Stilnox/ambien addiction need advice

[CMS84]

Ok I'll be as brief as possible. Been on Ambien (or stilnox as it's known here) for nearly 7 years, I'm up to 100-120 mg a day, since end of last year been waking up in jolts of panic, shaking thru the day with butterflies. Can't eat hardly, feel sick all the time. Last august was in and out of the ER and had tests done for gastric upset all tests were normal then I found out ambien can cause gastric upset. I've been on xanax for a few months but that hasn't helped and I am now experiencing withdrawal panic attacks/anxiousness and all associated symptoms from benzos. I have started seeing a psych/pain management doc who put me on 4mg clonozepam a day and told me to try and cut down the ambien intake. The trouble is the panic attacks 24/7 I won't be able to sleep. I've also been taking valium. Has anyone else here tried to or has come off ambien? I need some advice and support.

[hellc@mst]

Hi there. I think how you are feeling is typical after taking a dose of Stilnox. The calmative effect is one of the primary reasons why it is prescribed. I know when i took benzos or benzo like narcotics, i would feel exactly as you have described. Unfortunately  i  mistakenly believed that taking them during the day would be awesome but this inevitably led to abuse.

The problem with abusing these types of medications( benzo, benzoesque) is that eventually they can actually precipitate the symptoms they were designed to treat. So, rather than dissipating anxiety levels they begin to increase them, rather than helping to sleep, they can cause insomnia, rather than a inducing a feeling of euphoria and wellbeing they can make you dysphoric and depressed. You do not want to develop a physical dependance to this drug. Beware.

I urge you to be careful, consult a doctor if you havent already and be mindful of the potential risks associated with prolonged use of these drugs.

Geniet die naweek en goed bly..

Kind regard Jeremy.

[sls11]

ok i have stilnow, tried it... please tell me waht i am feeling is normal,,,
less anxious- happy, not worrying or obsessing about much, not over thinking, jut wish i could be around peole like i used to- taking this makes my confidence better - and sleep yes, but i am actually thinking that if i could take this in the day time it would feel awsome... but then i can't fal asleep. please wil you explain how the feeling is if you take it?

[mickeyfinn1983]

Well once your Brother is diagnosed with a sleeping disorder or a brain malfunction, in his case Epilepsy in my case Cluster headaches(migrane X 1000, also known as the suicide headache) they prescribe Zolpidem(stilnox or ambien or other zolpidem products) because they effect the brain and also clinically proven to heal the brain... The problem with these products is that they prevent the malfunction in the brain and seizures, etc. calm down and go away and they help sleeping at the same time. People who are unlucky to have something short wiring in their head know that these products then make us addicted to them because they take away a serious discomfort and subsequently stop the brain from overloading. I have been on Stilnox now for 4 years and have been prescribed the drug for 7 years ---> 3 years i did not take them because of an ex-girlfriend who prohibited me from taking any drugs as she had no understanding at all of what was going on... Now while she was in a sense right that drugs are wrong, she was also wrong because i was miserable and we had many fights because i would have seizures and blame her and i would keep her up at night because i couldn't sleep. I have since moved on and started to seriously overdose on Stilnox, sometimes taking 100-200 mg's per night which is like 10-20 tablets and although Stilnox won't kill you and Heath Ledger did not die from an overdose of Stilnox, an overdose is bad either way... Since then i have seen a doctor and he put me on other drugs to counteract me taking so many Stilnox a night, but that doesn't really stop the problem because the other drugs have a longer after-life and difficulty waking up becomes a pain in the rear and effects your life even more so than what the Stilnox was doing in the first place... Then we came up with an alternative, a Relaxing CD or watching a tv episode that lasts for 20 minutes, this is usually roughly how long it takes for the drugs to kick into action, and start the episode or the relaxing CD 5-10 minutes after consuming the pill, and it works, but it only works for me, maybe your brother has to come up with his own idea... I have now been practically overdose free for over 6 months and this is down to people who care and TRY to understand what i am going through... I have a new girlfriend who is in control of my tablets and yes she did have to do some tough love on me but at the same time understanding... How we do it is very simple and you can do this with your brother too... Only when he has the intention of GOING to sleep, give him a pill or 2 pills... Then make sure he is lying down with lights off for atleast 45 minutes, if he comes to you complaining that he cannot sleep, you give him one more with the clear instruction that this is the last pill for the night... If he still persists after giving him 1 more DO NOT GIVE IT, and make sure the pills are well hidden... Also, if he comes to you every night for an extra pill say no, he will be abusing the extra pill deal... Once he gets the addiction of the pill under control suggest to him to cut down half a pill a night and so forth... However, do not suggest that he comes off the pill completely or it will counteract the effort you put in, and will urge the overdose again. Try and build up an honest relationship with your brother about the pill consumption and be understanding if he asks you for an extra pill every now again(controlled, harmless overdose is better than an uncontrolled).

Any way try this out and i hope i have helped

[Nini76]

My brother is taking stillnox and finds that he cant sleep if he goes off it. He is now addicted to more than just stillnox and he is trying to take panadeine forte and other pills. It all started when he was diagnosed with epilepsy and it went from epilem to lamictal rivatrol to stillnox.  How can he get off the stillnox and get a good nights sleep? This is rediculous..all these drug companies are telling people that its not addictive when they most of them give side effects if you cut them out...well...HELLO that means the body is relying on it so it IS addictive. What can i do to help him????? I dont want to see him die like Heath Ledger! I had to to intervene lastnight and take his pill bag it was so embarrassing and i have to give him the pills everyday like hes a kid .This is not fair for him or me and the drug companies should take most of the blame for this!

[Raanee]

I take 14 stilnox tablets a day for a year. that's 140mg a day. I have had no adverse reactions or side effects. i want to get off them completely but have no idea what to expect.

[P80]

Hi I notice these posts are from over a year ago just wondering if you managed to kick the stilnox as someone i love is addicted too them and im trying to encourage them to slowly start the reduction process and im looking for some success stories for insipiration.

[triedeverymed]

You sound like me when I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder. I was out on Xanax as needed but also Prozac. Once the Prozac took hold, the panic left and has been gone for 10 years. I almost refused an antidepressant but I came around and decided to try for 6 months and see if my life got better and it did. Now I won't say I don't have other issues but Prozac was the one for me and I tried them all-hence my screen name.
Hang in  there, we're here to listen and help.
Erin

[triedeverymed]

Worried is 100% right, all you can do is taper off. I had to take xanax for 3 weeks once and I was feeling crappy after I stopped it and my doc put me back on but on a schedule and I was off in almost 2 weeks. It's a fast addicting drug. I'll never use it again
Erin

[CMS84]

He's got me on clonozepam 4mg a day, I can take xanax if I want but I choose not to

[worried878]

The only thing you can do is slowly taper off of the ambien...do u have a doctor who can help you?  the xanax is very habitforming as well so be careful with those..ask your doctor for an alternative to help with your nerves and sleep until you can get off of the ambien...keep posting

[CMS84]

I was on 2mg xanax tablets and was taking 4-6 mg a day and was doing that for a few months. I went on xanax because of the panic and anxious feelings the ambien is giving me. I stopped taking xanax a few days ago when I started the clonozepam and I am on 4mg a day. I am *trying* to cut down on my ambien, last night I cut half a tablet off my dose. But I also take the klonopin to sleep too. I've been on the ambien so long it's taken over my life, since I was a teenager and I'm 24 now they've been a daily thing so giving them up is going to be so hard. I also have valium but I'm not allowed to take it because the doc said in the blood tests valium can show as temazepam and oxazepam and it will look like I've obtained drugs elsewhere. So I'm only allowed to have 4mg of klonopin a day and I haveto collect 4 every 2 days from a pharmacy so I don't overdose.

It's pretty hard during the day when I crave some ambien because of the calming euphoric effect they give you, I usually give in and have 1.5 or 2mg to calm down which I know is just going backwards. It helps calm me down tho if I try to go a day without having any I'm all over the place. Right now in my stomach I feel so anxious and I'm shaking, it's like that 24/7.

[sadinmichigan]

bump

[sadinmichigan]

Have you already come off ambien? is that why you have the xanax? and valium..Please be careful with those too..

[(Not so) Spunky]

The key to coming off Ambien- or any benzo/sleep aid, is to reduce your mgs SLOWLY! I took it for a short time, then was switched to Xanax. There is a difference between the 2 and it can take your body a few weeks, to months, to adjust.. I cut .25 mg every week just to try to avoid the restlessness. I don't know what mg your pills are, but maybe start by cutting out one pill the first week, then another the 2nd week, etc.. If you find yourself too uncomfortable, maybe break the pill and go that route. Best thing to do is follow your dr's advice and keep him posted if it isn't working.. I found the worst part of the change the lack of sleep- and I mean TOTAL lack of sleep- during the change.. I really think I went an entire week of no sleep!!

[sadinmichigan]

i'm bumping ya up again..

[Chi_Chi_Lover]

http://www.thetrap.org.uk/forum/index.php

Try this website they will be able to help you but you will have to sign into it.

[Firefaery1023]

I don't know much about this, but I wanted to bump up your post.  I wish you lots of luck.

[sadinmichigan]

Welcome to the forum.I am sorry I wish i could help with that..I know someone will be along shortly who would be able to help or give at least some advice better than what I can offer..Have you tried to wean off ambien with the help of a dr? Do you take an anti-depressant? I do suffer from anxiety as well i know that an be a very horrible thing..have you always had anxiety problems? sorry for all the questions. Just hang tight..there are alot of wonderful supportive people here..including me..take care and again  welcome