Question to Dr. T on Getting Off Ambien

Question:

I have fibromyalgia. I've been taking Ambien (10 mg) for three years and would like to stop taking it. Would one of your sleep aids help me with that? I also take nortriptyline (10 mg) 1x day, buspirone (5 mg) 1x day for anxiety (which doesn’t help), and Norco (10 mg) 1/2 tab 3-4 times a day.

Answer:

If you’re coming off Ambien, the key is going slow. I usually suggest lowering the dose by just 2.5 mg every couple of months, and slowing down even more if you need to. Stopping cold turkey is rough and often leads to a nasty stretch of rebound insomnia—sometimes a full 7–10 nights of barely sleeping.

To make the process easier, I like to add in other sleep supports. A small dose of Flexeril (5 mg) or trazodone (25 mg) at bedtime can help, and natural options like Melatonin EP120™ sustained-release melatonin (10 mg) or the Revitalizing Sleep Formula can also make a big difference. With the right mix, your body can adjust more gently while you step down off Ambien.

If you're also still dealing with anxiety, AnxioCalm® may help take the edge off. Just give it around six weeks to reach full effect.

Love and Blessings

Dr T