weaning meds after rotator cuff surgery

[SlySpacely]

I have been taking Ambien 10 mg per evening for years and in take xanax only sparingly. Recently, i've had rotator cuff surgery.  I was prescribed hydrocodone 7.5 mg every four hours. I decided to reduce the ambien to 5 mg due to the interaction.  I found it virtually impossible to sleep in a recliner as they have suggested (due to the sling).and then began taking 7.5 mg. Now, several days later,  I have reduced the intake of the hydrocodone in the last two days from the 45 mg to 15 mg as the pain hs been subsiding.  I brought the ambien back upto 10 mg and I still can barely sleep and again that is partly due to the sling, but i only fall asleep for 2 - 3 hours and then i'm awake again.  I feel like a zombie during the day and not tired enough at night.  Then, i become anxious that i'm not sleeping.  I know that it would not be a good idea to add xanax to the mix at this time. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[francesmharris123]

I had shoulder surgery I don’t want to take hydrocodone. Last night I took ambien 6 mg at 11:00. I woke up at 5:00 AM and took hydrocodone 5mg. My head feels clogged up. What can I do to make my head feel normal?

[Comingclean2012]

Abritt is right on with her advice on the OTC items! She gave me the same advice about 3 weeks ago when I was on day 7 coming off of fentanyl patches. Prior to taking those items I was only getting about 2 hours of sleep a night and after a couple of days taking the melatonin and valerian root I was averaging a solid 4 -5 before being wide awake. Now I'm on day 27 clean and sleeping well with just the melatonin. Good luck and post often if you need additional info. We are all recovering from 1 drug or another so there will always be someone that can give you the encouragement or advice you need! This site was instrumental in me staying clean. I also find it helps me now by being able to give others support and advice so I stay on my path of sobriety!

[OpenMind24hours]

Hi and welcome,

Ambien works the exact same way as benzos.  If you looked up Ambien Withdrawal you'll find it's very rough to get off of.  But I bet if you resumed your Ambien just as your doctor prescribed, it will eventually build back up in your system and let you sleep again. I have to admit, I'm like you and I second guess my doctor, but he always seems to know best.

A couple of years ago I was on Ambien 10mg for just 9 months and it took me 4 months  to taper off of it. I did the taper after going through mild Hydrocodone withdrawal which I had been on for a back injury. But I never had a interaction from taking both at the same time.  When you wrote "I decided to reduce the ambien to 5 mg due to the interaction" I'm not sure what interaction you mean? But like I said, with the 3 drugs you mention (including xanax), I wouldn't decide anything by myself.

Based only on my personal experience, don't think you'll have too much of a bad withdrawal from the Hydro. Your weren't on it for too long. But you will be uncomfortable, and as you probably know, stopping Hydro means no sleep for awhile.  When I withdrew from Hydro the first time, my Ambien script was my sleeping savior. But that was 2 years ago. Now I just went through withdrawal again, but with no Ambien, and I didn't sleep very much for 2 weeks. Now, 54 days later, I'm sleeping. Abritt has good info for you above on OTC stuff to help you sleep, but I hope you won't need it.

[abritt121222]

Valerian root may help with the anxiety and sleep I have used it numerous times while I was in withdrawal. It has the same properties as Xanax just not near as strong and of course its an herb not a prescription med. try some valerian root and also meletonin meletonin is another vitamin that is to help promote sleep and I used to use them together all the time and it usually helped me sleep some during withdrawal. The valerian root may also make ya a lil sleepy during the day but it may not since you have taken Xanax before. Well hope this helps a lil