Ambien Withdrawal and Headaches

[Jbug]

Made it through my first week off Ambien! I too, threw out all my stashes in the house. Ambien, Lunesta and the other assorted prescriptions for sleep. For me, the first few nights were the worst and then it really has gotten better. It is important to do extra things to take care of yourself mentally, physically, and spiritually so you have additional supports and methods to cope, with any depression, anxiety, etc... I've been working with a local nutrition center to help build back my immune system, I'm walking again everyday, and feel like I have hope in the mornings instead of that awful dreaded feeling I've had for the past 2 1/2 yrs on Ambien. Hang in there everyone and look for ways to take care of yourself again. It's not all sunshine and rainbows but I'm on my way...

[John San Diego]

I have been on ambien for around 5 years. Last couple weeks it has seemed to start wearing off. I ran out of my prescription on Tuesday night and honestly had one of the worst nights! I thought I caught the flu or something. I started to get the sweats then I was cold, my heart was racing, I had very shallow breath, and the worst was my dreams. I maybe only slept for 2 hours but the dreams I had were crazy and kind of scary. I went to my doctor today and had a blood pressure of 150 over 100. I never had high blood pressure. They said I was addicted to Ambien, and then proceeded to give me a higher dose. I've also had a problem lately going to public places unless I'm drunk and then I just made a jack-ass out of myself. So then they prescribe my 20mg of Celexa, just what I need more pills!

I really don't want to start taking more pills but then in the back of head I'm telling myself maybe i need them.

If anybody else is in the same boat as I am..Two different meds. Can you tell me if it worked ,or I'm I going to be a druged up zombie forever?

Any help would be awesome.

[Sleeping drug free]

John, I had some of the same problems with ambien that you're experiencing. Anxiety being the worst. I had major problems in social situations and always felt self conscious and awkward. I'm an extrovert and did not have these problems before ambien.

My doctor prescribed Lorazapam for anxiety and wanted to put me on antidepressants. I did take Lorazapam for the anxiety but didn't follow through with the antidepressants and I'm happy I didn't.

I've been off ambien for 4 months and the depression and anxiety are completely gone. I don't need Lorazapam now. I sleep really well, and all of the social awkwardness is gone. My husband and family tell me it's remarkable to see the change in me. I feel like I did before I got hooked on ambien.

The tough part is getting through the detox. You'll continue to have problems with insomnia and heart palpitations for a while but it does go away and you'll feel 100% better in a few weeks.

I'm surprised your doctor prescribed a higher dose of ambien. You might want to get another opinion.

Good luck!

[Sleeping drug free]

Re: John San Diego post.
FYI: for a really comprehensive list of side effects (common and rare) go to www.addictionca.com , then click on "ambien addiction".

After reading this exhaustive list it scared me to death. I had been suffering with MANY of the side effects and now that I've been off ambien they have disappeared.

[Jbug]

That's wild. My blood pressure went up while I was on Ambien, too. I'm a week and a half off Ambien now. It is so crazy that I yawn again at night, get sleepy and then can actually go to bed and sleep- drug free.
I met with a new primary care physician this week. I really like her and she listened carefully to all my side effects and health related concerns I shared about my experience with Ambien. She is supporting my choice not to take it anymore and we are waiting to see if my blood pressure returns to normal soon.
Hang in there and seek help until you find a doctor or support system that clicks with you. Trust your instincts about how you feel!! I kept telling my sleep doctor and psychologist about my concerns and they would either just change the dose or switch me to another drug that did the same thing.

[Illinois]

I have been taking ambien for 4 years andthe last year anda half I've been taking 2 (12.5's) night. My memory was shot I couldnt hardly work so I decided to quit ambien and take my xanex for sleep. The problem is now I'm having having horribe nightly nightmares, almost nigh terrors with head splitting headaches.
Anybody else?

Spectre wrote:

I have been on Ambien, nightly, for almost two years. And yes, I have all the weird side effects, memory loss, sleep eating and shopping online. I have tried to get off the Ambien with no success. If I don't have my next nightly dose, I get a bad headache, and I sure won't sleep. Nothing helps the headaches except for another Ambien. Does anyone else have withdrawl?

[Illinois]

I've been taking ambien for 4 years now. At first it was a god send then the dosage needed to be increased till I/m up to 25mg a night. Well my memory loss was getting so bad I thought if it kept going i wouod lose my job. So I decided to quit and just take xanex for my sleep aide. It seems I'm sleeping longer but now(within 2 weeks) I'm having horrendous night terrors with splitting headaches. they are so bad I'm afraid of going to sleep and I dont know what to do. Anybody else?

[Rosamystica]

Illinois wrote:

I've been taking ambien for 4 years now. At first it was a god send then the dosage needed to be increased till I/m up to 25mg a night. Well my memory loss was getting so bad I thought if it kept going i wouod lose my job. So I decided to quit and just take xanex for my sleep aide. It seems I'm sleeping longer but now(within 2 weeks) I'm having horrendous night terrors with splitting headaches. they are so bad I'm afraid of going to sleep and I dont know what to do. Anybody else?

What you are going through is withdrawals and yes I am going through them as well. I was on Ambien for six years and have been off of it for 2 months. The withdrawals are better, I still have night terrors, just not as often. I did have some pretty bad headaches, but they have gotten better as well. Things will get better, just give it some time.

[DMB]

Hi! I have been on Ambien on and off for over 10 years, and I'm only 30. I get monthly prescriptions from my doctor, but he prescribes 30 10mg pills a month. It takes 2 to get me to sleep. I can't seem to get through withdrawals. I've always had anxiety and depression problems due to verbal and physical abuse when I was younger. My mother and grandmother also have severe anxiety.
Taking Ambien and xanax have been my only escape. When the bottle runs out, though, I'm a complete mess. I've been fighting constantly with my fiance, and every time we get into a yelling match, I revert back to feeling the same as when I was being abused (even though he has never done anything abusive).
I've begun shaking, experiencing loss of concentration, irritibility, depression, headaches, desperation etc. Even worse, I have a social obligation tomorrow that I am DREADING. I'm also at work and feel like I'm going crazy. Peoples' voices, phones ringing, rude customers. I have one Restoril I can take tonight, but it doesn't really work and usually gives me a stomach ache.

[bob-from- plano-texas]

I have used Ambiem for 1 year. Recently, I feel pain on all my joints. I think maybe it is the side effect of the Ambiem. So, when I try to stop using it, I cannot go to sleep. Doctor told me before, Ambiem is not addictive, so I never thought that I am addictive to Ambiem until I find this thread. I begun to quit Ambiem last week. First two days are pretty hard. I don't get much sleep (always half awake). Then, it is getting better. In the last 3 days, I can get full night sleep without any problem. I listen to some podcast from my iPhone until I am tired and full in sleep quickly. I feel better during days. My mood is much better. Originally, I thought I am in depression, because I am not interested to things I used to. After quiting Ambium, I feel much better. I throw away all my ambiem and not going to use it anymore. Thanks for everybody who post their experience. It really help.

[Sleeping drug free]

I've been ambien free for 5 months!!! Almost relapsed last night. Had a very stressful day and evening and for the first time since quitting ambien I was so tempted. I had to think about all the bad side effects - neck and back pain, anxiety, flushing, blurry vision...and I decided that one bad day was better than 365 future bad days.

This urge to use ambien made me realize that for a long time I took it to block unwanted feelings. I had to ride them out last night but you know what? I got through it and feel stronger today.

Thanks for everyone's contribution to this site. It lets me know I'm not alone.

[helen]

Spectre wrote:

I have been on Ambien, nightly, for almost two years. And yes, I have all the weird side effects, memory loss, sleep eating and shopping online. I have tried to get off the Ambien with no success. If I don't have my next nightly dose, I get a bad headache, and I sure won't sleep. Nothing helps the headaches except for another Ambien. Does anyone else have withdrawl?

The memory loss is cary not to mention the sleep walking.I too want to get off it and ran out of it before I could fill a prescription as i took more than one a few nights.I was up over 40 hors straight until I drank a bottle of wine to sleep.Any advice on getting off it would be great.I want my old life back.

[Rosamystica]

DMB wrote:

Hi! I have been on Ambien on and off for over 10 years, and I'm only 30. I get monthly prescriptions from my doctor, but he prescribes 30 10mg pills a month. It takes 2 to get me to sleep. I can't seem to get through withdrawals. I've always had anxiety and depression problems due to verbal and physical abuse when I was younger. My mother and grandmother also have severe anxiety.
Taking Ambien and xanax have been my only escape. When the bottle runs out, though, I'm a complete mess. I've been fighting constantly with my fiance, and every time we get into a yelling match, I revert back to feeling the same as when I was being abused (even though he has never done anything abusive).
I've begun shaking, experiencing loss of concentration, irritibility, depression, headaches, desperation etc. Even worse, I have a social obligation tomorrow that I am DREADING. I'm also at work and feel like I'm going crazy. Peoples' voices, phones ringing, rude customers. I have one Restoril I can take tonight, but it doesn't really work and usually gives me a stomach ache.

DMB,

Ambien causes all the those including anxiety. You really should get off Ambien. It damages the GABA receptors that regulate anixety, so when you get off of it it cause extreme anxiety. To get off Ambien you will need support and time off. It will take time to get through all the withdrawal symptoms, but wth help you can get through this. Also, you might want to start seeing a therapist if you are not already seeing someone.A therapist can help deal with your anxiety and feelings from your abuse. My therapist has been very helpful in helping me deal with anxiety. There are also books on insomnia that can help you. I find taking powdered magnesium before I go to bed helps me to sleep better at night. You can also try natural sleep remedies you can get from a health food store. Exercise also helps with the anxiety and will help you sleep. I hope this helps you. Good luck in getting off Ambien.

[Tunifer]

I am so glad to find this site. I have been on Ambien off and on for 15 years but in the past year have taken it every night. The thing is, I only take half of a 5 mg and thought I was doing ok. Last night I was really tired and sleepy and did not take one. I woke up at 2 AM terrified that someone was in my house ( I live alone). I sat up in bed for over 2 hours just waiting for someone to come up the stairs and murder me. This, even though I have an alarm system and 2 dogs that would bark. I even seriously considered calling 911. Then I went to sleep and dreamed that someone was in the house again. This morning my heart is still pounding even though I took some diazepam, and my head is killing me. I'm very anxious even though nothing real is wrong. That's it for me and Ambien. If I have to have nightmares for a few nights, I'll just try to put up with it. I never had any of the other symptoms that people report like doing strange things and not remember doing them. I think.

[Nirakblue]

Hi All, I have been off Ambien for two months now. I am sleeping well by using an OTC med. Does anyone else that has been off for awhile still have any withdrawals? I still seem to have trouble concentrating and a bit of dizziness now and again and still some muscle aches. Does anyone else still have this? I am so easy medicated i am wondering if this could be way it is staying in my system longer. Any advice, info would be so much appreciated. I am starting to wonder if I have another health issue, which i understand can be a w/d symptom too.

Thanks, these forums have been a life saver for me.

[Joey]

Well, I am back on ambien again after being off of it for 9 days. I'm going out of town for thanksgiving and the flight leaves very early in the morning, so I thought I should get a refill so that I could take one the night before the flight. Then I started taking the pills every day again.

[Waves]

I have been taking Ambien CR 12.5mg. for over a year. I have recently reduced to 6.25 mg. I have had headaches, ringing in my ears, blurred vision, I am extremely cold most of the time--mostly my feet. Could these be symptoms of reducing the ambien?

[Waves]

p.s. I forgot to mention in the previous email that I am intermittently dizzy.
HELP

[Nirakblue]

Hi Waves, yes those all sound like symptoms of stopping or decreasing your dosage. I have been "off" Ambien for two two months and still get a few side effects. The dizzies and the blurry vision weret he worst for me.

[Waves]

Nirakblue wrote:

Hi Waves, yes those all sound like symptoms of stopping or decreasing your dosage. I have been "off" Ambien for two two months and still get a few side effects. The dizzies and the blurry vision weret he worst for me.

Thanks for the reply. I had no idea there would be major withdrawal issues from this drug.