Question to Dr. T on Getting Off Ambien
Question:
I have fibromyalgia. I have been taking Ambien (10 mg) for three years and would like to stop taking it. Would one of your sleep aids help me in that? I take also nortriptyline (10 mg) 1x day, buspirone (5 mg) 1x day for anxiety (which doesn’t help), and Norco (10 mg) 1/2 tab 3-4 times a day.
Answer:
If you’re coming off Ambien, the key is going slow. I usually suggest lowering the dose by just 2.5 mg every couple of months, and slowing down even more if you need to. Stopping cold turkey is rough and often leads to a nasty stretch of rebound insomnia—sometimes a full 7–10 nights of barely sleeping.
To make the process easier, I like to add in other sleep supports. A small dose of Flexeril (5 mg) or trazodone (25 mg) at bedtime can help, and natural options like Melatonin EP120™ sustained-release melatonin (10 mg) or the Revitalizing Sleep Formula can also make a big difference. With the right mix, your body can adjust more gently while you step down off Ambien.
If you're also still dealing with anxiety, AnxioCalm® may help take the edge off. Just give it around six weeks to reach full effect.
Love and Blessings
Dr T
Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D. is one of the world's leading integrative medical authorities on fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. He is the lead author of eight research studies on their effective treatments, and has published numerous health & wellness books, including the bestseller on fibromyalgia From Fatigued to Fantastic! and The Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Solution. His newest book (June 10, 2024) is You Can Heal From Long COVID. Dr. Teitelbaum is one of the most frequently quoted fibromyalgia experts in the world and appears often as a guest on news and talk shows nationwide including Good Morning America, The Dr. Oz Show, Oprah & Friends, CNN, and Fox News Health.
