Ambien Withdrawal and Headaches

[HL Haller]

I'm now taking a half dose every third night and it seems to be working out OK. However, I have had some transient anxiety the last few days.

After do a bit more research, I found a Wikipedia article on benzodiazapine withdrawl (ambien is a benzodiazapine mimic, so I reason that the withdrawl advice is similar. The upshot is that tapering is about the only safe way to withdraw for many people (that would be us)- other people do not seem to need to taper (that would be the lucky other people).

The thing that concerned me and what will have be back in my docs office for another chat is that there is a risk of "kindling" - which is a sensitization of the central nervous system to withdrawing. I take this to mean that a person withdrawing and then "relapsing" will have more rapid and more severe symptoms each successive time they attempt to withdraw (or take another dose).

Since my approach has been to systematically skip partial doses, I'm concerned that I may be "kindling" the old noodle.

To protect against this, the article states, that doctors will taper patients down over weeks or months with valium.

Looks like Julie got it right on the button - that's the best, most accepted way to withdraw.

If this weekend is tough, I will make an appointment with my doc on Monday. Either way, I'll let everyone know how things are going.

Harry

[HL Haller]

Just an update - the weekend was fine. I didn't have any anxiety problems that I thought may have been due to my approach. Either my body is just adjusting or the anxiety was caused by outside influences (work, the economy, global warming... <shrug>). So, for now, no plans to talk to doc.

If I have more anxiety when I go to the next step (another week or so, I think), then I may re-think calling my doc.

Cheers!

Harry

[Kathy]

HL Haller wrote:

Just an update - the weekend was fine. I didn't have any anxiety problems that I thought may have been due to my approach. Either my body is just adjusting or the anxiety was caused by outside influences (work, the economy, global warming... <shrug>). So, for now, no plans to talk to doc.
If I have more anxiety when I go to the next step (another week or so, I think), then I may re-think calling my doc.
Cheers!
Harry

Glad to hear you are doing well. I have had no ambien for 7 nights now, and all is well. We are now running the A/C at night rather than during the day to help me sleep! No complaints and hope I don't have any late side effects. Yeah!

[JBass]

Harry, I've made it to night 7. No ambien the last 3 nights. Last night I slept 2 hours, read for awhile, then slept 4 hours. I'm keeping a good record like you do, so I can show my doctor if I need to. We'll see what tonight brings.

I'm drinking lots of water to flush out the toxins. I think I'll get a massage to rid my body of toxins even faster.

We're all going to make it!!! Have a good night.

[HL Haller]

Jean and Kathy,

Good on ya!!! Glad to hear there are others climbing out of the Ambien pit. Both of you are moving faster than I am - that's GREAT!!!

The A/C, reading, water (as long as your not having to get up every 20 minutes) are all good solid insomnia management tactics. One of my personal "favorites," is turning all the clocks around so I don't know how much sleep I'm loosing - that's a big one for me (worrying about how crummy I'll feel the next day only makes it harder to fall asleep).

Having a written record with notes and observations is a good way to show your doc that you are both serious about stopping and explaining what is happening to you - I've yet to have a doc tell me that it's not helpful for them (I've done it for other ailments as well - makes it easier to get a handle on the problem - or maybe I've been watching too much House M.D. <smirk>).

Keep it up! I have an "ambien night" tonight, but really, I may be getting to the point where I may be able to stop all together. I'm going to stick to the plan for now, but I'm feeling hopeful that the worst is behind me.

Cheers!

Harry

[ann]

ranger wrote:

Well, I have been off of Ambien for about a week now, and I can just say that going through the night terrors is worth it to get off the stuff. It really is worth it, I had withdrawls too, I had been on it for quite some time, about 3 years, post-tramatic stress sindrome from war was keeping me up so I satrted the medication just to sleep. But tolerance happens and before I knew it my doctor was perscribing 45 pils a month instead of 30, 10mg, and I got hooked. I was hooked, but for the first week was nasty, but I still woke up from one hour of sleep to get ready for the day and I felt a lot better. I now have my life back, getting off of it is a personal choice, but in my opinion it is the best choice. Just gots to be tough for a little while, hell if I can make serve in the US Army, get through Ranger school, and war, and all the crap that comes with the military, I knew I could do this. You can do it too, you can, just hang in there, I promise it gets better.

Thank you so much. I have been off ambien 10mg for one week
It has been a test of my trust in Jesus.
without prayer and praise I would be a mess today.
I would love to see this drug off the market.
It caused severe migranes, heart flutters, excessive eating,agressive actions, circulatory problems,sore muscles,bloat and constipation with acid reflux.It produces an excellent night of sleep with total unconsciousness. I even pierced my ear drumb and did not know until I woke up.
This drug is demonic.

[ann]

I have been off ambien 10mg for one week
It has been a test of my trust in Jesus.
without prayer and praise I would be a mess today.
I would love to see this drug off the market.
It caused severe migranes, heart flutters, excessive eating,agressive actions, circulatory problems,sore muscles,bloat and constipation with acid reflux.It produces an excellent night of sleep with total unconsciousness. I even pierced my ear drumb and did not know until I woke up.
This drug is demonic.

[Ric]

I have been on Ambien for 4 years now, following a fire in my house, which left me with insominia. The Ambien CR does not release the proper amount of drug for me to fall asleep, and the regular Ambien 10mg keeps me to sleep for 3 hours.(Tolerence) My physician is growing impatient with me because I am asking for refills for Ambien all the time. I am having to increase to 15mg each night just to have the desired effect.(a 7 hour sleep) Does anyone have any recommendations on how to either come off of the Ambien or convince my physician that increase dosages to the desired effect are reasonable and the the way to go?

[JBass]

Well, Ric, I'm no physician, but I wouldn't take Ambien again for anything in the world. I was discussing ambien with a pharmacist and she said it was not ment to be taken more than a week or two. She said she hates filling a long term prescription because of it's effects on the mind and body. Just read through this form and others on this same web site to see how it effected them and how they are or have stopped taking it. You will discover there are those like Harry that comes off slowly and there are others that stop cold-turkey. I used an inbetween method. You are not alone in your concerns. And it is very hard to stop without this support. Good luck.

[prayer]

my dr. put me on xanax in tha late 80s i hate it if i dont take it like im supose to i have aniexty and panic disorders and if its time to take it and i dont have 1 its a awful feeling u cannot get off them have to be detoxed off but they r my fear cause i know i have 2 stay on them probably rest my life
i take 4 times aday dr prescribed as long as i take them im ok but iv experience memory problems with them, but i have aniexty bad if i miss my dose but iv had 2 nervous breakdowns wanna get off them but scared to try , they say u can have a stroke or heart attack tryin to go cold turkey although i have it just horriable to have to live on it but guess ill have to til tha day i died hooked on those are not good
but seems alot of meds are addicting

[CMC]

Hi Prayer. There are lots of great forums for advice on getting off benzos. Here is a good one with many links:

http://bipolarblast.wordpress.com/2009/07/05/...

[Ric]

I am thinking that prayer is the best answer any of us could give to be off of Ambien. I realize that God has given humans the ability to make medications for our good, but these medications also have drawlbacks. I have tried several times to stop cold turkey only to suffer with headaches, no sleep, and all of the withdrawl symptoms. Does anyone have any ideas of how to come off of Ambien safely and without so much suffering?

[Kathy]

Ric wrote:

I am thinking that prayer is the best answer any of us could give to be off of Ambien. I realize that God has given humans the ability to make medications for our good, but these medications also have drawlbacks. I have tried several times to stop cold turkey only to suffer with headaches, no sleep, and all of the withdrawl symptoms. Does anyone have any ideas of how to come off of Ambien safely and without so much suffering?

See Harry's post about a slow tapering method. I think it is back in May. For the first 2 weeks he suggests taking 1/2 dose every 4th night (that's taking a regular dose for 3 nights then 1/2 dose). Next 2 week period, take 1/2 dose every 3rd night. I think he has had success doing it this way. Let me know if you can't find it and I'll look for it.

I personally had been on ambien for 1 year. I had to start taking a high dose of ibuprofen for my hip so I took 5 mg/night for 2 weeks then just stopped altogether. I was one of the lucky ones. I didn't have any side effects coming off of it. I also didn't have any side effects while being on it.

I do believe that God helped me. I asked Him specifically to help me get off of this drug and He answered my prayers. Harry was really my encouragement through my journey and I hope his schedule can help you too.

God bless.

[HL Haller]

Thanks Kathy - it's a group effort.:)

Ric: What I've learned along the way is that the most accepted way to taper off Ambien is to work with a doc to taper with the help of a benzodiazapine (like Valium or Xanex). It's not unusual for some lucky folks to be able to discontinue very quickly, but don't count on it since benzo withdrawl can be life threatening.

Having said that, what I did was to taper using just the ambien (admittedly, an experiment, near as I can tell). I've been tapering going on 12 weeks now and I've had very few withdrawl symptoms.

I chose to take a whack at it on my own for a number of reasons - I've in my early 40's, in good health, and I grew up helping my mom get junkies clean (not the upbringing I plan for my kid, but it was the 70's/80's... <shrug>).

If you would like a copy of my taper schedule, shoot me a note at [e-mail].

Good luck -

Harry

[Cheryl]

Karen, you said you doc prescribed you Dalmane to help you stop taking Ambien. I have been taking ambien since summer 2004 and cannot sleep without it. In fact 10 mg no longer works, 10 mg is now timed to wake me up 3 hours after I take it. Can you elaborate more on your coming off ambien to Dalmane and how that worked. I have taken the Valerian root and Melatonin and that does not work.

[Amy]

I have commented before, but am not familiar with how to do this on the computer. So I may repeat myself.

I am the one who got on ambien after having our 5th baby. It is put out as safe for nursing??? and so this is what they give you, without much warning about anything. Anyway, after reading your comments, Supermom, Dina, Ray, Ranger, and the rest of you, I decided it was time to get off. Been on it for 3 1/2 months taking it every night.

Going somewhat cold turkey. Reduced the dose a little for 3 days, and last night was the first night off. Did I mention that I did try 2 times before, but caved in in the early morning.

Just having a baby makes it so difficult. But a lady from our church is watching her now so that I can concentrate on this and get the poisen out of my system. I shutter to think of what its done to our baby by nursing. I just prayer that God will heal any damage.

I do have a few questions. I have this metalic taste in my mouth. I've had it since a few weeks after being on this drug. The doctor said just take milk with the pill. It did help alot, but now that I am getting off, the taste is very strong. Any comments. I am wondering if this is in the taste, is it in the milk?? According to the pharmists and lactation consultant, after 5 hours of taking it, it is supposed to be out of the milk. Since my mbaby is being cared for, I am pumping and throwing it away. I want to get my baby back, but wonder how safe it would be to nurse. It is so sad that I have had to deal with this when having a baby and not being able to enjoy her as fully.

The pharmacist also said that it is stored in the fat of a person and even after quitting, it takes about 1 month to get it out of the system.

It has been encouraging to read your stories. I am determined that with God's help, I can get through this. I just miss my baby.

One more comment. Get sunshine and go outside and move. Sunshine does help regualte the sleep sycle. Another thing is, I don't think it the best to flush the pills down the toilet or dispose of them in anyway in our water supply. I am still wondering how to get rid of then. Burning them can cause toxic gas, I am sure. Maybe burying them will be best.

Thanks for any comments.

[HL Haller]

My suggestion is to throw the pills in the trash. If you're afraid of a kid digging them out, denature them by putting a little soap and water in the bottle - it'll be a gooey mush that shouldn't be too appealing.

[Amy]

Hi again. I am on day 3 with no Ambien. Last night I slept about 6 hrs with only waking up once. It felt good. Day 1, I only got around 2hrs sleep, and day 2 maybe 2 1/2 with a little dozing.

The withdrawl has not been too bad with some headache, dizziness, bad taste in mouth,shaky, general anxiety, and exhaustion & druggy feeling.

This drug really is powerful. I have never smoked, drank, or done drugs, but have learned the power of addiction through this drug. I feel for each of you, and pray that you may be delivered.

One thing that has helped me is realizing that God cares and that He, came "to set the captive free", to break the bondage. I have no doubt that there is a force behind this pill. Several of you have commented on the night terrors and "seeing the devil" and that this pill is demonic. I fully agree.

On night 2, there was a night terror/demon, but I pleaded the blood of Jesus Christ and it went away immediately. Praise the Lord!

I still have not read all the comments yet, but feel I know a lot of you. Will post again later and share with you what I am doing to win this battle.

[Amy]

Ric wrote:

I am thinking that prayer is the best answer any of us could give to be off of Ambien. I realize that God has given humans the ability to make medications for our good, but these medications also have drawlbacks. I have tried several times to stop cold turkey only to suffer with headaches, no sleep, and all of the withdrawl symptoms. Does anyone have any ideas of how to come off of Ambien safely and without so much suffering?

Ric,
Hi, I just started getting off 3 days ago and am doing fairly well. I was on 5-10mg for 3 1/2 months. Was having real difficulty because of having a baby and having to get up anyway. Didn't get much sleep with it either. But it would knock me out so that I could sleep before our baby woke up.
Anyway, I will post what has helped me sometime today, hopfully. I am doing alot to minimize the withdrawl, and get rid of this poisen fast!!. I think its working because on the 3rd night I slept for nearly 6 hours with only waking up once.

[Kathy]

Amy, I too am a believer in God's awesome power. I definitely prayer for God to help me in my withdrawl, and He did! I have been ambien free for about 3 weeks now and sleeping pretty well. I may have one night a week where I am wide awake in the middle of the night and get up and go in another room and read my book. Most times now when I get up at night I go back to sleep in a reasonable time.

Hang in there and God bless.