Ambien withdrawal

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I have taken 10 mg a night for 5 years.  Off and on I would get aches under my rib, but they would go.  Nothing else seemed off.  I had a hysterectomy (major surgery) and after that, it seems that ALOT of side effects of ambien started.  I'm going to list some and see if others have had the same thing.  High anxiety/panic attacks, face flushing, sweating, my right side hurt (like I either had kidney stones or gall bladder stones - which I don't have either since I had an ultra sound), my bladder hurt (dr thought I had a UTI, which I didn't) and my right eye was really sore.  I quit ct (which after reading, I probably shouldn't have) and am on almost two weeks.  The first week was hell.  Especially the panic attacks.  I used an over the counter sleep aid, because I knew that if I had to deal with no sleep at all and all this other stuff, I would be in the hospital.  Most of the day things are gone - I actually feel pretty good - almost to my normal.  I have cut my over the counter sleep aid in half and will go on something more natural in the next few days.  It seems the only lasting effect is a side pain by my lower right rib.  I touch it and it is sore.  I think it is myalgia.  Anyone have any of these symptons and how long will it take to really clear from my system?

[VICourageous]

Congratulations on your 31 days!

I would like to share something with you, even through I was not on the abmien, I did c/t off of 3 meds back in 2012 and 1 of them was a benzo added to the mess. It was one of the worst w/ds I have ever experienced. I thought it was mostly due to the Methadone or the illegal Adderral, but the pharmacist told me it went on & on for months due to the benzo. I too never experienced high anxiety like this before. It did ease up in time but it did take many months to do so. All our brain chemistry has to adjust back and the body. Like CIK said, we do so much to the nervous system too. We also due have a small sac at the bottom of our spine, that takes time to rid those toxins. Just keep going, one day at a time. However, if your stomach does not get better after a few months, I would have it looked at. BUT it is all part of detoxing too. Wishing you the best!!!
Bless
Vickie

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So it has been 38 days and my lower right side of my back still hurts and my sciatic nerve - is it common to last this long?

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Day 31 - most of my complaints are gone.  Some times my back hurts.  Good weekend, but today feel anxious.  I hate that feeling.  I hope this anxiety leaves me totally.  Never had anxiety before, so it is a weird thing for me to feel.  Hopefully, this will go away soon.

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Day 23 - better today.  I actually woke up with no nausea and able to eat breakfast - yeah!  My back still aches but not as bad as a few days ago.  I hope I am on the downslope of it all.  Just want my aches to go away.  I am posting this for those who are going through the same thing.  I think my w/d was worse (with the pains in the side and such) because I was having the pains start before I went off ambien, that is what really pushed me to stop.  For years I didn't have any bad symptons of Ambien, but after major surgery - I had a list of them crop up.  A lot that were on the rare side effects when you google ambien, which I never had before the surgery.  I think my body just quit liking the ambien.  So . . . day 23 and life seems more manageable - thank goodness.

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Day 21 - ambien withdrawal has kicked my butt. Yesterday was great. No nausea and energy. But by evening my back really ached. It seems ok during the day, but by evening, it's awful and then my sciatic nerve starts hurting, ugh!  Today woke up nauseated but it is ebbing away. Man, I am so tired of feeling crappy. Is there anyone else out there that has had such extreme Ambien withdrawal like me?  I keep reading about people who have taken it for years and the only withdrawal is no sleep.

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Day 19 - woke of a little nauseated - but today is better than Tuesday - same as yesterday.  I find that if I think about something stressful it puts me in a little panic attack.  I have to consciously not think about stressful things right now.  Again - this has been such a crazy ride.  I have read old posts and some people, who have been on it for years, have had no w/d symptons other then no sleep.  Wow - I guess everyone else is different.  I am sleeping ok (I think Melatonin helps) - but it is the day stuff that is killing me.  A little nauseous, appetite is small (which I guess isn't all bad since I have lost weight - not recommended though), anxiety, etc.  I know everyone handles things differently.  Ready to be at peace again though.

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I'm amending this last one.  Today isn't as bad as Tuesday, but definitely not as good as yesterday - ugh!

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Thanks. the more information I get, the better I can deal with the symptoms.  Everyone has been so great to answer questions and support.