How to Quit Ambien and Sleep Better On Your Own
It’s not difficult to develop an addiction to the prescription sleeping medication, Ambien. Although it will help you get to sleep, this drug has a strong potential for abuse and can come with some serious side effects, leading many to wonder how to quit Ambien.
It’s much healthier to stop taking Ambien and sleep more restfully on your own. But this can be difficult to accomplish if you’ve already developed an Ambien addiction. After a while, you may have found that you need to take Ambien every night to get to sleep, causing you to become dependent on this drug.
The most effective way to quit Ambien and find healthier methods to sleep involves undergoing medical detox followed by addiction treatment. Professional treatment for Ambien addiction can keep you from taking Ambien in the future while educating you on ways to get a good night’s sleep without the use of drugs.
What Is Ambien?
Also known as Zolpidem, Ambien is a prescription sleep medication that’s a sedative-hypnotic and a central nervous system depressant. This drug induces relaxation and is prescribed by a physician to help patients who are suffering from insomnia.
Unfortunately, Ambien can cause some dangerous side effects to occur and carries a risk for overdose. Even when taken as directed, Ambien still has the potential to create unwanted side effects, addiction, and overdose.
Side Effects of Ambien
If you develop an Ambien addiction, you may experience side effects that can become dangerous to your health. Aside from the fact that long-term use or abuse of Ambien can cause a physical addiction, this drug also has the potential to lead you to perform risky behaviors while you are sleeping.
There have been reports of people who walk, drive and cook food while asleep under the influence of Ambien. Others may make telephone calls or even engage in sex, all while they’re sleeping.
When taking Ambien regularly over a period of just two weeks, you can develop a tolerance for the drug. When this happens, you may take larger doses to achieve the same effects you need to fall asleep, leading to an Ambien addiction.
Taking too much Ambien, especially if you’ve developed a tolerance or if you’re groggy and have forgotten that you’ve already taken a dose, can lead to an Ambien overdose.
Ambien Withdrawal Symptoms
If you’ve developed an addiction to the drug and don’t know how to quit Ambien, it’s best to enter a detox program to cleanse your system of this drug. You may experience some uncomfortable or even severe withdrawal symptoms while quitting Ambien, so it’s essential to do so with professional oversight at a rehab center.
Withdrawal symptoms from Ambien can cause the following:
- An inability to fall asleep
- Anxious feelings
- Mood disturbances
- Panic attacks
- Feeling groggy, drugged
- Cravings
- Rapid heart rate
- Seizures
How To Sleep Better Without Medications Like Ambien
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a way to discover what’s preventing you from sleeping well. As you investigate the underlying reasons behind your insomnia, you will no longer need Ambien to help you sleep.
Developing a relaxing bedtime routine is imperative to enjoying a good night’s sleep. Some of the most common practices that work include:
- Setting aside the bedroom as a room that’s just for sleeping
- Two hours before bedtime, turn down the lights in whichever room you’re in
- Keep the bedroom temperature is cool and comfortable
- Exercises for muscle relaxation or meditation are helpful before sleep
- Read a book while in bed about 30 minutes before you want to be asleep
- Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day
- You can track your sleep times and habits using a phone app or with a written diary
- Don’t drink caffeinated beverages after lunchtime
- Limit naps during the day so you’ll feel tired at bedtime
- Don’t eat a heavy or spicy meal that you can’t digest before it’s time for bed
Other techniques include limiting your TV watching or computer/cell phone use before sleep, as the blue light from these electronic devices can interfere with your ability to get to sleep. Don’t try to solve any pending issues or problems before bedtime. Put the anxiety away until the next day.
Treatment for Ambien Addiction
Ambien addiction often requires treatment for recovery. Residential or outpatient addiction treatment at Muse in Los Angeles can help you find lasting recovery from this addiction. Our medical detox and drug rehab can help you learn what’s keeping you from finding a peaceful night’s rest and develop better sleeping habits for the future.
To learn more about drug addiction treatment programs in Los Angeles, call Muse today at (800) 426-1818.