addiction

[dan1133]

I've been addicted to ambien for years.  What is the bets way to get off of this?

[1sorryperson]

Dan, this MedHelp website is running very slow today, not loading pages at normal speed.  Likely with 4th of july weekend we are short on help.  please stick with us,  monday will be instant service again.

   5htp is not compatible with other anxiety meds, but is tryptophan found in turkey meat that causes drowiness. If you go to an ER this weekend, they'll most likely give you ativan (see below) to buy you time to get back to your doctor.  If you get to your doctor and tell him/her you have a tolerance or addiction, the dr will likely upgrade you to a benzo till you derrive a solution.  Both of those options require a professional and assume you are under a dr's care. Are you already taking anything else to help calm?  I've already mentioned vitamin/suppliments, teas, benadryl, also 'Hylands' brand products for restless legs, and their 'calmforte' at most pharmacies in sleepaid section.  watch your diet, caffiene, and spend energy early in the day till this website returns to normal soon.  I've worked in ER, we were instant relief to get you on to a specialist or your own doctor.  Let us know if you can get through 48 hours with otc stuff, otherwise get to an ER for a quick fix, until you can get in to see your doctor.  I know the anxiety the comes if you run out of ambien.  Check back here, many members here on mh have been right where you are today.  Avoid noise and lighting; try to relax, seek comfort people and entertainment.  Until you can work out a rotation plan with your doctor to wean off.

1. Do you take other meds?
2. Do you run out of ambien early?

[EvolverU]

I just like to be cautious with this stuff, ya' know? Also, if I'm the first in & there's very little info. I like to try to open it up for other posters. Yeah, I think these meds are tricky  & I'm also assuming it's a scrip' as this isn't a street drug. Good question on taking them during the day, btw.! (Big Smile To You.) I think the OP just reposted this same question, instead of respondig -- probably an error.

[1sorryperson]

This is a rare time that i reccommend using a script to quit a script.  Alternating sleepaids every month from a dr helps prevent tolerance and addiction.  I assumed this is a legit prescription from what it is and the op profile.  Ambein has been around about 10 years and that is too long to be stuck on the same one.  So much progress has been made for improving sleep with diet, activities, stress relief, pain, breathing, etc.  A hard discussion with the dr or tranfer to sleep specialist if sleep continues to evade for years.   Coming off the ambein is what's tough, so a diff script and suppliments would be better for awhile.   Evolver is right on, asking about other meds, and how many how long, ....  Do you take them during the day too?  Are you using them for panic/aniety or other reasons besides sleep?  

[EvolverU]

Hey Dan & Welcome! Thanks for reaching out & Congrats on your decision to come off the Ambien.

Can you tell us how long you've been taking it & @ what dose? Also are you on AD's or any other Meds?

Depending on length of use/dose most people taper. We're not really permitted on this forum to give specific tapering advice. Are you under a Drs. care? Perhaps he could help you out with this. Have you tried to quite before?

Please let us know so that people can better advise you. Thanks so much!

[1sorryperson]

tell your dr that you've built up a torerance, have him switch you around to other popular sleepaids like lunesta, etc, as you do so, begin tapering.  Sleepaid suppliments from the vitamin isle are melitonin, velarian root, 5htp, and otc meds like diphenhydromine that is benedryl.   Getting off ambien is not as bad as quitting high power benzos used for anxiety such as xanex.   Just discuss with your dr, make sure otc suppliments don't react to a different med you might be on, taper down and substitute for several weeks should be fairly gentle.   Eventually you may be down to an occassional 'sleepy time tea' or otc aid.  There are otc restless meds available as well.