Ambien Users Out There???
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Any current and former Ambien users out there? Need tips on how to wean off of long term use. I've made searches but would rather hear from those who have done this...
Thanks...
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I haven't weaned off ambien, but I have off klonopin and that was hard. A couple tips: wean in very small increments. also, one way to trick your body is when you are down-stepping, alternate the lower dosage with the current dosage every other day for a week, then go to the lower dosage every day. Then wait a week and repeat. The alternating step-down seems to trick your body into accepting it better than just downstepping straight.
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@Nic said:
I haven't weaned off ambien, but I have off klonopin and that was hard. A couple tips: wean in very small increments. also, one way to trick your body is when you are down-stepping, alternate the lower dosage with the current dosage every other day for a week, then go to the lower dosage every day. Then wait a week and repeat. The alternating step-down seems to trick your body into accepting it better than just downstepping straight.
Thanks...I know it was never intended to be long term but my doctor kept giving it to me off and on for 2 years...do I sleep good...yes...do I like the Zombie like feeling once and a while? No! I also kind of looked forward to the "high" it gave me before falling asleep which is why I decided to try to wean off.
I have 10mg but been taking 5MG and thinking of slowly taking that to 2.5MG...
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Yeah, so the trick is to do 5mg monday, 2.5mg tuesday, 5mg wednesday, 2.5mg thursday, etc for a week. Then go to 2.5mg every day for a week or so. Then do the same pattern from 2.5 to the lower dose (or zero).
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@Nic said:
Yeah, so the trick is to do 5mg monday, 2.5mg tuesday, 5mg wednesday, 2.5mg thursday, etc for a week. Then go to 2.5mg every day for a week or so. Then do the same pattern from 2.5 to the lower dose (or zero).
I'll give it a shot...I recognized the addictive qualities of it so want to get off now...I'll try that pattern...thanks...
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Cool good luck. Another thing you can do is use a different sleep aid for a while to mitigate the symptoms, like melatonin or benadryl. Kind of like using methadone to get off heroin. Either way, hang in there and it's worth getting off the sauce if you can.
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Good luck man!
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Nic's suggestion is sound. It's a hard type of med to get off of. Stay strong. It'll get easier.
