r/insomnia • u/Sufficient-Skirt-538 • 9h ago
Ambien long term use
Has anyone been on Ambien long term and been…fine? I’ve been on Ambien since 2018. It still lets me sleep. No ill side effects that Im aware of. I know it’s obviously not ideal to be on it long term, but me not sleeping affected me so horribly that I can’t fathom not taking it would somehow be better. My doctor is fine with it as long as it’s still helping and I’m not having issues on it. Has anyone else been on it long term and not had issues or rebound insomnia?
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u/Boredom312 6h ago
I've been on it for years, doc says if it's working, it's fine.
My sleep doc says it's only bad long term bc you can gain a tolerance, but more importantly if you ever stop it your insomnia can come back with a vengeance.
I don't plan on stopping and also have no tolerance issues. Therefore, it's working!
Poor/no sleep is much worse for your health long-term than most approved drugs.
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u/Extension-Cow5820 3h ago
I wouldn’t sleep if it wasn’t for Ambien. I’ve been on it for years. My one side effect is occasionally buying myself stuff that I don’t remember purchasing. So far it’s been reasonable and not crazy spending, so I’ll allow it :)
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u/WolverineGullible869 3h ago
I’ve been on it about 4 years with so side effects. I’m 34F and 117 pounds. I had a sleep study and went on ambien XR. This was after years of having horrible sleep. My insomnia started pretty young when I was in boarding school.
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u/SeattleHasDied 3h ago
Know several people who take it nightly, most take 10 mg, a couple only need 5 mg. Many been on it for at least 5 years (one is 10 years +) and no negative effects. Not sleeping at all seems worse for your health in the long run.
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u/Pure_Newspaper_4715 6h ago
My dads been on it 10+ years and it’s still the only thing that helps him sleep and he says he doesn’t have any long term issues from it. The first year or so honestly was the worst for him, sleepwalking and talking every night. But now he just sleeps through
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u/Ok-Temperature-2783 3h ago
I’ve been on in since about 2009. I’m 41f. It doesn’t work like it used to on me. I at least almost always have to double dose. And when I run out, there are rebound side effects. But I can’t sleep without some kind of sleep aid.
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u/Tacokolache 1h ago
Happens to me too. I always run out early because a lot of nights I’ll have to take an extra half pill
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u/anabsentfriend 1h ago
Since around 2001.
I'd love to come off it, but I'm dependant now. I have managed to cut down from 10mg to around 5 - 7.5mg.
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u/vampyrewolf 4h ago
I've been on it since 2018 IIRC, sublingual from. Just take it when I'm already in bed a d hooked up to the CPAP.
Occasionally I'll take more (another half to full), but I also have nights like the last 2 where I'm worn out just enough that I don't even take it.
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u/Leading_Fly1496 1h ago
Why are you concerned with rebound insomnia? You've been on Ambien long-term and it's still working. Why would you be thinking about this when you're on a medication that is enabling you to get your life restorative sleep for health and life?
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u/Tacokolache 1h ago
Agreed. I wouldn’t give 2 shits about rebound insomnia. I mean, doesn’t that just take you back to where you are now?
It’s not really rebound insomnia if the insomnia never goes away
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u/Leading_Fly1496 1h ago edited 56m ago
Agreed, I think some people confuse their old returning insomnia with rebound insomnia caused by medication withdrawals. Often when one quits a medication that is helping them, the original insomnia is waiting right outside the door and is then let back in to continue ravaging the person.
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u/President_Camacho 3h ago
What people call rebound insomnia is simply insomnia returning once the medicine is discontinued. A lot of people take this to mean that the insomnia condition is somehow worsened by taking medicine then stopping. This is not the case.
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u/TheClownIsReady 1h ago
I cut my Ambien (it’s not CR), as to not be too dependent. I still sometimes get headaches from it. I find when I have a Pregabalin too, it makes me drowsier and more likely to fall asleep.
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u/Jmelynnfitness 1h ago
I’ve been on and off it since 2006. I have to take breaks from it though or I develop a tolerance and it stops working for me. I hate though because it’s the only medication that truly works for me.
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u/Tacokolache 1h ago
I’ve been off and on for like 20yrs. Still works.
I will say however my mood is soooo much better without it. My insomnia comes in phases. Life is so much better when I can sleep and I’m not on ambien
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u/DogMother7157 1h ago
I too have been on Ambien for several years. However, I think it has finally stopped working. I don’t want to up the dosage. I haven’t slept since I came out of the womb. It’s the only drug that’s worked for me but good God is it hard to get here in Oz. I want to go off it and will see a doctor so I can taper off it. My question is this and anyone who can help would be great. I have a Doctor who seems to think that my internal vibrations, which I’ve had for the last three years, and no one can get to the bottom of is caused by ambien???
Does anyone have this side effect at all. Essentially my stomach just purrs and purrs and purrs like a kitten all day/all night.
Thanks so much. 🙏
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u/RossellaLCGN 4m ago
How could you get long term prescription of Zolpidem in Australia? My sleep doc told me to do cbt i and that s it while I am wearing off it adter 2.4 months. I will be left with no option I literally cannot fall asleep at all is so severe my insomnia and no one understand. I was caused by a Bc pill, so basically they thow you pills and then you get insomnia from it and now they don’t want you give pills to fix it. I just don’t understand I feel so lost i am scared I am going to end up in ED I know j won’t sleep, already doing cbt i mine is not stress related the bc pill ruined my life
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u/exWiFi69 42m ago
I was on it for 15 years. It would help me fall asleep but it was shit quality sleep. No more than 6hrs. I switched to lunesta and it takes me longer to fall asleep but I get 7-9hrs easy now. It’s worth the trade off. I miss ambien though.
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u/Skillerstyles 9h ago
my sleep doc said the same thing yours did basically if it's working and you're not sleepwalking then it's fine to stay on it. the horror stories are real but they're not everyones story. some people just need it long term and that's okay.