Ambien withdrawal

[sicraw]

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?

[meegWpaw]

hi sic i have seen you around here recently finding ambien threads.  sorry you are going through all this.  you're right, a ct off ambien cr is not recommended ... or ambien i think.  i believe that ambien is not a true benzodiazepine but it acts like one / is similar.  getting off both is very, very difficult, and you need a lot of patience.  except the eye thing, most of your symptoms sound like things i went through as well, though i was ct'ing off benzos at the same time.  its odd that you mention the right side thing bc i have had a pain in my right side forever, and ive always wondered if it had anything to do with my using (i used pills--opiates--and benzos).  it would come and go but at times it could be very painful.  i went to the doctor about it once and he said 'there's no organ there' where i said the pain was.  anyway i would get in to see a doctor if you can, just to rule stuff out.  but be patient.  benzo / ambien withdrawal can take months.  it's a great sign that you are feeling better so quickly but don't be alarmed if the symptoms go away and then come back ... each time they come back they will be a little less intense.  thats how 'benzo' detox goes ... be good be well and keep posting for support.

Meegan

[sicraw]

How long was it until the pain in your side lessened?

[sicraw]

Thanks Meegan.  I have been doing so good for the last couple days.  Nausea gone in the morning . . . then this afternoon I am going through a small panic attack . . . just seems everything is so overwhelming.  I can't get out of my head.  I am sure it is a w/d symptom.  It is super hard, when things have been going so great.  I really think my side pain is ambien.  I have had ultra sounds and blood work and everything looked good.  Since being off it has been better.  My back aches today, but I am sure it is all part and parcel to w/d.  

Just want to feel good again.  Thanks for being there.

[meegWpaw]

Hope you're doing ok.  Ambien and benzos really screw with your head I remember it was god awful.  Yes the anxiety and sometimes I thought I was going crazy.  It will get better gradually ... hang in there!

[sicraw]

Crappy morning today.  I'm so sick to my stomach - yuck.  I'll weather it - but some days it is hard.  Having one of those :)

[sicraw]

Hard day today.  Wow.  It's been 15 days and today seems like day one.  Huge panic attacks, over everything - it's crazy.  Please tell me I'm not nuts and this is normal.  

[meegWpaw]

Totally normal ... that's the drill for Benzo  w/d.  So sorry you I going thru this ... I know s*cks is not intense enough to describe how awful it is.  It *will* get better gradually.   You are doing great!

[dominosarah]

You are doing great so keep it going.  This is normal so you are NOT nuts! This part is only temporary.  Keep yourself busy today.  Tomorrow will be a better day~

[sicraw]

Wow - on day 18. Better so far, but yesterday was one of my worst. At work and couldn't accomplish anything. Searched and found an empty office and laid on the floor in the dark on and off - wow is all I can say. Couldn't eat anything. It is so weird, but Monday and Tuesday were h3ll but around 6 pm each night, it just tapers away and I can get a little food in me and by bedtime, I feel great. Today, I woke up nauseous but forced food down and it feels like it will be a better one. I also have found that getting up from my desk and going outside periodically to walk a bit helps. I should have called in sick yesterday, I was useless. It is hard to focus at work some days, but I get there. Who knew coming off of Ambien would be so hard. Never had to come off pain meds, but if it is worse than this, my heart goes out to all of you!  I am now on a nautical sleep aid (melatonin) and it seems to work pretty well. Should have tried that first :). Thanks everyone out there giving advice. I don't think you realize how helpful it is when it feels like you are nuts.

[sicraw]

Natural sleep aid - not nautical.

[dominosarah]

We are glad you found us and could help.  Today is a new day!!  Oh and we are all a little nuts around here!! lol

[sicraw]

Quick question for you Dominosarah - you have been posting awhile - did you go through this or are you a counselor to help others?

[sicraw]

Is it normal to have backaches during recovery?  My lower back is sore.

[clean_in_ks]

Yes, we have pain receptors in our backs and a hypnotic drug like Ambien affects those receptors.  We call it "rebound pain".  It gets intense at first, and with time (I know, there's that dang word!) it will settle down and get better.  You're doing great!  I know 2 family members on Ambien and they have been on it for YEARS!!  So glad you are getting off of it.  It's a difficult feat, but you will be so proud of yourself when you look back on this time.

P.S.  If you want to read about the rebound pain, the Wikipedia explanation of "opiate induced hyperalgesia" will help explain it.  I realize Ambien isn't an opiate, but the nervous system and pain receptors are still affected by all those meds classified as a "hypnotic or sedative".

[sicraw]

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

[sicraw]

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.

[sicraw]

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

[sicraw]

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.

[sicraw]

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.

[sicraw]

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.

[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

[sicraw]

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?

[sicraw]

Day 33 - I have had anxiety for the past three days.  It was fine this last weekend and I seemed super good.  Still a little backache, but ate just fine, felt good and at peace.  Tuesday morning was good, then that afternoon the anxiety kicked in.  It was so so for the rest of the day and all day yesterday, but my appetite was ok.  Today, I woke up anxious and knew it would be another bad day.  Man . . . Seriously, most of the physical stuff is gone, but these anxiety issues are so hard.  How do you get through the days where you feel so anxious over everything?  How do I stop it?  Any helpful ideas out there?

[VICourageous]

Hi again.
Back when I had that Anxiety go on forever it seemed, I had to step back and realize it had come down alot. I tried my best not to be around any Negative ppl, Drama or Stress. Get up in the morning and Pray that today is going to be a good day. If we keep thinking about it, it only gets worse. Other then that, you just have to ride it out.  
I found that taking my magnesium, D3 at night really help me to relax. It was mostly the evening that would make me Anxious after I had a few yrs in. Mostly I had to just stay away from certain ppl or there phone calls.
YOU will get better in time.
Bless
Vickie

[Back2Me]

Ambien without fail gives me crazy pain in my upper abdomen almost right under my upper left rib cage.
I don't know why but it wrecks my upper stomach. Had a scope done. No issues seen. Takes weeks to go back to normal sometimes longer. It also jacks with my equilibrium, nasty stuff for me.

[sicraw]

Day 38 - sleeping well through the night (yeah).  My anxiety is still there - but less, I just have to not think about stuff that stresses me (which is really hard).  I still have the right side ache in my back and my sciatic is still sore (especially at night).  I am assuming this is from withdrawals, because these symptoms came on after I quit.  Just wondering, if someone else had these back aches, how long it lasted for them?  I just want to make sure I'm not stressing over something that will just take time.  I have no issues with my kidneys, liver, bladder (did a blood test and ultra sound on those) and just had a colonoscopy and all is well there, so I can only deduce it is from withdrawals.  Thanks for everyone's support - it has been so helpful.  

[sicraw]

Day 40 - another question for those out there.  I still wake up a little nausea - not bad, but have no appetite for breakfast and can eat very little.  Once the day starts and my anxiety isn't high, my appetite returns and usually by evening have no issues and can eat a nice dinner and relax.  Is this normal?

[VICourageous]

Hi Again sicraw.
When you had that colon looked at did they go down the throat and look at your stomach?? The reason why I ask, is that I too felt like you did in the morning for yrs & yrs. Come to find out my bottom of my stomach was highly inflamed. That alone is enough to drive you crazy and make you feel sick. I now can NOT take any INSIAD and have to take Omeprazole (can not spell the original name brand..lol).  Hate to take pills so I am trying to heal this with Ginger and Aloevera too. Also, since you did have a Hysterectomy (me too) how is your Hormone level. The hormones are all part of the picture here and have to balance out, but when we no longer have them, it can make a Big Difference in your life!!! Far as that lower back, it took me a few months for that pain to go away. Like I had described above about it. Hang in..YOU are getting better & better.
Bless
Vickie

[sicraw]

What is an Insiad?  My dr did give me a prescription for omeprazole because I had some acid indigestion.  I haven't been taking it - perhaps I should.

[sicraw]

Regarding hysterectomy - I had a partial - they left my ovaries, but, who knows, I could be going through menopause.  If my anxiety doesn't taper within the next month, I will go see my ob/gyn and see if they can check my hormone levels.  It is hard to tell if I am menopausal as I don't have periods.  My sister started at 50 and I that age as well, so it could be all that is happening in my body - hysterectomy, withdrawals, and menopause.  Just my luck it would all happen together :)  I didn't have a scope down my throat - it was a regular colonoscopy scan you have at 50.

[sicraw]

One more question for you - my back pain is my sciatic and my right side of my lower back.  Would that fall under back issues?

[sicraw]

Day 45 - it has been a crazy ride.  Never would I have thought that going ct off of Ambien would be so hard.  Just thought I would go through lack of sleep.  But all the other stuff has been crazy.  It is getting better each day and I am feeling more like myself.  I have discovered that if I take a Zantac when I am starting to feel anxious - that helps a ton with my anxiety and my stomach.  I think my stomach gets upset and makes me more anxious (vicious cycle).  Thanks for everyone's comments.  I hope to help someone else if there is a need.

[sicraw]

How long before your back felt better?  Did you ever go to a chiropractor to see if that would help with your back?