Addicted to sleeping pills...any advice??

[mommy_of_3_in_al]

I am 25 years old, married and a mother of three wonderful children, ages 6, 4, and 3. I have been taking Ambien regularly for about 18 months but on and off for almost 3 years. I began taking it when i was having trouble sleeping..my mom gave me some of hers (and she has been taking it for 15 years), and i then asked my doctor about it. He gave me a prescription with no questions asked. It helped me to sleep well, and i felt much better. After a while though, the quality of sleep was deteriorating and i was taking more and more, sometimes with alcohol or other pills to get the same quality. I then started to realize that I was freaked out when i would run out, and would start finding excuses to take it earlier..i even began putting my kids in the bed earlier so that i could take my pills earlier. I take about 60 mg a night, sometimes more, and usually with something else...usually klonopin or codeine. I have generalized anxiety as well, and have started having panic attacks recenly. I am a *****...I am preoccupied with taking my pills, and i have resorted lately to doctor shoping, pharmacy hopping, and ordering them from the internet, so i dont run out. I ran out three days ago, and have no options right now to get any more. My mom hides hers because i started stealing them from her. My husband has actually gotten a prescription himself so i can have 30 more a month. I cut them up or chew them to get the high quicker. My kids are being affected because i am preoccupied with pills and dont give them the attention they deserve...although i will be quick to say i DO NOT neglect my children. They are fed, clothed, bathed, played with, etc. I am just recently admitting to myself that i have a problem..because i am starting to realize the things that i have done while under the influence and have no recollection of. I am a second year nursing student, and although my grades arent affected yet, im sure they will be. The biggest problem with this is that i know eating will affect how the medication works, so i wont eat. I eat in the morning, and up until lunch time, but after than i refuse to eat..i am 5 ft 7 in tall and weigh less than 100 lbs...I have always been small, but people are beginng to point out how bad i look and that i am too skinny, so i know that i am developing more of a proble than i will admit to...I am going on three days with no pills, and i actually feel better..although i am preoccupied with it still, and i havent slept in three days. I dont know what i am actually asking here...really im just venting...but any advice is welcome!!!

[spdrplnt]

I have a history of addiction myself, so I'm limited by what I can take for sleep safe drugs are: Trazadone, Remeron, Rozerem(didn't work for me), Benadryl.  The one benefit of not being able to take certain drugs, is that I have to find more "pure" methods for sleep. I know you've heard it before, but, since I've started doing 30min of cardio/day I have been sleeping better.  Exercise is also the best anti-depressant.  Good Luck !

[liz01]

Thank you very much for the trazadone suggestion.  I just recently confessed my addiction/abuse to my doctor, so at least he knows about the situation.  Perhaps he will prescribe me trazadone to help get off Ambien.  I tried last week to check myself into rehab, but basically they thought I wasn't bad enough to start an inpatient treatment, so I'm back to square one -- trying to taper on my own at home.  Anyway, at the treatment facility, they said a doc there may prescribe trazadone if needed.  I tried to make a mental note about that, but had forgotten the exact name of the drug until you reminded me.  So thanks again for the reply.  I apologize for rambling.

[spdrplnt]

Try Trazadone, it is absolutely non-habit forming

[liz01]

I totally know what you're going through with the ambien.  I've been on it every night for a few years and know I have a problem.  I'm also in grad school and feel worried it will start to affect my grades.  I have been doing a program I found on the internet called theroadback.org to help me get off the medication.  I am taking the suggested herbal supplements and hope to taper off the pill slowly.  Unfortunately, I take more than prescribed, so I'm going to run out soon.  It sounds like maybe that's what you did.  Is it just awful without it?  Are you getting used to being off of it or did you go back on it?  Good luck with it all.  Please let me know if anyone has tips for getting off of this crazy stuff.  I'm so ready to be free of it!  Thanks.

[Raj786]

Just one more thing, you are just 25 which is quite young and with exercise, vitamin, mineral supplements etc, you will make it through and then get a great life withe some work, know that there is always hidden powers in us n they come to aid when really needed. it will happen for u as well, bye, keep posting, ppl are always there to help ...

[Raj786]

It's actually good news for you that you have gone three days without the pills even though you haven't been able to sleep because clearly you have developed tolerence and physical dependence on these medications. So, it would be best if you continue not taking these medications, sure for maybe 4-5 days more, the Withdrawal from the Detox will last but once you are over these things completely you can hunt for and try to treat the actual causes of your sleep issues using therapy or whatever works for you, as for Withdrawal's and Detox, I would suggest that you hop over to the Addiction Substance abuse forum, the ppl there are great and will help you with questions regarding the addiction to Codeine and the other medication and will motivate you as well ... Best of Luck, make sure you carry on staying away from the pills not just for urself but ur kids and husband as well ...

[PettyOfficer]

Another option, as I mentioned in another thread, it to use a natural substance called melatonin to replace your ambien. It has the same effect. You take it at the same time. And two things I really love about it. It's dirt cheap and it's over the counter. I have heard great reviews about the melatonin but be aware, as with anything, it's not a cure all and it may not work. I, myself, have no aid from taking any form of sleep inducing drug, natural or synthetic. With your dependency issues to the Ambien, I would take the transition slow so your body does not freak out and see if it works.

[creston1966]

Hi,

It is sooooo frustrating when you cant sleep.  I've suffered from terrible insomnia for a number of years.  Heres the deal with Ambien.  Contrary to what a lot of doctors will tell you, this drug is similar to a lot of the anti-anxiety drugs such as Valium, Xanax, or Ativan.  These drugs are incredibly easy (and fast) to get dependent on both physically and psychologically.  You can become dependent on Ambien with 2 weeks very easily.  If you read some of the fine print there is mention of this with these prescriptions.  The trick is to not take this long term or take only when really really needed--maybe a few times per week, max.  Unfortunately you took for a long time and will have to push through your body and mind dealing with the discontinuation (fancy term Dr's use for withdrawal)--call it what you want, but there are way too many people with the same experience.  One the common problems of stopping Ambien is a sort of rebound effect where your insomnia is worse than ever.  This will pass eventually but doesnt seem that way when you are laying there night after night wide awake.  A good Dr will put you on a low dose of another type sleep aid to get you off the Ambien then work to get you off the new drug to something lighter or no drugs at all.

Please hang in there.  I feel for you--it sucks, only way I can put it.  Know you can and will get through this.


Creston