benefits you'll receive from this drug outweighs it's side effects". Damed if we do and damed if we don't.
I really didn't know you could get addicted to Ambiens, my husband takes the 10 mg every night. But when he runs out he can't sleep, so I guess he may be addicted to them too. I take 1 and they do nothing for me. But I feel your pain. Being addicted to anything is hard. Have you asked your prescribing Dr. for a plan? He probably would know what to do. Either taper, go ct...Either way, I wish you well and hope things start getting better for you!
I got a "kick" out of that one too. Laughter is good for the soul.
"I beat the hell out of it three years ago"
I must admit I got a LOL outta the way you said that!!! I love it!
I beat the hell out of it three years ago. I went on a very slow taper, taking my time. Took 4 months to taper 10mg pills. Been clean 3 years and 4 months.