O.K. Thank you for the additional information.
Ambien falls within the sedative/hypnotic class of medications, and medications within this class can produce withdrawal symptoms that include insomnia, abdominal and muscle cramps, vomiting, sweating, tremors and convulsions.
Any of these are possible when you stop ambien, and convulsions absolutely require medical attention. If not treated, they can kill.
Now, when ambien was tested clincially, and people stopped it, they generally experienced nausea, flushing, lightheadedness, uncontrolled crying, vomiting, stomach cramps, panic attack, nervousness, and abdominal discomfort. So seizure was not reported, but patients in that study were not taking as high a dose as you have been taking. So seizure is still a possibility.
You do need to do something. Addiction, of any kind, is a brutal and horrible thing - but you can stop. It has been done by many, and you can do it too. But doing it at home, by yourself, is not only unsafe (potentially deadly) but it also is far less likely to be effective than if you have help.
So, I cannot recommend any way for you to do this at home safely. There is no way. If you stop ambien, you risk seizure, and this could kill you. Anyone who tells you any differently is not telling you the whole truth, and is giving you misleading and inaccurate advice.
Xanax may be a help with the withdrawal symptoms that you might experience. There are many other medications that could be used to also help. But these to be prescribed and administered in a controlled environment, by a medical team, and not self-administered at home.
I think that it is great that you want to stop, and I'm very sorry to hear about the string of deaths in your family. I'm sure you are very, very unhappy. But, with help, you can end the addiction to ambien, and be on proper medications or therapies that will actually make you feel better (and not worse).
I'm sorry if I can't tell you exactly what you want to hear. But my main message is that there are plenty of options for you, and that you can stop the ambien. But you will need help to do that successfully and safely.
I hope you feel better. Please let me know if you have any further questions.
Take care - Dr. Fay
Edited by jcfay on October 7 2006 at 6:37pm
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