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Ambien
Hey guys! I was wondering if you have any tips for someone who has been taking Ambien for 25+ years to help with sleeping and can no longer sleep without it and is requiring higher doses now, but wants to be able to sleep without it? Thanks in advance! -
4 Replies
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Hey ,
Good sleep does wonders for your mood, your health and your energy levels… and I wish you the same!
Tapering off sleeping medications such as Ambien is normally done in a schedule. This is made by your doctor based on the dosage. It is important not to stop just like that!
Maybe you can share with us why you have sleeping problems. The why in functional medicine is extremely important. Other helpful information is what other symptoms you might experience and what supplements and other medications you are currently taking.
There are of course protocols that can help. If falling asleep is a problem because you are solving the world’s problems (a racing mind), I often recommend L-theanine as a supplement. With my clients, I usually start with 200 mg and build up to a maximum of 400 mg. In some cases, a high dose can cause a slightly paralyzing feeling. Don’t worry, it will go away quickly and won’t hurt. You are also fully capable of doing anything.
I also regularly recommend magnesium bisglycinate (300 mg) in combination with ashwagandha KSM-66 to my clients. This often helps develop deep sleep.
Sometimes the problem is that melatonin production is not enough. In that case, 5-HTP in combination with vitamin B6 can help.
Klaire labs has a very potent product called stress support complex which can be taken an hour before sleep.
There are several things you can do.
Stress can play a big role. A test like the DUTCH test can provide insight into how your stress hormones behave during the day. High-stress hormones in the evening reduce melatonin production. The body then thinks: why fall asleep if my life is in danger? We have an entire course about stress hormones called adrenal balance. Perhaps you could start here and see if you recognize any signs and symptoms!
What is also extremely important to do is to take a critical look at your sleep hygiene. Here you will find everything about sleep hygiene.
I hope I gave you a push in the right direction!
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Hi – also wanted to chime in here. As Daniel mentioned, there are many possible root causes for poor sleep and in fact, I’ll be releasing a Sleep Optimization Program in September to help members troubleshoot their way through the different possibilities because sleep is foundational.
Few additional questions for you:
1. Without Ambien, does this person have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or both?
2. If staying asleep is the issue, how many times does this person wake up? And at what time(s)? And is there a full bladder with a strong need to urinate?
3. What time does this person get to bed? What time does this person wake up to start their day?
4. What is this person’s age?
Also note that 5-HTP is contraindicated if a person is taking an SSRI or SNRI (or other serotonin-enhancing) antidepressant or sleep medications without their physician’s oversight (e.g. Zoloft, Trazadone, Wellbutrin, Ambien) as there is a risk of them developing serotonin sickness. So that’s why it’s important to be monitored by physician during the weaning process if 5-HTP is added in as an alternative.
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thank you so much for the responses! I wish this person would be more willing to change her ways, but she has informed me that as much as she wants to stop taking the Ambien (which she is now mixing with alcohol and sometimes other meds) she does not want to change her ways right now.
She is 75 and cannot fall asleep without the Ambien, she reports that her mind is just constantly going which is what keeps her awake.Unfortunately, she is not ready to change her ways. But I appreciate the help!!
One other question:
Do you happen to know if there is a relation between taking a long-term drug such as Ambien/sedatives and persistent neurological symptoms? -
Hey ,
Are you referring to any neurological symptoms in general? Ambien (Zolpidem is the active ingredient by the way) does have side effects. It also depends on the dosages.
The most sleeping medications, including Ambien, aren’t meant for long-term use. Usually, Ambien is not prescribed for more than 2 weeks since people can develop tolerance to the medication. Since she uses Ambien for longer than 25 years, it would be good to know what kind of dosages she is currently using.
Ambien should not be mixed with alcohol and can have interactions with other medications. Mixing Ambien and alcohol can cause dangerous physical and cognitive impairment, and there’s a danger of Ambien overdose as well.
Most sleep medications influence sleep architecture. During the night we have 4-5 cycles of 1.5 hours in which we go to deep sleep and REM sleep. Ambien is known to reduce REM sleep. Having good REM sleep is needed for memory, learning and processing emotions. Taking away REM sleep can make you forgetful, moody and it makes it more difficult to learn new things.
With higher doses of Ambien some common side effects are:
• Drowsiness
• headache
• muscle aches
• sleepiness or unusual drowsinessIn cases of abuse (which can occur unintentionally) symptoms like:
• Uninhibited sociability and talkativeness
• Frequent blackouts
• Strange behavior with no memory (blackouts)
• Sleepwalking or sleep activities
• Hypersexual behavior
• Impaired coordination and balancecan also occur.
If she isn’t ready for change, you might want to consider another medical approach. It could very well be that at the root of the problem, there is a mood disorder. In that case, you could advise her to consult her doctor and see for example if SSRIs are a better approach.
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