withdrawals from Cymbalta and Ambien

Well, I have been on Ambien for about 2 years. I recently had a sleep study, at which time the pulmonologist made a comment about doctors prescribing the medication without getting to the root cause of the problem. I have moderate sleep apnea and have been using the machine for about 2 weeks now. Unfortunately, it is even more difficult, because the Ambien doesn't really work for me any more. I am about to contact my doctor to see what she suggests as far as stopping it, but I am scared she really doesn't know what she's talking about. I mean, no where have I seen or read anything about staying on it indefinitely. I appreciate this site and having read all the comments. Sounds as if I have a tough road ahead on this one, but I really need to get started. I have been experiencing depression, anxiety, crying uncontrollably - and this is ON the Ambien. I also take Savella for fibromyalgia, and I would like to try to get off that one, too. NOT at the same time. And NOT cold turkey on either. I am concerned about drug interactions and anxiety is a side effect for both Ambien and Savella.

Wish me luck, please. And luck to anyone who has to go through this.

I took the generic version of Ambein for 5 years - the first 2 years were just during the week and never on weekends...then every day for the past 3 years. I quit 7 days ago - just to see if I could...My boyfriend was afraid I was addicted to the pills, I said I was just addicted to sleep. I haven't had any side effects and sleep about the same as I did before I got Asthma. Maybe I'm just lucky - same thing happened when I quit drinking tons of coffee - absolutely nothing. Different people will have different outcomes. Oh, and the coffee thing was YEARS ago - after drinking decaf for 10 years or so I went back to regular.

I have been taking Ambien for over a year. When I run out from taking a little extra here & there, I get terrible withdrawals. Last month I ran out & I had 5 days to go before the pharmacist would refill. It was horrible. Nausea, chills, no appetite whatsoever. No sleep, of course, no energy and crying jags. This month I am short again. I an breaking off little pieces to try to keep myself from feeling bad. I don't know how successful I will be but I need to wait 9 days to refill. Oh boy!!! Good luck to you. Please answer me.. Grandma from Nea York

You are so right!! Ambien is a great medication for short-term causes such as jet lag or when a person can't sleep due to devastating news; but that's it!!! Don't even ask for the drug. It's very addicting, tons of side effects (made 3 reservations on the computer one night for the same weekend, cooked something on the stove and didn't remember any of it). That's too much for me to handle. Very difficult to wean; however, the alternative wasn't the direction I wanted to go.

My sister swears that 1/2 does her just as much good. What is the worst side effect?

Frannie --- Side effects of ambien withdrawal was SEVERE anxiety for me. I would encourage your sister to stop Ambien, but stop it VERY VERY gradually....she might have to use a razor to sliver off pieces and drop down 1/10th of her present dose for a week or two and then drop down another 1/10th of that for another week or two...and so on..... Ambien is HORRIBLE....Good luck to her!

I have been taking Ambien now for about 5 months and I am on day 6 of my taper. I went from taking 10 mgs now down to 5mg a night and the withdraws are just awful. I have ringing in the ears, severe insomnia, anxiety and heart rate is very fast. How much longer is this going to last? I haven't slept in 2 days. I did take a xanax and I did sleep a few hours but I am still totally exhausted. I talked to a pharmasist today and she told me that because I was on day 6 I should just tough it out at this point and stay with the 5 mgs and I should start to feel better in a few days. Now I am scared to cut the 5mgs in half once my body adjusts to the 5's because I am scared of the withdraws. I live alone and really have no support so I have been going through this alone. I wish I never would have started taking ambien because this is pure hell.

I also wanted to add that the pharmacist told me to take melatonin 30 to 40 minutes before I go to bed as this would help me sleep. I have been taking zquill with not much help. does anyone know if the melatonin will help and is it safe to take the melatonin and zquill together to hopefully sleep?

Thank you sooo much for that post helped a lot

Thank u so much for ur imput to wead off this awful Medicine.your way sounds very much like the right way. I am starting to do just what u say as we speak. I have been on ambient for nine or more months & am having very bad memory loss , scares me so much. Thank u again for ur help and God bless u.

I took Ambien for years - 5 mg then 10 mg. My doctor could not be contacted for a refill and I decided oh well, I'm going cold turkey. I'm not feeling any side effects. I'm not sleeping well, but no side effects. These posts are making me uncomfortable. It's like "you will...soon and you will be sorry". Has anyone stopped cold turkey and simply felt fine?