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OD Moderators: Keif’ Richards | Tryptamino
Withdrawal from Ambien
- Thread starter Tchem1980
- Start date
Lightning-Nl
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2012
- Messages
- 1,247
I hate to say this, I really do. But I think it's all in your head.
I recently ran out of Ambien (after taking 20MG's for over 4 months straight) and had a withdrawal that lasted only three days. The Ambien was prescribed to me for insomnia and restless legs and I can barely sleep without it. When I recently ran out, I had benzodiazepine-like withdrawal symptoms for only 3 days and then I was back to my normal self. Remember, normal for me is insomnia and restless legs, you can't stop the medication that's meant to treat this and not expect your symptoms to come back.
I suspect that you are no longer withdrawing from Ambien, but instead are experiencing the return of your symptoms. Why was Ambien prescribed to you? I also have bad nerve pain and Ambien treats it quite well. That may not of been what it was prescribed to you for, however, that's not my point. Are you absolutely sure you didn't have nerve pain before taking the Ambien?
The reason I ask is because an unclear mind can easily be caused by insomnia. And nerve pain, while Ambien withdrawal *COULD* make your muscles a little stiff, it would have been long gone after 15 weeks.
Again as I stated above, you have to remember that normal for you is insomnia. Just because you took Ambien for a little while doesn't mean that you won't return to be an insomniac once you get off the medication.
I recently ran out of Ambien (after taking 20MG's for over 4 months straight) and had a withdrawal that lasted only three days. The Ambien was prescribed to me for insomnia and restless legs and I can barely sleep without it. When I recently ran out, I had benzodiazepine-like withdrawal symptoms for only 3 days and then I was back to my normal self. Remember, normal for me is insomnia and restless legs, you can't stop the medication that's meant to treat this and not expect your symptoms to come back.
I suspect that you are no longer withdrawing from Ambien, but instead are experiencing the return of your symptoms. Why was Ambien prescribed to you? I also have bad nerve pain and Ambien treats it quite well. That may not of been what it was prescribed to you for, however, that's not my point. Are you absolutely sure you didn't have nerve pain before taking the Ambien?
The reason I ask is because an unclear mind can easily be caused by insomnia. And nerve pain, while Ambien withdrawal *COULD* make your muscles a little stiff, it would have been long gone after 15 weeks.
Again as I stated above, you have to remember that normal for you is insomnia. Just because you took Ambien for a little while doesn't mean that you won't return to be an insomniac once you get off the medication.
dingophone
Bluelighter
Swampfox is right on when he's saying that it could be just the return of your symptoms. Why did you discontinue Ambien? You might consider trying a less addictive (non)benzo like zaleplon (fantastic medication IME) or even chlordiazepoxide. Gabapentin is also nonaddictive and helps me get to sleep. There are, in addition, some nonGABAergics that are helpful for sleep like trazodone, guanfacine, clonidine, amitryptaline, doxepin, and remelteon. You can also try OTC meds like doxylamine, Benadryl (I would recommend against it if you don't like feeling brain-dead), valerian, melatonin, or kava.
Hey Tchem welcome to Blue Light.. sorry you are feeling this way.. are you currently taking any other medications or drugs? also ambien affects the GABA receptors and is considered very similar to a benzodiazepine in nature as it respects at the same location. I personally think this medication is absolute shite and after hearing and experiencing many weird reliable stories gave it up long before I gave up such things as I won't mention.
"Zolpidem (brand names Ambien, Ambien CR, Intermezzo, Stilnox, and Sublinox) is a prescription medication used for the treatment of insomnia and some brain disorders. It is a short-acting nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic of the imidazopyridine class [2] that potentiates GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter, by binding to GABAA receptors at the same location as benzodiazepines.[3] It works quickly, usually within 15 minutes, and has a short half-life of two to three hours."
It appeared to me that you are experiencing a heavy load of acute and Post acute withdrawal symptoms. These are not permanent, they just seem that way. here is some information on paws..
Post-acute-withdrawal syndrome
Why We Don’t Get Better Immediately: Post-acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS)
for the relief of your withdrawal nerve pain I would recommend getting a prescription for neurontin or lyrica as this will most likely have amazing results. This is not something you want to take long term as you dont want to just end up where you are agian.
>NEURONTIN<
OR >Lyrica<
Hang in there this can take a little bit but it does get better.. keep posting for support
"Zolpidem (brand names Ambien, Ambien CR, Intermezzo, Stilnox, and Sublinox) is a prescription medication used for the treatment of insomnia and some brain disorders. It is a short-acting nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic of the imidazopyridine class [2] that potentiates GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter, by binding to GABAA receptors at the same location as benzodiazepines.[3] It works quickly, usually within 15 minutes, and has a short half-life of two to three hours."
It appeared to me that you are experiencing a heavy load of acute and Post acute withdrawal symptoms. These are not permanent, they just seem that way. here is some information on paws..
Post-acute-withdrawal syndrome
Why We Don’t Get Better Immediately: Post-acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS)
for the relief of your withdrawal nerve pain I would recommend getting a prescription for neurontin or lyrica as this will most likely have amazing results. This is not something you want to take long term as you dont want to just end up where you are agian.
>NEURONTIN<
OR >Lyrica<
Hang in there this can take a little bit but it does get better.. keep posting for support
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Yup some gabapentin always helps me out at night (restless legs & back pain), you should look into that. I'm not sure but maybe some Tylenol PM with the gabapentin might help but look into that and see if it's safe to take together.
missmeyet?
Bluelighter
Just another reminder of this...for most people diphenhydramine (benadryl) will cause an increase in restless legs! Be very careful using Benadryl in the presence of restless legs...not only can it make it a thousand times worse, it, along with some other antihistamines (but Benadryl is by far the worse generally) but it can actually cause RLS.
Oh, I mention this because diphenhydramine is the other active ingredient in Tylenol PM...(the part that is supposed to help you to sleep)
I am on Neutontin usually it helps. On night I took 3 of them and 3 Ibuprofen and the pain was unbearable. Swampfox you have not lived in my shoes the last 15 weeks. Check out withdrawal symptom from Ambien it is long an exhaustive. Hey neversickanymore do you know how long it can take to get my GABA receptors reset? Thanks
Lightning-Nl
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2012
- Messages
- 1,247
I have many times - trust me, I know what I'm talking about.
Withdrawal symptoms from Ambien are all the same thing that Ambien is meant to treat. Insomnia, restlessness, anxiety, headache, muscular pain and stiffness are all things that ambien is meant to treat and can also cause when withdrawal'd from cold-turkey. Unless you've been on Ambien for a couple of years, then it's something else. Ambien wouldn't induce long-term withdrawal like that.
Hell! Opiates don't induce withdrawals like that unless you've been on one for a couple years. I'm going to assume you haven't been on Ambien in the long-term. If that's the case, you need to pay attention to other aspects of your life. Are you getting enough exercise? Enough sleep? Because my educated opinion (based on many hours of research and learning) is that "Ambien withdrawal" is not the cause of this. I am 100% certain of that.
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^ what about if it were taken around the clock SF.. and I think that anything that manipulates the GABA can cause awful and long withdrawals.
Can you share how long you were on the ambien and how you took it. Why were you put on the neurontin? also are you feeling any better at all, even just a little bit compared to a week or two ago? Where is the nerve pain?
I personally think ambien is a real sketchy drug.. i once awoke early about 2.25 hours after dosing and falling asleep to hallucinate a little girl playing around in the closet and bed room.. I obviously new she wasn't real but she looked absolutely real. So then one of my roommates took some and we set the alarm for 3.25 hours later and he was down on the couch and there was a large loft with an totally open view of the downstairs and me and another roommate watched him have a ten minute conversation with someone that wasn't there.. so it is a pretty strong drug IMO and I bet they dont know all the ways it manipulates the brain yet.
Can you share how long you were on the ambien and how you took it. Why were you put on the neurontin? also are you feeling any better at all, even just a little bit compared to a week or two ago? Where is the nerve pain?
I personally think ambien is a real sketchy drug.. i once awoke early about 2.25 hours after dosing and falling asleep to hallucinate a little girl playing around in the closet and bed room.. I obviously new she wasn't real but she looked absolutely real. So then one of my roommates took some and we set the alarm for 3.25 hours later and he was down on the couch and there was a large loft with an totally open view of the downstairs and me and another roommate watched him have a ten minute conversation with someone that wasn't there.. so it is a pretty strong drug IMO and I bet they dont know all the ways it manipulates the brain yet.
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dingophone
Bluelighter
Hey Tchem, far as taking GABA tolerance to reset goes, it depends on how high your tolerance already is. Assuming it's pretty high, it might take a month or so with COMPLETE abstinence from GABAergics to return to normal levels. I would wait at least two weeks at the very least. If your symptoms are too nasty to do this, think about going to your doc, explaining the situation, and seeing if you can get a long acting benzo like chlordiazepoxide to stabilize yourself.
Neversick, I'm pretty sure that Ambien's hallucinogenic effects indeed come from GABA modulation. Muscimol and gaboxadol, both direct GABA agonists, are known to induce hallucination in some users. Hallucinations are also a somewhat common side effect of zopiclone and zaleplon as well.
Neversick, I'm pretty sure that Ambien's hallucinogenic effects indeed come from GABA modulation. Muscimol and gaboxadol, both direct GABA agonists, are known to induce hallucination in some users. Hallucinations are also a somewhat common side effect of zopiclone and zaleplon as well.
I was on Ambien for 10 months almost every night. 10mg only each night. I went cold turkey 18 weeks ago and the nerve pain is starting to go down in some nerve tracts but start up in others, the muscle tightness is easing some, sedation is heavy then fairly light. Every muscle in my head has been tight and my teeth have hurt like a hammer has hit them. I have never had an hallucinations with the withdrawal. I would just like to have some answers as to why it takes so long to get back to normal.
I have been taking ambien since it was approved by the FDA, literally. I have never had a withdrawal symptom, ever, and I run out early due to the fact that I have to take more than is given to me due to tolerance.
I think you should go to a doctor for evaluation......
I think you should go to a doctor for evaluation......
Blind Melon
Bluelighter
I've been on Ambien 10mg x 30count a month for the past half year now. I take 3 a night, every-other night until running out. Besides rebound insomnia I've never dealt with any other ill effects. I would expect them to be like benzo-WD. I have known one person addicted to Ambien actually, but I don't know what her WDs were like, sorry.
edit: yeah, as someone above me mentioned you should try taking Gabapentin. It should at least help.
edit: yeah, as someone above me mentioned you should try taking Gabapentin. It should at least help.
I am in my 7 month of getting back to normal and I am finally getting there a little ever day. I have been to hell and back. Nerve pain has been the worst, muscle tightness (chest and abd), sedation and headaches for a solid month day and night. Nothing but time is really healing my brain. The neurontin and ibuprofen have finally brought some relief. My Dr. said "I was in the 1%" which meant that I had it the worst and longest of most people. It affects ever one differently.
8(I know how you feel. I have been taking ambien 20 Mg every night for over 2 years. Now my doc says that a new study shows women only need 5 mg a night so he cut me back. No tapering down or any other help except for the suggestion that melatonin is a sleep aid I can take to help. So far not sleeping. It's been over 2 weeks and I'm exhausted and grumpy. Any suggestions?
MakaveliTheDon
Greenlighter
well when i went through ambien withdrawals, they were mixed in with klonopin withdrawals at the same time as i was forced off of them almost a year ago. the withdrawals were absolute hell for the first few months, i was put on depakote and seroquel to help. i felt like a corpse every day 24/7 for at least 2 months, my muscles spasmed and ached, and i developed full body numbness. they eventually got better, now im back on ambien, but have terrible rebound anxiety and mostly managed insomnia, lots of tremors to.
Seattle_Stranger
Bluelighter
I used to be scripted Ambien, and during that time it was pretty much all I looked forward to. Getting my bi-monthly script of ~30 10mg zolpidem was like Christmas day, and from then on I would be snorting those fuckers almost every night, sometimes up to 50mg in a night. The insane burn became pleasant, and I started to really have just a little too much fun with it. The high was great, euphoric and light, trippy, visual, talkative, very recreational when snorted. When swallowed, 10mg would make me delirious and I wouldn't remember anything, yet I could rail several pills over a night and stay lucid partying with friends, very interesting effect. Definitely was fun while it lasted, I cannot tell a lie.
However, the withdrawal sucked. I eventually knew I had to stop, so I did, and man it was lame. Lots of anxiety all day, depression, insomnia, racing thoughts, cold sweats, nearly everything one would expect from opiate withdrawal. I've never had a benzo withdrawal so I don't know if I can compare it, but I'd assume it's similar. It lasted a couple of days, and as long as I was abstinent from the ambien, I would eventually level out in 2-3 days after heavy use. During the withdrawal, I was very tempted to take some with me to work and such, thinking it would fend off withdrawals, but looking back I'm VERY glad I did not, my career could have been lost. My girlfriend informed me that during this little binge I was constantly freaking her out with incoherent midnight conversations, full on arguments, and all sorts of other undesirable behavior that I had NO recollection of whatsoever, and I could tell it was bothering her. One she informed me of all this, and I felt the withdrawal, I knew it was time to put it down, so I did. Haven't had any since.
Good luck my friend, this one shouldn't be too hard for you.
However, the withdrawal sucked. I eventually knew I had to stop, so I did, and man it was lame. Lots of anxiety all day, depression, insomnia, racing thoughts, cold sweats, nearly everything one would expect from opiate withdrawal. I've never had a benzo withdrawal so I don't know if I can compare it, but I'd assume it's similar. It lasted a couple of days, and as long as I was abstinent from the ambien, I would eventually level out in 2-3 days after heavy use. During the withdrawal, I was very tempted to take some with me to work and such, thinking it would fend off withdrawals, but looking back I'm VERY glad I did not, my career could have been lost. My girlfriend informed me that during this little binge I was constantly freaking her out with incoherent midnight conversations, full on arguments, and all sorts of other undesirable behavior that I had NO recollection of whatsoever, and I could tell it was bothering her. One she informed me of all this, and I felt the withdrawal, I knew it was time to put it down, so I did. Haven't had any since.
Good luck my friend, this one shouldn't be too hard for you.
Everyone has different biochemistry. That's the main thing to remember, SwampFox. Some people smoke hundreds of cigarettes then quit easily, while others are hooked from their first.
I believe you're experiencing PAWS. It gets better with time, but your response to it is the main factor in determining whether or not you will stay clean - i.e. it's arguably the most difficult phase of withdrawal to get past.
I believe you're experiencing PAWS. It gets better with time, but your response to it is the main factor in determining whether or not you will stay clean - i.e. it's arguably the most difficult phase of withdrawal to get past.