Ambien (Zolpidem)

[KindredSpirit]

Hello Everyone,

I went to my new Doctor today. Things didn't go too well, but I'm not going to let that get me down. The main reason I went to see him today is because I keep hearing that I need to be under a physican's care while tapering off of Klonopin.
So, I tell him this and he wants to put me on Paxil and then I tell him that I have negative side effects with all the SSRIs. Then he tells me that I need to see a Psychiatrist. I'm not going to another Psychiatrist after all the bad experiences I've had with them. I also told him that I was taking Ambien (Zolpidem) once in a while for my insomnia and then he asked me why I didn't take it every night and I told him that I didn't want to become addicted to another drug. Then he told me that wouldn't happen with Ambien. I don't buy that for a second becuase the Z drugs are closely related to Benzos.
He also told me that it would be ok to cut back 1/2 of a milligram each week instead of 1/4.
I was just wondering if anyone on here has ever become addicted to Ambien, and if so was it hard to get off of it.

[martyboi]

no u cannot get physically addicted to it, u can become tolerant pretty fast tho....but if u take breaks every few days u should be fine

[Youandwe]

I take..took Ambien. I flushed them down the toilet because I was beginning crave the "high" (which is really a sedative effect). I wasn't addicted (thank the Lord) but I have an addictive nature and I didn't like where that was going.

So to answer your question, I personally think Ambien is addictive just as you said. Be careful! You might want to try a natural sleep aid.

I'm not saying that all meds have an adverse reaction (I take Prozac and don't experience any adverse effects) but Ambien...yeah...you might want a second opinion.

[Kush]

i tried taking ambien during the day a couple times and i was able 2 hav normal conversations caus i had no anxiety, but i stopped caus i figured its probly bad 2 do that

[Vini Vidi Vici]

yes, you can become addicted to Ambien. It is very simliar in structure and mechanism of action to the benzodiazepines like klonopin and xanax. It is claimed to be less-addictive (this is why it is called a non-benzodiazepine) but in clinical studies, after long term constant repeated use, a withdrawl syndrome similiar to benzodiazepines is present. However, you are only taking it once a day, at most. Ambien has a very short life of less than 5 hours at most, .....so during the day, it will generally not be in your system. if you suddenly stop after nightly use, you may experience rebound insomnia,....however, it is ok to take Ambien every night...as opposed to Lunesta, which stays in your system for half of the next day.