Insomnia Support Group

Insomnia is a symptom, rather than a disease, and is characterized by inadequate quantity or quality of sleep. People with insomnia complain of difficulty falling or staying asleep, which results in significant impairment of daytime functioning. Insomnia is categorized as transient (shorter than one week), short-term (one to three weeks) or chronic (longer than three...

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Ambien- Tapering Off

sylvia25
sylvia25

Hi all! I have been struggling with insomnia for about 8 years now. I have been on Ambien for about the same amount of time. Recently I have decided to get off the medication and have tapered down from 10mg to 7.5mg and now to 5mg. This has been a huge struggle for me and I am scared to cut down even more. I usually fall asleep about 1 hour after taking the medication and wake up on and off throughout the night every few hours. I am nervous that if I continue cutting down I may not sleep at all that night which will effect my ability to go to work, do homework, etc. I have noticed that even thinking about sleep gives me anxiety and panic attacks. Has anyone struggled with tapering sleeping medicine like Ambien? Any tips would be greatly appreciated. I really want to get off the drug and try to sleep naturally. 

Hypnos07
Hypnos07
Hi, good choice about tapering and eventually quitting sleeping pills. Many others have, no reason you can't too. Couple of thoughts for you.

First, suggest you work with your doc on a tapering strategy. This will give you an idea of about how much to taper and when. If you have any other medical or psychiatric issues, your doc can help you with a coordinated strategy.

Second, ask him or her about using CBT sleep training methods as you do the tapering.

The CBT methods will give you drug-free ways to counter the anxiety and stress you associate with the idea of sleep. It will also help you in effect 'stack the deck' in your favor for better sleep, and all of that combined will give you more confidence in your plan.

CBT sleep training is something I've been using for about a decade now and from my experience the methods really work well. It represents a permanent, life-long solution, but the methods must be actually used, of course, to work.

Good luck, keep us posted if you have more questions.
Ash1007
Ash1007
Hi sylvia25, I recently went through pretty much the same thing as you - 7 years on Ambien. I admit the rebound insomnia was really rough but once you get through it you'll feel so much better and more refreshed by being able to sleep naturally and without Ambien. In the beginning while you're tapering, it may feel like that day will never come, but it will! Sleep is natural, your body needs it. Eventually the tiredness will overcome the racing mind and sleep will come.

A little lengthy but here's my post if you want to hear some of the methods I used

https://www.dailystrength.org/group/insomnia/discussion/overcoming-insomnia-ambien