Table of Contents
Millions of people all over the world rely on sleep aids, or Z drugs, to help them get a good night’s sleep. Taking Ambien to treat insomnia and difficulty sleeping is, for many, their only way of being able to get proper rest.
To them, Ambien – also known as zolpidem – is associated with a calming, relaxing feeling. Of course, this peace and serenity do not last forever. In fact, Ambien use can actually become potentially dangerous, especially if abused or used in larger doses than necessary.
Unfortunately, those who use this prescription medication outside of their prescribed guidelines, or without the need for it, face the risk of developing an Ambien addiction. Once dependent upon the drug, reducing or stopping their substance use can be extremely difficult.
For some people, Ambien has become a true threat to their health. An Ambien addiction can result in a number of side effects, from fatigue to nausea to problems with coordination to short-term memory loss and much more.
If you have recently made the decision to quit this drug for good, then it is in your best interest to understand what Ambien withdrawal entails and what you can do to help make this process a bit easier.
As you already know, Ambien is an incredibly strong drug. It became the most popular sleep aid because it can induce rest within 15 minutes of being taken. This occurs due to the drug’s effect on the central nervous system, affecting both the neurotransmitter GABA and GABA receptors.
The result causes a slowing of brain activity. While this kind of effect is envied by many facing insomnia every evening, it’s this same type of incredible potency that causes Ambien addiction withdrawal once someone tries to quit.
That said, before reviewing the types of symptoms associated with withdrawal, it’s important to remember that countless people have also gone through them and recovered successfully. So even though some of these may seem overwhelming, don’t let that stop you from seeking help.
If you suddenly stop taking Ambien after having used this drug on a regular basis, you may experience intense withdrawal symptoms. These can be both physical and psychological in nature and may make it extremely difficult to maintain abstinence from this drug.
Some of the most commonly experienced Ambien withdrawal symptoms include stomach problems, rebound Insomnia, irritability, anxiety, and other more severe withdrawal symptoms.
Stomach issues can range from mild stomach cramps and nausea, to more severe withdrawal symptoms, such as indigestion and vomiting. Some of this may also have to do with other symptoms covered below.
In short, if you are constantly anxious, irritated, and nervous, your stomach is going to experience problems, especially when adding other withdrawal symptoms into this mixture.
Obviously, removing Ambien from your life could bring back the very illness you were using it for in the first place in the form of “rebound insomnia.” This is one of the most common Ambien withdrawal symptoms that lead to a person’s relapse back to drug abuse.
Even if your insomnia does not completely return, there is a good chance that you will struggle a little to get the same kind of sleep you were accustomed to when taking Ambien due to this rebound insomnia.
While some people will be able to recover a fairly normal sleep schedule, they may still have to deal with fatigue throughout the day. They may even wake up refreshed only to find that later in the day they feel the need to go back to bed.
These symptoms also correlate with a feeling of “brain fog,” or otherwise being unable to clearly think, even when you do not necessarily feel tired. This can make carrying out basic day-to-day activities more difficult and frustrating for the withdrawing individual.
This lack of sleep may also cause irritability. You may notice that it is difficult to ignore small annoyances. Irritability and insomnia often work in tandem, too. Lack of sleep makes you irritable.
In turn, irritability makes it harder to fall asleep as you fixate on perceived problems you faced earlier in the day.
Similarly, you can expect to feel anxious after quitting Ambien. Again, this is partly due to lack of sleep and, like irritability, anxiety, and insomnia can turn into a vicious loop. Another reason people become anxious after quitting Ambien is simply that they don’t know what to expect.
With these withdrawal symptoms, you may find yourself mulling and obsessing over unpleasant thoughts and questions throughout the day, such as:
If the anxiety becomes overwhelming, you may even find yourself crying uncontrollably or experiencing panic attacks. These can be extremely scary and even debilitating, making professional support and care all the more necessary during the withdrawal period.
Some people report their blood pressure getting so high when they quit Ambien that it actually causes discomfort. Others may also begin to sweat.
Although these symptoms may have more to do with anxiety – even a panic attack – and the psychosomatic effects that sometimes follow, it’s still important to seek medical attention if you think your blood pressure is escalating too high.
If you were taking a large amount of Ambien, you may experience much more severe symptoms when you quit. This can happen if you were abusing the drug or otherwise using more than your doctor prescribed.
While these are rare symptoms, they are still very serious, so seek medical attention right away if you feel you’re at risk for them.
As we mentioned earlier, some of these symptoms of withdrawal probably seem very scary. You may even be wondering if it’s worth trying to quit if you’ll have to go through such a grueling process.
Next, we will cover how long Ambien withdrawal lasts for, but after that, we’ll talk about what you can do to ensure a safe transition away from addiction to this drug.
How long Ambien addiction withdrawal lasts will depend on a number of different factors. For many people, it’s over within a few days. Generally speaking, though, the longer you were addicted to the drug, the longer your withdrawal will last.
Fortunately, as time goes on, the symptoms should become less and less severe. The addiction withdrawal can last for several weeks. People who took Ambien CR (controlled release) may experience withdrawal for a little longer, though.
That is because the controlled release of the drug ensures it stays in the person’s body longer. So even when you stop taking it, it is still in your system.
While the Ambien withdrawal timeline will vary from person to person, the following guide can provide a general idea of what to expect when quitting Ambien.
Whether starting a few hours after the last dose of the drug or picking up over the next several days, many individuals will have to seek out professional help in order to overcome their addiction to Ambien.
The absolute most important step you need to take to quit Ambien and successfully deal with the withdrawal symptoms is to speak with your doctor. More than likely, they will recommend you taper off the drug, usually through a medically-assisted detox program.
These will allow you to recover at an addiction treatment facility under constant medical supervision, which will go a long way toward helping to mitigate symptoms of withdrawal and reduce your risk of relapse..
Your doctors may also recommend other courses of action to take, but here are some other helpful steps you can take.
As much as possible, take it easy on yourself over the next three to five days. See if you can take vacation or call into work sick. If you have a family, make sure they know you’re going to be “under the weather” for a little while. Scale back on social obligations.
What you want to avoid at all costs is any sort of irritation that may snowball into bigger problems. Take it easy as much as possible during your withdrawal timeline.
Although they may not pack the same punch, there are plenty of alternatives to Ambien that can help you get to sleep. Try some of these natural sleep aids:
You may find it helpful to go to Pills Anonymous or other meetings for people who are also dealing with addiction. Being around people who are going through the same thing can make the process much easier. Being around people who have successfully quit a drug like Ambien will reinforce the idea it’s possible.
If nothing else, these meetings will give you sympathetic ears. Quitting a drug can be a lot harder when no one around you truly appreciates what it entails.
A rehabilitation center – either inpatient or outpatient – can make a huge difference, as well. These facilities are filled with professionals who focus solely on helping people break their addictions to drugs.
As with meetings, they will also offer you plenty of opportunities to speak with others who are going through the same experience and those who have successfully done so already.
If you are worried about trying to quit without all the demands of your everyday life getting in the way, inpatient care may be the best option.
Aside from the fact that you will be under constant surveillance by medical professionals, this choice will keep you safe from distractions until you’re ready to return to your everyday life and maintain independent sobriety.
Getting through any form of drug and alcohol addiction can feel impossible to do by yourself, and the Ambien withdrawal process is no exception to this. If you or a loved one is in search of professional addiction help, Rehabs Of Armerica can provide the recovery tools and resources you need.
Just by calling our 24/7 hotline, our certified addiction specialists can help connect you with treatment centers and recovery programs that will serve all of your personal care needs. So don’t wait; let us help you take that first step on your path to sobriety, today!
