is there life after ambien?

[skoda_lasky]

Hello fellow ambien devotees.  I have been hooked to xanax and later ambien for 17 years.  Is there a recovered person out there who can tell me a little about life without drugs?  I've been taking them so long I feel that I dont know what it even means to be an adult.

Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

Skoda Lasky

[walternowotny]

There is a life without drugs and it is worth living.I am recovered alcoholic(13+ years of sobriety) and best things happened to me after I got sober.
That doesn't mean it easy....I recently buried my mother.She died in the
old country"(where"skoda lasky" was written) after lifetime struggle with alcohol and prescription meds(benzodiazepines,Rohypnol,recently Ambien).My mother died and now I have to deal with my alcoholic abusive father......My best friend-talented surgeon is struggling with 10+ years of opiate and benzodiazepines addiction.My childhood friend's husband hunged himself 6 months ago during alcohol withdrawal.....Yes ...after years of addiction you will have to grow up and learn to be an adult again.But good thing is you can do it right this time....
Good luck
Walter

[Gobig]

When my Dr. - after detoxing from 60 vics a day and having takin' something powerful to put me to sleep for 25 years - told me he was going to give me an antidepressant with a side effect of sleepiness to get me to sleep I thought he was nuts - how's that going to put me to sleep - boy was I wrong!!

[Gobig]

I'm in recovery, and life w/o drugs is much, much better - day and night!  I'd go to meetings - N.A. or A.A. - and talk to your Dr. about detox (assuming you're still on the xanax?).

Also, if you're worried about sleep, see if your Dr. will give you Trazodone - http://www.trazodone.com/  It's an antidepressant with the side effect of making you fall asleep - and it's used for that a lot.  And, it's addict approved!!  It puts you to sleep faster and harder than anything else!!  And, no hangover after taking it for a week or so - I mean nothing/nada.  Amazing stuff.  And now (after being clean for almost 7 months), I take it only when needed - it's truly not addictive.  

[zoezsweet]

Ambien is horrible! My husband started taking it after he had a back injury. It's amazing what L&I will pay for, anyways he once took a burning hot pan off the stove and set it on our daughters little princess table and it completely melted a big round hole on the vinyl top. Needless to say it had to be trashed.Oh and he also had no memory of doing it.  He has done more than a few wierd things on ambien. I would stay away from the stuff. -zoe

[Sput28401]

I've got a bad story about ambien and drinking. I was on a little binge drinking session on a Sunday afternoon, decided that I needed to go ahead and get a good night sleep, so I took an Ambien CR. Don't remember much of anything else, my wife called 911 thinking that I was having a seizure, aparently I couldn't talk, or move, but I was awake and looking at her. Only remember parts and pieces of the next 6-8 hours in an ambulance, in the ER, talking to the ER doc who is a church friend, comming home, all very pleasent stuff. That was the last day I took a drink, May 13. Unfortunately I filled the alcohol gap with Percocet. Now I am on here gaining support to quite that. Welcome to my day 1 off 6-8 10mg percs a day for the last 5 months.

[bigfred4ever]

I totally eat and don't remember in the morning. I always had a history of sleepwalking. When i was a kid my folks would find me out in the yard sleeping. As an adult it happened rarely. With the ambien it happens a lot. Couple weeks ago I go into the kitchen to make my coffee and there is shitload of peanut shells all over the floor, it's funny, but kinda scary.

[Charlie's girl]

my head is ringing.  I to have heard of the sleepwalking.  I'm awake now at 4 am.  Nice right.  

Charlie

[notmenow!]

Is their any withdrawal associated from going cold turkey on ambien Cr. From what I've read about it is that is should not be used for for than 10 days straight. I had no idea Ambien was around 17 years ago? Are you sure? Why not take a drug holiday and take on every other night, This is not hard to do is it? I don't know. If ambien was a benzo then would be a completely different story. Thank God it is not benzo's as that taper takes months to complete safely. Unless your, M.D. were to switch you to phenobarbital for a 30 day taper that would work as this is the drug used in inpatient detox. But can be used safely used at home. BUT is not to be abused, The MD should write a weeks worth with 3 refills.--------------------------------------------NOAH

[eliminnopee]

I mean I have heard they do that stuff and don't recall it at all.  Like walking into the kitchen and it was clean the night before and now it's a mess?

[GA Guy]

I personally eat like a crazy man when I take it. About 20 minutes after taking it, my appetite turns from a 2 to a 12. Crazy.

[eliminnopee]

     Kinda off subject, but is it true that folks wake up in the middle of the night and do all sorts of things, from raiding the fridge to climbing on the roof?  I have heard this several times

     Skoda, I don't know how many people here were on those specific drugs, but there are plenty of people here that are recovering from a variety of different addictions that will be more than happy to help you in any form desired.

[blueyz]

I took Ambien for awhile.  I was on it for several years.  The job I had had me switching from nights, to graves every six months.  I could NEVER sleep like a normal person.  I haven't had that schedule for years, but I still don't sleep normal.   I went off pain pills back in April and thought while I was at it I might as well get off Ambien, lorazapam etc... It was no problem.  I don't think I was addicted to Ambien.  I did like the little relaxing rush that came over me before I went to sleep, but I can do without that.  Didn't last long enough anyway.  I just use melatonin, valerian root, and a Celestial Seasionings Sleepytime Tea.(all OTC)  It helps a lot.  And believe it or not I get a MUCH BETTER SLEEP than with the ambien.

Ambien can be pretty dangerous too.  I have a scar on my forehead to prove it!  It makes you so rummy!  I got up to go to the bathroom one night and came back to get in bed, tripped on a shoe and nailed my forehead on the corner of the nightstand.  Hubby had to rush me to the ER.  Wasn't pretty.  But I have very little recolection of the event.  Also Ambien and alcohol is a major no-no..done that to and no-no!

Just don't take it, 17 years is way too long anyway.  You have probably seriously messed up your sleep cycle.  With the Ambien, you are not getting natural sleep, you are getting artificial sleep.  Do your best to stop and try some of the remedies above to help you sleep naturally!

Good Luck