Can Zolpidem be taken for long term treatment?

[shadowknight]

My dad has been taking Zolpidem for over 3 years and recently I found out Zolpidem is used for treating short term insomnia. I'd like to know if it can be used for long term and if whether there are any medications available which can be used for long term treatment.

Regards,
-- SK

[worried878]

I just noted u said he is on meds for anxiety....i should not have taken for granted that these were benzos...sorry

[worried878]

i dont think it will be too bad at 10 mg a night...he has not abused it...he probably just feels he can not sleep without it...he can cut down 1/4 a pill each week and he will be fine....i dont think he will get into trouble off that dose...he could even go to 1/2 that dose then quit....it will probably be more psychological than anything else at that dose...there are people who take 5-10 ambien a night...now that is abuse and they will need to be careful quitting.....he will need to be careful about relying of meds for sleep...even tylenol pm is recommended for 7-10 days only due to psychological addiction....he can try some natural sleep meds like melatonin, valerian root etc....keep us posted....my mom takes dalmane each night to sleep for years..i worried at first as this is a benzo but one designed for sleep...she has had insomnia all her life and she most likely is addicted to it....she sleeps..she is old..she does not abuse it...i am gonna not get onto her about it...she is hard headed anyway and if she thinks it is a problem she will quit...i did tell her it was habit forming tho...and i am sure she knows she would have trouble sleeping without that pill...it is the only drug she takes...sometimes u have to look at the big picture and the fact that every situation is different...ur dad feels he has a problem and is on other meds like benzos...he may have a problem and u r sweet to help him

[edd8ok]

Hi there,

Zolpidem, is part of the "Z" group of drugs and is now becoming recognised as being as adictive a drug as the Benzos so they are extremely difficult to come off as has been said before. The W/D's from them are very similar to that of the Benzo group and hence a very slow taper is required.

A doctors advice is absolutely essential in trying to come off this drug and I would like to be able totell you that the taper is easy and short, but that would be me lying to you.

It maybe wise to ask your fathers doctor to cross over from the "Z" drug to a Benzo, preferably Diazepamn (Valium) because of the extremely long half life of them and the ease of cutting them when you need to halve the smaller 2mg doses.

I noticed your father also takes xanax, that will need to be addressed at some stage also because that is a highly addictive drug also

I must suggest,once again that you MUST consult your doctor, especially as I see he aready suffers from depression and anxiety problems.

Please ,please be exremely careful with these drugs

Regards

Eddy from the UK

[shadowknight]

He takes 10 mg every night before going to sleep. How long can Zolpidem withdrawals last? And would they start right after he starts to taper with it or after he stops taking it completely?

[worried878]

addiction to ambien is treated like a benzo addiction...is he using more than the 5-10 mg prescribed?   anyway...a taper is recommended...they make oblong generic ambien that can be broken inot 4 pieces...i would suggest using that kind to taper with....u may have to call around to drugstores to get those...but they are out there...those are what i use and i break them into 1/4 pill when i take them....when they gave me the little tiny round ones...i gave them back as i can not break those into 4 pieces...how much does he take each night?

[shadowknight]

Not me, my dad has. He is 53 years old right now. He has no drug abuse history, he never smokes or drinks. He I would say is 100% sober since birth. This Zolpidem thing seems like a misunderstanding to me and his ignorance. He isn’t like me who first looks up what a particular drug is then takes it. He is also on xanax right now. To tell you the truth, he takes around 15 legit meds everyday. For hypertension, diabetes, anxiety, depression. The list is pretty huge. He says he feels he is addicted to that drug now and that if any time he doesn’t take it, he feels he is going crazy. I believe that there is a withdrawal symptom?

[Chi_Chi_Lover]

If you have used Ambien/Zolpidem for 3 years you are going to have a hard time coming off of it. You need to really inform yourself on w/d from this drug. It is only meant for very short term use 7-10 days per the Ambien website. You can have seizures from w/d from Ambien it has to be tapered off of very slowly. You need to be under a doctors care after being on this med for so long.

Good luck and be careful

[worried878]

ambien as any other med for leep...even tylenol pm is recommended for short term only...u can become psychologically dependent or physically on some sleep meds...ambien is not as notorious for physical addiction as benzos but it does happen to soem....i have taken ambien off and on for over ten years without a problem...but i do know people who have had a problem..everyone is different

[shadowknight]

Hmm. I really hope I can find something informative here. I am worried since I found out its supposed to be used for a short term period. Most of you here might know Zolpidem as Ambien.

[sadinmichigan]

Welcome to the forum..i am real sorry no one has answered yet...there will be alot more people on in the a.m  i have no experience with the drug your speaking of..hang in there, someone will  be along to help...