How to get off of Ambien

[Zootal]

I have been taking Ambien for sleep for about a month. I take 17.5mg (one whole tablet, and 3/4 of another) because I had to increase my dosage several times, and I upped it by 1/4 tablet each time. I didn't quite make it to two tablets before I got to the point where I don't need it, but am basically addicted to it.

The condition requiring this is slowly fading, and I would like to eliminate my dependence on Ambien completely. How do I go about doing this? Can I just gradually reduce my dosage until I no longer need it? How much should I reduce it, and how long should this take?

[Zootal]

It's a bit of a long story. He put me on the Ambien because of anxiety related sleep problems, and told me I'd be on it for several weeks or so and may have to spend time getting off of it. He gave me a four month supply, but I'm hoping to use maybe half of that much. It was a temporary thing from the very beginning.

[medic09]

Get a second opinion - different doc. Have you told your dr you want to quit? A good dr will help you by giving you tools to alternative ways of getting the rest you need without drugs. Are you taking ANY other meds?

[Rich99]

"""""""My doctor said I could take 20mg"""""""
I don't get this.    I don't understand why.    Your doctor should be steering you in the opposite direction.      

[Zootal]

When it wears off, which it does between 4:30 and 6:00 am, there is up to an hour when I'm alert, but I usually doze off for a few hours after that. Not good sleep, fitfull, but better then nothing. I just wish I never had to take the stuff, but I desperately needed some sleep. 5 or 6 hours of dead-to-the-world ambien sleep is better than no sleep at all.

[Zootal]

My doctor said I could take 20mg, but I didn't want to take that much - got pretty close though. I figure I'll cut back by 2.5mg every couple of nights, gradually reduce dosage. Just anxious to not need the stuff anymore.

[Rich99]

I remember back in the 1990's when this drug first came out how the pharmaceutical company claimed it was 'non-narcotic'  as a way to promote its use.       Anyway,  the best course of action is to do a taper-down.      Luckily the half-life is fairly short but you'll certainly have a handful of days where the withdrawl will make the nights very tough.     You're already higher than the recommended daily dosage so by all means don't go any higher.

[cleanmom]

Hi there,

Ambien, from what i understand, is similiar to benzos, so you will need to taper down. Perhaps you could taper down the same way you went up with it?

You may also want to discuss this with the prescribing doctor as he/she will know for sure how you should do this. I would not, however, abruptly stop this drug.

Best of luck to you....

Jacky