Nope... Just do it with the guidance of the prescribing doctor.

wished I would have included "any success stories from long term users"

Both my doctors have said they refuse to give Ambien for long term use. How do people get it when doctors don't seem want to give it out (not that I want it, just curious)?

Yes their are success stories on benzobuddies.org

The doctors who do give it out do not care about you. Just find one that don't care. Look at Michael Jackson's story and how he got that sleep drug.

Ambien isn't a benzo :confused:

I don't blame my Dr., my anxiety and insomina warranted medication and we both knew that regular usage would lead to addiciton (at least psychological addiction)

I used Ambien CR for 7 months. I stopped 3 months ago. The first night was bad - very litttle sleep. The next two nights, I slept for an hour or two at time. After that, sleep improved greatly, and I currently get 7 to 8 hours sleep with no problem. That is my success story!

metwotoo,

congrats! I think I'm going to ask my Dr to "step me down" from 12.5 CR, to 10 mg and play it from there.

I took Ambien for 6 months and then weaned myself off it by taking less and less every week. I went from 12.5 mg Ambien CR, 10 mg generic Ambien, 6.25 Ambien CR, then 5 mg generic Ambien. You can't cut the CR in half as it must be taken whole but the generic pills you can cut in half. I never had any bad withdrawal symptoms or anything. Of course, some nights, could not sleep on low dose and would go back to higher dose next night if really tired. Just keep trying lower doses. If you can't sleep, go back to higher dose and then try again. Eventually I fell asleep on lowest dose, 5 mg and then eventually I fell asleep on nothing. I never had any horror stories like some people. Good luck.

I have used ambien for 8 years.

They come in 5 MG which can be cut to 2.5

Several years ago I decided that I no longer wanted/needed to take it every day so we came up with a taper plan 2.5 mg taper every 2 days works with the addition of benedryl worked for me

I still take it but just not nightly, and it still works

Glad to hear there's hope!

I quit cold turkey. I was going through a very tough time in my life and kept alternating between two doctors for more than one year, since none would prescribe it for long term use. I had a rough three weeks, sometimes going three days with no sleep. I'm now taking generic sominex and a supplement that contains melatonin and valrerian for sleep. I've had insomnia all my life and will have to rely on sleeping pills for life (probably)

I have been taking 20 mg Ambien & 1 mg Xanax for several years. I told my sleep Dr. my last appt. I was going to try to cut back before our next visit. I see her on Aug. 3. Last visit she told me to start on the Ambien. I have a pill cutter and have manged to whittle down to .5 mg Xanax but the Ambien is kicking my ass. I am trying to hold steady at 15 mg. I am not sure what she is going to say. When I started taking this drug I didn't realize I was going to get myself in this position. Don't know if I would have done anything different. I freak if I can't sleep. I hope she goes easy on me. Take Care! Deny