What Are the Long-Term Effects of Ambien?

I've been on Ambien nightly for probably 10 years. I recently stopped it and had a VERY bad time sleeping. I haven't slept at night in a week and a half, and only begin to sleep when the sun starts to come up. I've been that way for years if not on medication. I have fibromyalgia and so I think I need much better sleep. What do you think about long-term use of Ambien? I'd been taking it for 10 years but it stopped working without also taking clonazepam and melatonin. I've since stopped the Ambien, which I'm proud of, but I'm concerned that I will never consistently sleep well. And I don't like being dependent on something to sleep. What do you think? — Denise

Dr. T's Response

Rebound insomnia is routine if somebody stops Ambien after long-term use. Because of this, I suggest not stopping it suddenly. Instead you should wean yourself off it by reducing your dose by 1/8 to 1/4 a tablet daily, adjusting every two months or so.

But after 10 days, the need for Ambien should start to pass. If it doesn't, it suggests that this is simply the insomnia from the fibromyalgia, and that the Ambien and other treatments were helping.

IMHO, with fibromyalgia the toxicity of poor sleep is much greater than the toxicity of using Ambien. But I do recommend you read the chapter on sleep in my book, From Fatigued To Fantastic (the new 4th edition). This will give you numerous sleep aid options, both natural and safer prescriptions that can augment the effect of the Ambien much more safely (and usually effectively) than the clonazepam. It may also make it easier to wean yourself slowly off the Ambien should you decide to do so.

A melatonin aid I recommend is Melatonin EP120™ 10 MG. It's a sustained release tablet that's particularly effective. I also recommend an herbal mix called the Revitalizing Sleep Formula, a product I formulated together with Enzymatic Therapy.

Numerous less addictive medications, used in very low dosing, can also be very helpful in maintaining sleep — Ambien mostly only helps you fall asleep, not maintain sleep. These medications include Trazodone 25-50 mg, Flexeril 2.5-5 mg, Elavil 10-25 mg, Benadryl 25 mg, and Gabapentin 100-300 mg. You can use these in combination with the Ambien, and they can make it easier to wean off the Ambien.

Overall, I consider taking Ambien, even for long-term use, can often be worthwhile for people with fibromyalgia. Other than for the possible rebound insomnia, or risking addiction addiction at doses over 12.5 mg, I consider the long-term toxicity of it to be on par with Benadryl.

Love and Blessings

Dr T

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