I am only 20 but i can't sleep without ambien. help! ?

Question

I am currently 20 years old. i have been taking ambien 10-15mg for little over four years. and just last year my doctor added trazodon on my prescription. i was prescribed 50 mg but i only took a quarter of those because i was experiencing side effect.

the sleeping problem has caused me feel really anxious because i have heard it is bad for the liver. I am often feeling tired and besides that, i can't even sleep well with the pills sometimes. constantly without sleep has made me very self couscous and have done many things that i am not supposed to. also because of the pills, i am afraid to go out and spend nights with my friends. I know i am addicted to the sleeping pills but i really can't imagine how to get off it. i have never taken it in ways that i am not supposed to. but it has really caused me to have low self esteem as i often think its supposed to be nature to fall asleep and why have i lost this natural ability. i walked on the street and thinking god people are looking at me with weird eyes, or worrying that they think i am depressed or looking like a zombie.

i just want to live normally like a 20 year old girl does.

because of taking this pill, i have missed out so many life experiences.

i feel so helpless and hopeless......

sometimes i would just stay at home all day without going out because i don't want to scare people away.....

i am currently going to college but have rarely gone out to parties partly because i can't have alcohol with the meds.

when i go get the sleeping pills, i always feel like they are judging me since i am so young....

lack of sleep has made me looking so tired and i hate it.......

mostly i just want to be a healthy person...

please help me if you have taken ambien for an extended period of times and have successfully quitted it. I really need to know.

thank you so much

Answer 1

Eventually your body will become resistant to the Ambien. I took it for a couple years and stopped cold turkey with no side effects. You might think you need it, but it may just be mental. My doctor didn't say anything to me when I stopped taking it, so I'm guessing there's nothing to be worried about but talk with your doctor to be sure.

When I drink more than 2 or 3 drinks I don't take my meds, you can drink a little bit but the one time I took Ambien after a night of heavy drinking I was told I was sleep walking and dismantled stuff. I don't remember doing any of it. So be careful, there's a lot of us college students that take meds, there's nothing that says you can't have fun and be sober too. Any more questions about it, feel free to email me.

Answer 2

i don't take ambien but i do know how u feel.  i need sleep bc i have epilepsy and i can't drink bc i take medication for it.  when i was in college i won't lie i did drink bc its college.  now i only drink on special occasions.  but it sucks bc people don't have to worry about the things we have to worry about and its hard to have fun at a party when ur the only sober one there.  if u want to talk on aim my screename is TheBTPYoda.