Ambien withdrawals?

[sandra5353]

I am 66 days clean off of oxy's. Here's the new problem. Since I couldn't sleep  for 2 months before withdrawals, and now couldnt sleep going thru withdrawals, I asked the doctor for some kind of sleeping med. he put me on AMBIEN 10 mg's. I took it for about 2 weeks, but only cutting them in half so I was taking 5mg's a night so I could get " some sleep". Didn't want to become addicted. Then, I stopped taking them for about 3 weeks, couldn't sleep and started them again. So basically 5mg's a night for the past 7 weeks. Two nights ago, they started to make me jittery with very little sleep, and last night NO sleep at all. So, now I have to get off of them. How long do you think it's  will take me to get back to normal and sleep at least 2 hours a night? And will there be BAD withdrawal symptoms?

[jtb69]

I have taken ambien for 7 years and I am DEFINITELY addicted.  This past week, I decided to try cutting cold turkey and let me say the side effects a horrible... MAJOR Anxiety, blurry vision, sweating, muscle tremors.   I thought I was going to die, went to the doctor, and he did tests that came back perfect.  So the withdrawal from ambien is very real and very scary  It was THE WORST and its looks like maybe a week of suffering and then you begin to feel better day by day.    I suppose you could avoid than by slowly lowering the dosage of ambien, but I was so upset, I disposed ALL the pills, so cold-turkey was not an option for me.  I hope this helps in your journey.

[sicraw]

Does your back hurt?

[sandra5353]

hi ty for responding. I donnot drink caffeine for years, I never drink alcohol and donnot smoke. I drink only water with lemon, and organic decaf green tea. I eat organically and go to bed same time every night. I fall asleep for 2 hours a night, then toss and turn for hours, by 4A.M. Im so exhausted and have to get up by 8. I usually give up by 4 and take a half of a Lunesta. At least they dont give me anxiety. But I dont know what else to do. My doctor is a big jerk, never having answers to my quuestions, and doesnt know how to deal with me with all my other pain problems. Ive been going to other pain doctors and they help with the pain,( without opiates) but nobody knows how to deal with no sleep. Im at my wits end. All I want to know is,... how long without any help from Lunesta/Ambien, will it take for a full nights sleep to finally come?

[sicraw]

Not sure you are following this post anymore - but it has been a few years now, how are you doing?  

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Ambien is only meant to be used for short term use which often results in worsening of insomnia (sometimes worse than it ever was) when trying to come off the medication. Either way to most of the sedatives (sleeping tablets), people develop tolerance, that is they stop working very effectively with time. So, try to develop good sleep hygiene. Sleep and get up at the same time every day, avoid smoking, alcoholic and caffeinated beverages and exercise regularly. Discuss your symptoms with your consulting doctor he may change the dose or the medications.  

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.