orgart
Member
Reged: 01/02/04
Posts: 144
Loc: calif
|
|
My wife is severly disabled and has for the past few months to sleep been using 20mg of ambien. She gets some sleep but is now worried she can't stop taking it (she has stopped for a day but just stares at the wall and can't sleep at all). Any suggestions on how to get off and also get some normal sleep?
--------------------
orgart
|
BlackCat
Board Addict
Reged: 09/22/03
Posts: 372
Loc: Bed
|
|
I am prescribed this also and only take it as needed since you really aren't supposed to take it for more than 7-10 days in a row. Since she needed it for a longer period, I would start by tapering down my usage.
I assume you are talking about her taking 2 of the 10mg tablets a day at bedtime for a while now.
Have her start by breaking one in half (5mg) and taking it with a whole one (10mg) for a total of 15mg a night for a few days. Then take 10mg for a few days, then 5mg, then only as needed.
Since she has been taking it for a few months (and I am assuming it was EVERY night), you may want to extend the taper to 3-4 weeks, instead of doing it all in 1 week (or cold turkey!):
week 1 - 15 mg (1.5 tablets)
week 2 - 10 mg (1.0 tablet)
week 3 - 5mg (0.5 tablet)
week 4 - 5mg every other day as needed
week 5+ - try to stay away from it and take as needed and don't go above 10 mg
You could also do a search for some natural supplements to help induce sleep during the taper process. Others on here may have some suggestions.
BTW, the 10mg tablets aren't scored so you will probably want to cut them in half with a knife on a cutting board (or some other method you can think of) to make sure you get 2 equal doses from one tablet...
Hope this wasn't too obvious info and helps you a little...
|
Helene
Journeyman
Reged: 02/26/04
Posts: 76
Loc: Pennsylvania
|
|
Yea, the health food store has several sleep aids, including melatonin, which I take whenever I go on a hydro holliday. Might help, can't hurt.
|
Sweetz
Diamond Mind
Reged: 05/11/02
Posts: 617
Loc: Texas!
|
|
Be sure to check to see if it interacts with any of your medications before you take it though. I tried it years ago and found out later it interacted with one of my meds I was on at the time. I think it was Verapamil, but I'm not too sure, it's been a while.
Just because something is OTC or herbal, doesn't mean it doesn't react with your current meds. EX: Grapefruit Juice.
--------------------
"If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice."
|
dsmmcm
Enthusiast
Reged: 11/08/03
Posts: 203
Loc: southwest US
|
|
Quote:
Have her start by breaking one in half (5mg) and taking it with a whole one (10mg) for a total of 15mg a night for a few days. Then take 10mg for a few days, then 5mg, then only as needed.
Since she has been taking it for a few months (and I am assuming it was EVERY night), you may want to extend the taper to 3-4 weeks, instead of doing it all in 1 week (or cold turkey!):
week 1 - 15 mg (1.5 tablets)
week 2 - 10 mg (1.0 tablet)
week 3 - 5mg (0.5 tablet)
week 4 - 5mg every other day as needed
week 5+ - try to stay away from it and take as needed and don't go above 10 mg
You could also do a search for some natural supplements to help induce sleep during the taper process. Others on here may have some suggestions.
This sounds like a good idea in principle, but for someone who needs 20 mg of ambien to get "some sleep" I would predict that it will not work. The taper is far too fast. Changing your weeks into months, or even multiple months, would be more realistic. 20 mg of ambien is a lot . There are underlying problems here that probably need to be treated by a specialist. In addition, as I have posted a number of times before, it is very well known that ambien, as well as sonata, although listed in the PDR as for short term treatment of insomnia, are often used for much longer treatment: Months, even years. However, the 20 mg dose is too high. D
|
orgart
Member
Reged: 01/02/04
Posts: 144
Loc: calif
|
|
Thank you, BlackCat I will try this first since I have done this before for other meds and I know it has a good success rate. 
--------------------
orgart
|
orgart
Member
Reged: 01/02/04
Posts: 144
Loc: calif
|
|
Thanks, good idea and Sweetz is correct in having one do the research before using anything. 
--------------------
orgart
|
orgart
Member
Reged: 01/02/04
Posts: 144
Loc: calif
|
|
I was told by my wife's doctor that she could take it for a longer period of time but this higher dose was due to increased stress and pain. I will use all that I have heard to see what I can do. Thanks 
--------------------
orgart
|
Caseyaly
Stranger
Reged: 03/21/04
Posts: 21
Loc: Mid-Atlantic Seaboard
|
|
Valerian Root is another herbal supplement that has worked well for me in the past for sleep.
--------------------
"You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometime, you just might find
You get what you need" ~~ The Rolling Stones
|
Previous 
Index
Next 
Threaded
off the ambien 
Edit 
Reply 
Quote 
Re: off the ambien