Day 11, Ambien / zolpidem Withdrawal and what I've experienced so far

[saltysnee]

After 1 year of consistent Zolpidem (Ambien) 10mg use, I realized it was time to stop. The medicine was a "life saver" at first, but as time went on, its effectiveness became way too inconsistent. To make it simple, after using this drug for a year, I now have more of a sleeping disorder than I did before I got on this medicine. After a night that it worked, i was fine during the day. However, after a night that it didn't work, I was useless both mentally and physically.
I'm a RN, so I know that the ideal discontinuation is done through tapering off. But I'm far too impatient and fed up with how I feel. So here is my cold turkey experience so far:

The first 3 days were actually not that bad, I think the anxiety for the rough road ahead was harder on me than anything else.
From day 4 to the present (day 11), I have had 2 good nights of sleep and the rest were horrible. Tossing and turning, awaking after every vivid dreams (multiple dreams in each night).

The GOOD:  Even after one these horrible nights, I am MENTALLY sharper! I can think and recall things so much more clearer. That is something you wont realize until you get off. I have not experienced lower back pain like I did while on it. Bowels more consistent.

The BAD: I feel like I could punch somebody's face out if they looked at me wrong. In other words, I have been extremely irritable and not fun to live with. Of course the nights of not sleeping well fall into this category.

I will follow up with the next two weeks as they come. I'm anticipating a positive transition within these two weeks. Any encouragement from anybody who knows where I'm at in the withdrawal stage would be appreciated.

[Rich99]

Benzos and sleeping pills destroy the sleep/wake cycle after a few days.     No doubt your restlessness and other withdraw symptoms are due to your brain chemistry trying to get back to where it was before you started using it.       I gotta tell ya from my own experiences during a 14 year period that these drugs are worse than the problems for which they were prescribed in the first place.    From this point on for the rest of my life,  I wouldn't touch these kind of drugs with a 100 foot pole.    They've only been a great thing for the pharmaceutical companies and their stockholders.

[Stevo977]

I absolutely hate Zolpidem and have been practically begging my doctor to switch me to brand name Ambien which he refused because he says its very addicting. By the way, this is the same man that has me on 16 mg of Suboxone a day???

What he did after refusing baffled me even further. He prescribed me Seroquel ( 100 mg ). When I did the 30 day treatment thing a year ago, they had me on 400mg of Seroquel. I hated the way it made me feel. It however was affective, but only for a week. He insisted, and I finally just said whatever and took the script but will not fill it. I have been on Zolpidem for about 3 months, but have not been taking it daily, but have also experienced sporadic effects; some days it works fine, others not.

I feel for you for having to go through the withdrawals from that. I have heard they are pretty tough and am using your post as an educational tool for myself so I may not get addicted on it so thankyou for the useful information and I really hope that things get better and better. They have to right?

[Addict63]

Hello former Ambien user! Congratulations!!! You give me hope for the future.

I know how you feel. I've been on a taper from 10MG ongoing for 12 weeks; and right now I'm on 2.5/1.25 alternating. My dose is so low that I'm coming out of that endless bog of fog also. My brain is back! I had several difficult classical Guitar pieces memorized and could recite them at the drop of a hat for years. Once I got going on Ambien they were GONE for the most part. Now they're coming back. Also, I'd start a sentence during a conversation...gone in mid-sentence. It's horrible stuff. I, too, find myself short fused.

Along with my taper dose, Yogi Tea, Melatonin every night at bedtime gets me to sleep. When I wake up at 4AM, and if can't get back to sleep, I'll take one Valerian Root. I plan to lose the Valerian next, after my taper program. It also uses the same brain receptors as Ambien. It's just as good switching to a lesser evil if I stay on it.

I want to sleep drug free. Like you! Keep on keeping on!  

[Lisa0345]

Wow you are doing great.  Keep up with the good attitude and everything else will just slide into place.  As I am sure you already know, you will have some good days and some bad.  Pretty soon the good will out weigh the bad.  
Keep up the good work!!!!

Lisa
Jacksonville,FL

[paintedangel]

You are doin GREAT! Keep it up. Anytime we can free ourselves from being chained to a pill bottle is a winning scenario. And thank you for sharing dear.We are here for you.