Ambien addiction?

[ericro]

I was prescribed ambien nearly a year ago, as I was unable to sleep through the night ( I assumed it was from trying to go to bed before 10:00 as I needed to be up at 5.  I take 1/2 a 10 mg pill sun through thursday.  I had not needed to take it fri or sat as I didnt neeed to be up.  recently, I work closer to home and can get up substantially later, so I've tried not taking the med.  For about 3 or 4 days, I took a quarter of a pill (approx 2.5 mg) and it worked great.  then I started waking up at 2:00 regardless of when I went to sleep.  I know this is a very low dose, and not a particularly long time to be taking it, but I am very worried about not being able to d/c this med completely.  any suggestions would be appreciated.  On a side note, I have a medical history of cerebral hemmorhage.  Is there any real cause for concern with seizure d/cing such a low dose?

[MaraDnB]

I not only became addicted to ambien, i became immune to any type of sleep aid help.  the best thing that has worked for me since i have litteraly tried every sleep aid on the market, take Seroquel... IT REALLY WORKS GREAT!!!.  and no  morning hangover feeling.  also, you can fall back asleep.  I could never do that while i was on ambien. and the ambien Controlled released worked even crappier!!!   the ambien let me sleep 4 1/2 hours everynite on the dot!!! it was terrible... try seroquel

[ali3674]

I didnt say I was taking ambien to get all goofy, I said I get all goofy when I take ambien, the 20 minutes prior to falling asleep.  Its just what happens to me when I take it.... The thread is about Ambien.  Ive been taking it for 5 years, and have never increased my usage to more than one pill a night, maybe I am addicted, but its purpose is for sleep.  I dont take it for goofiness.  What fun is it to be all goofy when you are in bed ready to pass out?

[ericro]

  Isnt the point of Ambien to sleep?  if you're taking it to "get all goofy and happy", thats just plain old abuse.  besides, weeds a much better high.  This thread is about the additon caused by the drug in regular use.  If your going to abuse ANY drug, problems WILL always pop up.

[ali3674]

Ambien totally causes amnesia. I have done and said things I do not remember and my  friends know when I have taken my ambien because I get all goofy and happy before bedtime.  I have never increased the dose beyong 12 mg.  If I didnt take it, I would never sleep.

[ericro]

  Has anyone had experience using rozarem?  My doc suggested I try it to manage teh rebound insomnia coming off the ambien.  I have been taking 5 mg a night for about 2 years or so, but I staretd noticing heart palpitations during the day, so I decided I wanted to try to come off it.  I skipped one night and was awake all night, but I fealt much better the next day.  Doc suggested II take the rozarem for a while with the ambien then dc the ambien after a few days.  Any thoughts?

[Precious Pearl]

My nice Pharmacist friend helped me to C/T off of vicodin at home after a 7 year prescribed RX of 4-6 per day. Anyway, he told me to buy over the counter Unison or Unisom (whichever) sleep aid. Said it was the best NON habit forming one on the market. I have taken one every night and sleep ALL thru the night for 7-8 straight hours. NEVER in 7 years have done that before. So just for the record I vote for Unison sleep aid. I found that Walmart had it cheapest $7.00 for 30....OK just my input on sleep. Have a good day all. Precious

[92807]

I have been taking Ambian CR 12.5 for about three month's I can't hardly sleep without it.If I do not go straight bed after I take It I do not remember A thing that I said or did. Amnesia is a real rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreal.... SIDE Effect

[ericro]

  Thanks for the reply.  From the reading I did online, I saw some reports of seizure risk with abrupt discontinuance after extended high dosage.  none of this is my case, but since I do have a possible proclivity to seizure, I suppose there is some concern.  If I listened to EVERYTHING the doctors have told me over the years, I'd be loaded up with drugs and probably in in-patient neuro rehab for my entire life.  I have not experienced anything like you describe.  Had you taken the drug and woken before you did the kitchen thing, or remained awake after taking it?  I read several accounts of amnesia for activites after taking the drug and not going right to bed.  Personally, I've noticed a dramatic improvement in memory since starting this drug.  I suffer from a short term memory defecit ftom my past hemmorhage, but have seen that I now remember events from the previous day that I have not been able to retain for the past 20 years.  I even experimented by writing down a random word on a piece of paper on the counter and remembered the word in the morning.  I assume that the Ambien is increasing the amount of REM sleep I get, and thus ids in the crystalization of memories.

[IBKleen]

Hi! Good to see your new post.

I took ambien some time ago. I had a lot of strange reactions to it. I don't believe that I became addicted to it, but I was dependent on it. I didn't suffer withdrawals after taking it, but I could not fall asleep on my own without it.

I used to wake up in the middle of the night myself, and I could not get back to sleep. I also began doing strange things in the middle of the night. One Saturday morning I woke, after hubby. When I went to the kitchen there were pans and plates all over. I told him to clean up his mess! He informed me that he didn't make it. Apparently, I got up in the middle of the night and cooked a whole dinner. I didn't remember any of it. That happened more than once and I decided to stop taking them before I burnt the house down.

I have not heard of anyone having seizures from ambien, but I do suggest that you speak with your doctor. I do not think it is advisable to stop any meds such as those without consulting a doctor.

Good luck and let us know how you are doing.

[FLaddict]

Yes you can take them together.. I have never read other wise. Pick up some of the 3mg sublingual tablets. They disolve under you tongue.
Have you talked to your doctor about other options??  I recently started taking Elavil for Fibromyalgia and it is supposed to help me get into stage 4 sleep..  I stopped waking up 8 times a night since I started taking it.. It also helps with my pain perception.

[ericro]

  I've been researching all different options for some time.  I've done the melatonin, velorin, a glass of wine etc.  nothing helped.  Occasionally, I found that I would fall asleep, but wake up 45 minutes to an hour later.  

[victoria1667]

Can u take melatonin and methadone w/interactions? I wake up every hour during the nite, have for 6 months.  Need something badly!!

[FLaddict]

Have you considered trying to take Melatonin now that you are such a low dose??  That helps me sleep more than anything else ever has...