Exactly HOW addictive do you think Ambien is?

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I recently had to terminate a long-term friendship last week due to a friend that has been on Ambien for 3 years.

I knew she was taking it, but only until a few months ago, I didn't realize she was taking it on a daily basis and a few weeks ago, she started addiing valium to the mix.

When the Ambien stopped working (b/c she would wake up 3 to 4 hours later and couldn't go back to sleep) she started halving the pills, and would take the other half in the middle of the night...when that stopped working she added the valium.

She seems "addicted' to the sleep. She is always in bed asleep....she wears ear plus, turns off the ringers to the phone...I kept telling her that was dangerous (she lives by herself) b/c if a carbon monoxide or fire detector went off, no way would she hear it.

I have never been friends with an addict and her behavior has got so bizarre (especially when she was sleep deprived) that I got tired of her emotional "snaps", and I had to terminate the friendship. I have tried everything to get her help, but she not only denies she needs help, she says, "Oh, Ambien isn't that addictive...I like sleeping!"

Any thoughts on what others have seen in people taking this drug?

I'm not sure how much my opinion will mean on this subject because I have taken Ambien on and off for probably 4-5 years now. Let me explain...I do have insomnia. I have tried all the meditation, sleepy time teas and OTC remedies known to man. I've bought special mattresses and even tried hypnosis. I've cut caffeine completely out of my life. I've exercised before bed, middle of the afternoon, early morning. I've taken warm baths, cold baths. Listened to relaxation tapes...Nothing worked. I can literally go a week at a time with no sleep...not that I don't get tired or sleepy, I just physically cannot sleep. Without sleep, my head aches, I have trouble functioning/concentrating and I get really "snappy." I take Ambien on days when I know I will have to actually get up and function the next day but if I'm off of work for a few days at a time, I skip it here and there. I do also rotate Ambien with Lunesta as to not build up a tolerance. Now, with that being said, am I addicted to Ambien? I guess one could make that argument, but I take synthroid every day so one could argue that as well. I cannot speak for your friend, but it is not the Ambien that I need; only the sleep. I average about 5 hours a night with Ambien and I have no trouble getting up and off to work/school/whatever. I don't think Ambien is any more addictive than any other medication, but I could see how someone could abuse it. I don't NEED the Ambien, but I do need the sleep that Ambien allows me. Does that make sense?

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"I just don't have the energy to keep this up anymore. After you get help and resolve your problems maybe we can reconsider our friendship. In the mean time please do not call."

Sounds harsh but you can't help her and she is draining you. Friendships are supposed to benefit both people otherwise it is paracitic.

I fully understand the spirit of what you are saying.

It's just been going on for months. I love my friend, I have worried myself sick over her. I have allowed her to call me at 3:00 a.m. on several occasions when she feels down, has insomnia, etc.

I just felt the time had some where I had to realize, I couldn't do anymore for her, and I have PLEADED with her to try another sleep aid (such as Lunesta...which is approved for long-term use), to try and taper off, anything...but it's getting worse.

It is more than not being able to do anything for her...I do have my own responsibilities of my family, I have 2 small children, school and hopefully in a couple of months, a part-time job.

If she was willing to take that first step, I would be with her every step of the way...but she's not ready, she's still in the denial stage, and I haven't been able to convince her of any different.

PS: She added the Valium to keep from increasing the Ambien past the 10 mg that she was prescribed.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

When I started suffering from insomnia, my doctor was going to prescribe Ambien, but I was leery. I told him that I would take OTC benadryl instead and if I continued to have issues, I would consider it. The benadryl worked, and I only take it occasionally.

You cannot make people change, and you have your own life and personally aggreviations to consider first. It's a matter of survival, really. Just pray for the best.

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((((((HUG))))))) Please, take care of yourself for now that is the best you can do. It is hard to see a friend go through this and feel so helpless

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I've recently started taking Ambien after using restoril PRN for a couple years - that never really felt very efficacious for me. My sleep difficulties have gotten worse with menopause - I'm very sensitive to sunlight at dawn and any kind of noise, not to mention constant hot flashes all night long. I found that my sleep deprivation was getting in the way of my job performance. When I took (generic) Ambien, I immediately felt relief. It was like taking a vitamin that my body needs to give me good quality sleep! I felt great during the day - rested and able to think clearly. My plan is to take Ambien Sunday thru Thursday and then go off it for the weekends. But last night was my first night off, and I was restless and anxious with a sense of doom. I finally took zaleplon - that gave me 3 hours of sleep. I'm hopeful tonight will be better and that my on-off plan will keep me from getting addicted long-term.

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I've been taking Ambien for 3 years. I take 10 mg everynight, prescribed by a psychiatrist-- and a respected one at that.

I was an insomniac for years to the point of making myself sick. I'd be so groggy during the day. If I took anything else-- I'd be dizzy the next day.

I don't believe I'm addicted or tolerant of Ambien. It's changed my life for the better. I'm super-sensitive to drugs-- perhaps thats why I've never built up a tolerance?

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Specializes in Addictions, Corrections, QA/Education.

I too take Ambien 10mg. Not everynight... but I take it when I do have problems going to sleep. I also have a high stress level (who doesn't) and I am an anxious person so I usually have lots of things going through my mind at night. I can usually pop a movie in or read a book and go to sleep on my own.

I know how it is to have a someone close to you have a problem with addiction or dependence. Its very frustrating. I found myself wanting to ignore her.

BUT she really does need you. I know its hard to deal with someone elses issues when you have a lot of responsibility of your own. You may need to walk away and just be done with the friendship for now. -- It does sound like there is more going on to me. I am not a doc... but there is usually an underlying problem. Its very emotionally draining I know but have you confronted her? I mean just let her know exactly how you feel? (I am sorry if I already missed this if you have said it :) )

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Specializes in NICU.

It sounds like your terminated your friendship due to your friend's irresponsibility and probable mental health issues....that don't have much to do with Ambien. She could have been taking Benedryl, or warm milk....and had the same attitude/response.

It sounds more like she's depressed, and unwilling/unable to receive help. Buying her a new alarm clock might have been helpful, but I doubt it addresses her real issue. Does she have any close family, or a significant other you could ask for help from?

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, CRRT,.
I'm not sure how much my opinion will mean on this subject because I have taken Ambien on and off for probably 4-5 years now. Let me explain...I do have insomnia. I have tried all the meditation, sleepy time teas and OTC remedies known to man. I've bought special mattresses and even tried hypnosis. I've cut caffeine completely out of my life. I've exercised before bed, middle of the afternoon, early morning. I've taken warm baths, cold baths. Listened to relaxation tapes...Nothing worked. I can literally go a week at a time with no sleep...not that I don't get tired or sleepy, I just physically cannot sleep. Without sleep, my head aches, I have trouble functioning/concentrating and I get really "snappy." I take Ambien on days when I know I will have to actually get up and function the next day but if I'm off of work for a few days at a time, I skip it here and there. I do also rotate Ambien with Lunesta as to not build up a tolerance. Now, with that being said, am I addicted to Ambien? I guess one could make that argument, but I take synthroid every day so one could argue that as well. I cannot speak for your friend, but it is not the Ambien that I need; only the sleep. I average about 5 hours a night with Ambien and I have no trouble getting up and off to work/school/whatever. I don't think Ambien is any more addictive than any other medication, but I could see how someone could abuse it. I don't NEED the Ambien, but I do need the sleep that Ambien allows me. Does that make sense?

makes perfect sense. I too take ambien. and i have issues with being dependant on it. I realized that, finally, but just because i know i am tolerant to the drug, my insomnia isnt cured. However, i went through a period of time where the 10 mg i was prescribed wasnt enough..i could take it, and stay up all night. So i increased myself to 20, then 30, then even 40. At that point, i realized i had a problem, and gave them up..but could not sleep despite all the other things i tried..OTC meds, relaxation, warm milk, etc etc..so i started them again, however, my husband knows my issues with the meds, and he now "controls" them. When i get them filled, i give them to him. On the nights that i know i need quality sleep, he will give me two..yes two..which is 20 mg. I sleep like a baby, and wake up refreshed and ready to start my day. I do not take them on the nights when i know i dont have a lot to do the next day, and i can be lazy. My doctor also is aware of this, and agrees that while 20 mg isnt a good thing, it is better than 40, and as long as i am only taking it a couple nights a week, it is manageable. I go back to him next week to talk some more about other options, and i want to ask him if i can take Lunesta or something else to help me sleep.

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Ambien is not addictive to me. I have been taking it for years. I usually split a 10 mg in two and take it almost every night. I sleep soundly (but not so soundly that the dog or my daughter coming home doesn't wake me). I can do without it but I don't sleep as well for sure. I sleep at least 6 hours on the ambient and wake up feeling rested with no groggy effects. My mind functions better when I get the good night's sleep and my overall health has improved drastically including my thyroid levels. I've never experienced any of the weird stuff I've read about and my husband can attest to that. I take it about an hour (usually) before i go to sleep and usually lay in bed reading until I can't hold my eyes open anymore.

So I think people that claim they are "addicted" have mental issues that need to be addressed.

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Specializes in ICU.

Ambien is not addicting.

Do you have insomnia? because it is the worst! I have had it and it was exacerbated by working the night shift. I started with ambien, and I do, woke up only 3 hours later. So I went to the Dr., with the ones I worked with, and they prescribed xanax. xanax works for me.

If you suffer from insomnia. yes you need an aide to help you every night.

I dont think it's the ambien she is addicted to. She does sound possibly depressed, or her sleep is really really bad due to the stress.

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Well I have mixed feelings about this. This is just MY opinion so you can take it or leave it but I was on Ambien for about 5 years. I tried several times to stop taking it and I would toss and turn and absolutely was NOT able to get back to sleep. After a couple nights of this I relented and took the Ambien. I was on 10mg QHS and I didn't take more than the prescribed dose but I believe very much I was dependant on them and that is so close to addicted to them. You guys hopefully know what I mean. One morning after taking Ambien the night before (and let me add, I do not drink with these pills or take any other meds at night with the Ambien) I woke up on my back porch with only my bra and panties on, now I lived in a two story house and my neighbors did as well so this was right out in the open! I also was smoking a cigarette apparently because it burnt all the way down in my patio chair cushion. That could have started a fire that burnt my house down with my family in it! Not to mention what my neighbors were thinking when they saw that. That day I flushed every single one of the Ambien down the toilet and I didn't look back! Thank goodness nothing serious happened but it could have. Also my husband would tell me that I was very short tempered and snappy and he thought it was from the Ambien, and when I stopped taking them he noticed a huge difference in my attitude. I also have worked (past tense) in a county jail setting for 4 years and I saw a lady brought in for DUI, apparently she got a RX for sleeping issues after her husband was deployed to Iraq, she got in her car and went through a drive thru then proceeded to stop her car ON THE MEDIAN of a 6 lane hwy. The cops had to go wake her up, she was in her nightgown. She explained to them what happened and they took pity on her and dropped charges to criminal negligance because she left her children age 1 & 2 at the house! Thank goodness they were at home asleep in their beds (not saying it is good they were there w/out supervision) but in the grand scheme of things it could have been a whole lot worse! I also would eat food, cook and do crazy things like that on Ambien. It is just not worth it to put the people I love in harm's way. I am not saying I don't miss the ability to go to sleep when I want to, but I have found other ways that help me and after about 3 months my body actually got into a pattern where I can go to sleep on my own most nights, the others I either take Melatonin and Valarian Root and warm bath, or I toss and turn, it is a coin toss. But I am so glad I am off and I do think your body might go back to where you can sleep on your own after you have been off for a bit.

I say I hope all of you can find a solution that works for you, just be very careful with Ambien, I have personally experienced these events with no knowledge the next day and I have seen it impact others lives in a negative way,

Take care and be safe!!

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