Ambien Addiction

I started taking Ambien over a year ago and it was wonderful to get some sleep.  The Pulmonologist prescribed it.  My PC doesn't want me taking it and I've tried several times to stop but then I can't sleep.  It does give me headaches.  I've tried O-T-C sleep meds and they make me jittery.  My PC gave me Trazadone and I took half a table for a couple weeks but I have horrible nightmares. 

Last night I took 2 Tylenol PMs and at midnight still wasn't sleeping so I took a Xanax.  Went right to sleep and slept until 7:30 then I was groggy for several hours.

I'm at my wits' end trying to find a way to get good sleep but not be drugged.  Any suggestions?  I know I probably need to stop taking the Ambien and tough it out but I need sleep especially during the week when I'm working.

Hi there,I take ambien and when i am out if i can't get to the dr for a day or two for refill i take 3 teaspoons of liquid benydryl about 30 min before i go to bed.It works pretty  well for me.I would never get any sleep without something.Good luck
Deb

Deb, do you have any side effects from the Ambien? I know 2 people that have taken Ambien for a long time and have no problems.  DH worries he wouldn't be able to wake me during the night in case of an emergency.  I sleep really soundly until about 4 a.m.  If it weren't for the headaches, I would probably keep taking it.

I took a Benadry capsul last night.  Does the liquid work better?

I have been on it since 2003 and it works great for me.I don't have any side effects .I sleep good on it but i can be easily awaken if needed. For me the liquid seems to work faster but i do take the caplets too.They work also just not as fast.
Deb

JB, I have had insomnia issues on and off for years, so I know your frustration.  Have you tried melatonin?  Google it.  It's very inexpensive, too.  I take a benedryl if necessary, but 2 would make me groggy.  Since OTC sleep meds make you jittery, I'm not surprised if the tylenol PM doesn't really help, since it's just benedryl and acetamenophen.  The 2 things that *really* keep me from falling asleep are my activities before bed and insufficient exercise.  People sleep better when they are physically tired.  And if I'm watching my favorite TV shows or surfing the Internet late at night, my brain is too stimulated to sleep.  If I eat too late my innards gurgle and keep me awake.  The thing working for me right now is to get up by 6:30am, so I'm ready to fall asleep by 10pm or so.  As long as I don't break the cycle, it works.  Yada, yada, yada.  I'm sure you know all this, but perhaps people like you and I need to try harder to quiet ourselves before bed, don't eat, exercise more, etc.  

I tried Melatonin several years ago and it didn't help.  I've had sleep problems since 1998 so it's not something that came about after surgery.  If I exercise after 8 pm, I'm really wide awake.  I can be so sleepy sitting in my chair and then go to bed and can't go to sleep. 

Last night I took a Benadryl capsule and slept pretty well and no jitters this morning. 

I get up at 6 am during the week and go to bed about 10:30.  I tend to get up early even on days off. 

I'll check into the Melatonin. 

I was given Restoril (sp?) to help sleep and it made me wayyyy to groggy the next day, so I take 1mg xanax to help me with my sleeping. I have thoughts race through my head alot when I am trying to go to sleep. It helps me relax and sleep through the night, or else I would be on here late.. I feel that I am also getting addicted, because when I dont take the xanax I cant sleep. It really is for the racing thoughts, but also for my panic attacks and anxiety. I am going to look up melatonin. Thanks for the advice?

I cant see debs posts? I was reading what Jo said, then she answered Deb, but I dont think I know her so why would I be blocked?

That groggy feeling is as bad as not sleeping.  My PC said the problem with Xanax is you get addicted then the dosage needs to be upped.  If it weren't for the headaches, I would take Ambien and forget the addition, but the headaches are really bad.

Took Benadryl again last night and slept well.  I did have a weird dream about my dad who passed away over 7 years ago.  Nothing scary but a little strange.

Deb is PoohBear I think.

Please be careful with the xanax and ambien. When I was admitted to the hospital I was also taking an SSRI along with those 2 drugs. My family was told in the hospital that this was a "lethel" combination, all prescribed by the same doctor. I had to spend 7 days in detox to get it all out of my system, then another 8 days getting alot of other stuff done to try to figure out a pouch problem that I am having. Have you tried the sleepy time tea, it seems to work well when taken with melatonin. Good luck to you

That's scary the doctor would give you a combination like that.  My PC is not a fan of Xanax.  The Benadryl is working but I'm going to get some Melatonin and I'll try the tea with it.  I don't like being dependent on sleep meds.  I wonder sometimes if it's all in my head.