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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I Tried ! I'll try again next week!

JustShootMeNow
JustShootMeNow
Last Thursday I tried to go to sleep without a sleeping pill. I went to bed at 11:00 and fell asleep somewhere around 2:30, but not before dozing off several times and having terrifying, very realistic nightmares. I'm going to stop taking Ambien soon, so I don't know how my sleep will go. I've been a chronic insomniac for years. If I don't take Ambien, I don't sleep. My goal is to stop taking them altogether. If anyone has successfully gone off Ambien, please share pointers. I'm not addicted to the Ambien. I simply don't sleep without it.

Okay, off to bed. I took an Ambien, and I am getting a bit sleepy. Wish me luck in my quest to stop the Ambien!
deleted_user
deleted_user
I am assuming you have tried other medications to replace the ambien? I am getting some relief from a low level anti depressant at night, but it does not work all the time. I still end up on the ambien a few times a week. I dare say I could manage without it, but I am only taking half a tablet and the usage is not at an alarming level, so I choose to have the sleep. Like you, if the anti depressant fails, nothing works apart from ambien. I literally do not sleep.
JustShootMeNow
JustShootMeNow
Yes, I've tried everything -- all the OTC sleep aids, Ativan (anti-anxiety). The only thing that works for me is Ambien and Lunesta. My insurance company refused to pay for Lunesta after the first couple of prescriptions (there's no generic), so I had to go back to Ambien. I want to stop taking it. I'm having small problems with memory because of it -- e.g., I'll be talking and can't think of the word I'm looking for. I had shingles in April/May/June, and I didn't take the Ambien during that whole six week period. My memory problems cleared up. That's the main reason I want to get off it.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I was able to wean myself off the Ambien. At first I took the Ambien CR 12.5 mg. I switched to generic Ambien 10 mg. Couldn't sleep at first but kept trying and finally slept on the generic 10 mg. Then later I tried cutting it in half to 5 mg. It took quite a few times. At first I couldn't sleep on the half pill and would end up going back to the whole pill. But the trick is to not stress over not sleeping on the half pill. Go back to the whole pill if you have to and try again later. Tell yourself not to worry, no rush. Tell yourself you can always try again later. Then try again when you feel ready.

Eventually I was able to fall asleep on half a pill. Then later I went off it completely. It didn't work at first and I'd have to go back to the half pill. Just keep trying to wean yourself off and don't stress. Tell yourself if it doesn't work, you can always try again later. It took a while but finally one night I fell asleep without any pill and I was able to wean myself off. Just don't stress when it doesn't work right away. Good luck.
deleted_user
deleted_user
i stopped it and that night went to bed and didn't have any problems.
slept that night.