My experience getting off of Ambien... and tips for what you can do...

I have been taking Ambien CR for 3 years and I am about to begin tapering. I also recently kicked valium after more than 3 years and I hope this is not as bad, because that was horrific. Anyway, I am cutting 1/8 of a pill for 8 weeks but when I stop being able to sleep, I am going cold turkey. The stuff doesn't really work for me anyway now that I am off valium so I will be trading a bad night's sleep for a temporarily worse night's sleep. I am going to have to wait this out and let those GABA receptors repair themselves. I am hoping to be human again by the New Year.

Good luck, Ryan. I stopped taking Ambien in July. Last night I actually got 6 hours sleep only waking up once. Of course, the night before I slept only about two hours. I'm going to go check out the GABA receptors repair you mentioned. I've never heard of this.

How's it going Ryan? I had a friend who also became addicted to valium and she said it was HORRIBLE to get off. I don't think ambien will be quite as bad. I stopped taking ambien in July and I am doing much better...But expect a few weeks of very little sleep. I still wake up quite a few times every night but I am able to go back to sleep. I also would like read up on the GABA receptors repairing themselves.....anyways good luck!!

I go to a very well-known naturopath in Houston that actually recommended taking GABA which you can get at the health food store--it might make it easier to get off ambien...

I'm off the ambien, but I think I still have the affects of it on my body. That's why I'm interested in the GABA repair. I looked it up on-line, but the info was too technical for my layman mind. I'll keep researching it. Good night everyone.

I want to get off Ambien so bad. I take 5mg a night because I can not fall asleep. I have tried somonex, advil pm, other RX's and nothing works. I am addicted and I hate it. I think it is why I feel so foggy during the day. Does anyone have any tricks on how to get off this stuff? 19 Months and counting - I am so scared my doctors are going to quit giving me refills!! HELP

I have been using these holographic chips (stickers) that you put on your temples. They work on sending vibrations thru your pressure points. They are specific for restfull sleeping. I have noticed that I actually am dreaming, very vivid dreams. Typically I fall asleep and don't remember anything until the next morning. They sound hokey but really work - I just can't fall asleep without Ambien.

Hey Sleepless,

I use a supplement called Natural calm it is powdered magnesium. You can also try some natural herbal remedies, such as valerian root and Kava. You can find everything I mentioned at a Heatlh food store. You may also want to try restricted sleep therapy. I was on Ambien for six years I also had the foggy feeling the next morning. I also started having anxiety and became anti-social. I got to the point were I had hard time just having a conversation with someone. Ambien damages your brain cells,so you really need to get off of it. The longer you are on the worse the damage will be. I been off Ambien for a month and half and am sleeping pretty good, still have some bad nights. It will be really hard you will probably have some sleepless nights, but in the long run you will end up feeling better.
Good Luck!

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 eeasy medicated i am wondering if this could be way it is staying in my system longer. Any advise, 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.

I would like to know where to find the holographic chips you use on your temples at night--sounds like a harmless thing to try.

Linda - I can send you the website to order them from if you are interested!!

try the sleep chips - they are working great

www.chipmeup.cieaura.com

My 5th night without Ambien...such a slow process, but your words of encouragement have inspired me to go on.

Did anyone else experience upper respiratory problems while on Ambien? I have taken it for two years, and this last year I have had colds, allergies, you name it everything has been worse. I have gotten hooked on Afrin now because I can't breathe without it. Any insight would be great.

Trying sleepy time tea tonight.

just found this web site,i am posting to ask any of you who use ambien how much are you taking a night or how many pills you are using i a one month period?my wife is addicted to these nasty little pills and i think she is taking way to many.

Texas - Welcome to this site. You'll find support here from people who really know what living with (or without) Ambien is like.
I've been taking Ambien for 11 years. I started at 5 mg. & now take 20 mg. per night.
I don't abuse Ambien - I take it as prescribed. How much is your wife taking a night?

Ann wrote:

Texas - Welcome to this site. You'll find support here from people who really know what living with (or without) Ambien is like.
I've been taking Ambien for 11 years. I started at 5 mg. & now take 20 mg. per night.
I don't abuse Ambien - I take it as prescribed. How much is your wife taking a night?

Ann,

You really need to get of the Ambien. It is only meant for short term use. It damages the GABA receptors in your brain. You will have a terrible time getting of of it, because your body becomes addicted to it. Ambien affects your whole body. It will wreck you immune systems, making you get quite frequently. I took it for 6 years and am still having withdrawal symptoms after 2 months of being off ambien. It totally wrecked my health. I have back problems, knee problems and have become anti social and experienced increase in anxiety. I never abused Ambien, I took between 5 to 10 mg a night depending on if I had anxiety. There are some all natural remedies you can get from the health foodstore that will help you sleep. My doctor suggested powdered magnesium, which really helped me get of Ambien. Good Luck!

Are you saying that Ambien caused your back & knee problems?
I understand that greatly incresed anxiety is part of withdrawal.
Every post I've read from you on this board is promoting powdered magnesium and also includes a hyperlink referring to natural herbal remedies. The link takes you to an adverstiment for some natural healing "school". What's up with that????
I appreciate real, honest feedback, but not a soft sell.

Ann wrote:

Are you saying that Ambien caused your back & knee problems?
I understand that greatly incresed anxiety is part of withdrawal.
Every post I've read from you on this board is promoting powdered magnesium and also includes a hyperlink referring to natural herbal remedies. The link takes you to an adverstiment for some natural healing "school". What's up with that????
I appreciate real, honest feedback, but not a soft sell.

I have never posted any hyperlink on my post. I really don't know where it came from and I don't even know how to post one. I will have to go back and she what that hyper link is. I am truely sorry about that. Everything I suggest is what I have tried and what has worked for me. I am only trying to help people get off Ambein. Also any suggestion I have made I have bought from my health food store not online. I don't trust the stuff they sell online anyway. If you are interested I give you names of some of the Natural remedies that I have tried. Also my docter told she had a women who tried all kinds of stuff to get of Ambien and that the powder magnesium was the only thing that help her get of the sleeping pills. That what made me decide to try it and it took a week and a half to get of ambien and I only had a few nights when I got 2-3 hours sleep. I am going on 2 months no Ambien I just want to let people what I has work for me, because I know how hard it is to get of this nasty stuff and I want to make it easier, for anyone else.

Help anyone. I am going to try to stop taking ambien and am afraid of the withdrawls. I feel it is making me dangerously depressed. They sent me to state hospital when i withdrew from cymbalta.
Iwas full of anxiety like i am now and depressed and dont want to live like this anymore. Got any good things to say Please.

Day 2 with no Ambien after 3 years off and on and a few months straight. I tapered for a couple of days...I probably should have tapered longer but I just want out!! The shakes and the panicky feelings are almost unbelievable. I didn't sleep one minute last night. I will do this though!! This drug is nuts! I understand addiction and physical dependence on something like never before. It is so encouraging to read these posts. Thank you so much for sharing! It is inspiring!