Mirage74

Wondering if anyone takes Ambien for sleep. When I went through detox they gave me a prescription. I never got it filled. I've been thinking about getting it, but I read online that it is a benzo. So it can be addictive, although "experts" claim it is unlikely if taken as prescribed.

Just wondering why my detox center would prescribe me a benzo for sleep. Is taking Ambien considered a relapse?

robgt350

yea my doctor gave me the same thing. i took it for a few times and i stopped. it really put me to sleep. but i felt i did not ned it about a week.

jaynie04

I detoxed off of Ambien after 20 years.......very addictive, I had a harder time detoxing from Ambien than benzos. A lot of MD's do not understand addiction.

john44

Ambien is a nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic. It's not exactly a benzo but so similar as to not make much difference. It binds to the GABA receptors like benzos and alcohol. It has a short half life so, although it initiates sleep, it's not real great for maintaining sleep.

jaynie04

I just remembered something after I sent last post. I have had sleep issues since my late 20's. Went to Columbia Presbyterian Sleep Disorder clinic for 2 nights, my sleep guy was a pioneer in the field, I have a very very long history with sleep stuff and meds.

At the end I knew I was in trouble with Ambien, it has a very short half life, so I imagine the withdrawals feel similar to short term benzo w/d. Awful.

At rehab, I was in the detox unit for 2 days. The very first patient I met was a great guy around 40 who was there purely because of Ambien. At the end of 30 days he was a little better, but he had a brutal time. There were kids there for all of the heavy duty drugs and most of them had a way easier time than this guy. He had to have a one on one escort for 3 weeks just help him around the facility. Mirage, I am not posting this to scare you , or maybe I am, all I know is that I wouldn't want anyone to get hooked on this stuff.

Mirage74

Whoa, ok, I'm staying off of it.

I've actually been taking melatonin, which is natural in the body. But I've also heard that it's bad for you. Works well though.

I know I need to learn to sleep w/out aids, but it sucks staying up all night.

Mirage74

I guess though, to ask my initial question again, would you consider someone who was taking Ambien as prescribed, solely for sleep, sober? Would AA or other recovery groups?

EndGameNYC

Yes, if you're taking an SSRI, then the combined effects with melatonin can be harmful.

robgt350

Mirage
yea i decided to go a more natural way also. i would read a book for 30 or 45 minutes before i go to bed. or i would do a cross word puzzle to help me fall asleep. it worked great for me. hopefully it can work for you.

tomsteve

just before my mother became under the care of hospice, her PC doc prescribed it. one night, only one, was all I could handle seeing her on it. complete psychotic meltdown.
after she got on hospice care, I learned from the hospice nurses that ambien can be very dangerous, and not just in elderly people. there is the possibility for irreversible life long side effects.
Ambien-induced seizures that have been reported are grand-mal seizures.
Ambien is highly addictive due to its ability to relax the brain and create euphoria.
Anorexia, depression, anxiety and suicidal tendencies can all derive from Ambien use or addiction.
In primarily depressed patients treated with Ambien, worsening of depression, and suicidal thoughts and actions (including completed suicides), have been reported.


I would encourage you to look into something else.

sunrise1

I take Ambien as directed and prescribed by my doctor.

I absolutely consider myself sober.

Uninvited

I took Benadryl over the counter for the first week. Not a sleep aid but made me a little sleepy.

Mirage74

Yea, most of the info I find on the internet indicate it's safe, if taken as prescribed. I guess there are those that start to abuse it, and a small % of people that react badly to it.

I remember they gave it to me while in detox and it worked really well. I'm just surprised that a doctor at a detox center would prescribe something that is potentially addictive to an alcoholic.

wakko

I do not know the concept of "Take as directed" if one works good three will work three times as good

EndGameNYC

It isn't that doctors are ill-informed; it's closer to compassionate care. Most people are only in detox for a few days, and the staff realizes that one of the most treatment resistant withdrawal symptoms is severe insomnia. Detox staff provide Ambien and rarely give a script for discharged patients. Ambien can also help with other withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety. What people need to do most in detox is to rest. For a lot of folks, not even Ambien does the trick.

It's different in rehab and other long-term treatments. You'll likely get Seroquel, Benadryl or Trazadone for insomnia, none of which are controlled substances.

jaynie04

We are all different. My experience is such that Ambien, klonopin and alcohol were my drugs of choice. I tried a lot of other types of sleep meds but Ambien was the one I always went back to. I have a very long history with this drug, and it is probably the drug I most abused and took the longest...about 20 years.
And I took it often with alcohol.

I could set my clock by the half life, I would wake up on the nose for the next dose.
Ambien not only put me to sleep, if I didn't sleep it made me high. I believe that is what Tiger got in trouble with.....I would consult a doctor.

dhg66

taking a mood altering substance as prescribed is not in my nature. I am totally wired for " more " and "now", regardless of how long I am sober.

I am back here after a 2 year relapse that came after many years of active sobriety. and it started with a prescribed medicine. For me after losing everything, I am convinced that I need to be constantly vigilant with all substances talking over these decisions with sober folks.....good for you, telling on ones self is great recovery.

these words refer to me only, I know others who can take mood altering substances as prescribed.... I can not. I have issues with everythinh that changes the way I feel .

LoveMeNow

My mother was given Ambien and it literally made her "crazy." She would call me all night long, complaining she could not sleep, yet the next day would not remember a thing.

Also, sleep aids like Ambien slow down the respiratory system and she passed out, hitting her head on 2 occasions.

I spoke to her new Dr and he refused to prescribe it to her. She was furious with me but eventually was very thankful.

Mirage74

Yea, I have basically no experience with addictive prescription drugs. I may have tried Xanax and Valium a couple of times.

I guess my question is: should Ambien be prescribed to a recovering alcoholic? They gave me one, a 3 month script. According to many of you, it is a slippery slope.

YearForMe

My husband was prescribed Ambien approx. 6 years ago and is still taking it.
It changed his thought process and his personality....big time.....

He progressed to prescription pain pills and has been on those, for no known reason, for almost 5 years now.

Ambien and vicodin (my husbands 2 drugs of choice) are both intended for short term use. The problem is when someone with an addiction issue takes them.....that short term is just enough to get them hooked. IMHO.

Slippery Slope.....absolutely.....