Ambien Addiction Treatment that Actually Work

Ambien is a prescription medication for short-term relief from insomnia. Its generic name is zolpidem, and it is a type of medication called a sedative-hypnotic. Other sedative-hypnotics, under trade names such as Intermezzo, Lunesta and Sonata, help users fall asleep and prevent frequent awakenings.

Ambien can be habit-forming, which is why it is recommended for short-term relief from insomnia, typically no longer than six (6) weeks. Long-term Ambien use can lead to dependence and addiction, as well as other negative side effects.

Ambien enhances the effects of GABA, a chemical transmitter in the brain that blocks impulses between nerve cells. This slows activity in the brain, making it easier for users to fall asleep and stay asleep.

Other medications that affect GABA levels include the sedative sub-class known as benzodiazepines, but Ambien’s chemical structure is distinctly different from these drugs.

Like any prescription medication, Ambien may cause side effects even when taking it correctly. The following Ambien side effects are common:

• Headache
• Daytime drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Diarrhea

Serious side effects include:

• Next-day motor or cognitive impairment
• Memory loss
• Anxiety
• Abnormal thoughts and behavior
• More outgoing or aggressive behavior
• Confusion
• Agitation
• Hallucinations
• Worsening of depression
• Suicidal thoughts or actions
• “Sleep-driving” and other complex behaviors while not fully awake

Complex sleep behaviors: Ambien and other sedative-hypnotics were initially marketed as safer and less addictive than other sleeping medications; however, reports of what are known as complex sleep behaviors led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to add a boxed warning in 2019.

The warning warns that these complex sleep behaviors (such as sleepwalking, sleep-driving, sleep-cooking, and engaging in other activities while not fully awake) may occur when taking Ambien, possibly leading to serious and potentially fatal injuries.

Next-day drowsiness: Even before the boxed warning, the FDA began lowering its recommended dosage because of the risk of next-day impairment. The FDA also suggests that those taking extended-release Ambien (Ambien CR) refrain from driving or participating in activities that require full alertness the day after taking the sleep medication.

Depression and suicide risk: Research shows that Ambien and other sedative-hypnotic use may worsen depression or suicidal thoughts and behaviors in those already struggling with depression.

Those who are physically dependent on Ambien will experience withdrawal symptoms if they stop their Ambien prescription too suddenly. In most cases, the most noticeable symptoms are anxiety and insomnia – the very things that most people start taking Ambien for in the first place.

Ambien withdrawal symptoms can include:

• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Tremors
• Elevated heart rate
• Sweating
• Nausea and vomiting
• Delirium and hallucinations
• Seizures
• Fatigue
• Poor appetite
• Mood swings
• Irritability
• Agitation
• Emotional disturbance

These problems vary in severity and duration depending on the dosage and duration of use. With mild benzodiazepine withdrawal, you typically only see restlessness, anxiety, shakiness, and intermittent weakness, but these can often be accompanied by dizziness upon standing, nausea, cramps, and vomiting.

Note that physical dependence and/or experiencing withdrawal symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean you are addicted to Ambien. Addiction also includes a loss of control, cravings, and tolerance for the drug.

Sedative withdrawal symptoms, Ambien included, are similar to those seen with alcohol withdrawal, and the treatment is also quite similar. Treatment for Ambien withdrawal needs to begin with supervised medical detox to remove the drug from the body.

During this detox phase, the patient’s dose of Ambien will be gradually tapered down until they are no longer taking any of the drug. This helps to lessen some of the more unpleasant withdrawal symptoms and prevents life-threatening ones such as seizures.

While there are no medications approved by the FDA specifically to treat Ambien addiction and withdrawal, certain non-addicting medications can be helpful for treating the intense rebound anxiety and insomnia that many people experience. These include certain antiseizure/antiepileptic medicines, atypical antipsychotics, antihistamines, and antidepressants.

Ambien’s half-life (the amount of time it takes the body to metabolize 50% of the dose) is shorter than most sedatives. Most users will be symptom-free after 2 weeks, with the worst of the withdrawal symptoms falling between days 3 to 5.

The amount of time a person will experience withdrawal symptoms depends on individual factors like how long they’ve been taking it and at what dosage, but the typical timeline looks something like this:

Initial withdrawal phase (~48 hours) – Common symptoms include anxiety and insomnia.

Acute withdrawal phase (~3 to 5 days) – This is when withdrawal symptoms are often the most severe.

Post-acute withdrawal symptom (PAWS) phase (~1 to 2 weeks) – Symptoms typically start to fade slowly during the second week. Patients will begin to start feeling normal again and have less difficulty getting to sleep.

Post-acute withdrawal symptoms may last up 18-24 months depending on factors like dose and duration of use. however, these symptoms usually reduce in severity compared to the first few weeks.

Any use of Ambien outside of a doctor’s instructions is considered drug abuse. This includes tampering with Ambien pills by chewing, crushing, cutting, or dissolving them in order to ingest, snort or inject a higher dose than prescribed. Even if the Ambien pills are not tampered with, taking more pills than prescribed is also considered abuse of the drug.

Ambien addiction signs include:

• Taking more than the prescribed dosage
• “Doctor shopping” for multiple prescriptions
• Tampering with Ambien before taking it
• Mixing Ambien with other sedatives or alcohol

Overdosing on Ambien is possible if taken in excess of the prescribed maximum dosage, and the likelihood of a severe or fatal overdose increases greatly when it’s mixed with alcohol or other CNS depressant drugs.

Ambien overdose symptoms include:

• Extreme drowsiness and loss of consciousness
• Confusion
• Low blood pressure
• Respiratory depression (slow, shallow, or irregular breathing)