Ambien Withdrawal and Detox

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Ambien Withdrawal Detox

The prescription drug Zolpidem is often better known as Ambien.

Ambien is typically prescribed to treat insomnia. It is considered to be less habit-forming than other types of sedatives.

This may lead some to believe that Ambien does not have the potential for being addictive.

A misguided opinion of the medication can result in misuse and abuse.

Potentially, an addiction can develop.

Those who take the medication as prescribed to them can even establish a tolerance within just two weeks.

Those who may have been taking Ambien for 10 years or longer may have difficulty going through an Ambien withdrawal detox program.

Understanding Tolerance to Ambien

Tolerance is what happens when a drug or substance is used over a period of time.

The body has a lowered response to the substance.

This can result in the individual needing to increase their dosage to get the desired effect of the medication.

Dependence occurs when the body has adapted to the Ambien to the degree that it no longer functions normally without the drug.

If the Ambien is stopped or the dosage is reduced, there may be some negative reactions.

Ambien withdrawal symptoms will soon follow.

This is particularly the case if the individual stops taking the medication without being supervised by medical professionals.

Learning how to wean off Ambien is an essential part of ensuring long-term recovery.

In some cases, Ambien withdrawal symptoms can be complicated and severe.

This is why it is so important to undergo drug detox while supervised by medical professionals. This ensures your withdrawal symptoms can be managed more easily, and your comfort is a priority.

What Are the Withdrawal Symptoms of Ambien?

Zolpidem withdrawal can be potentially challenging. This is due to the changes that take place in the brain.

The symptoms of withdrawal from any substance are due to the brain trying to return to normalcy.

Gradually withdrawing from Ambien can lead to the reverse effects of taking the medication. Stopping Ambien use abruptly can result in more severe symptoms.

Some of these severe symptoms could include seizures, tremors, and anxiety.

Other Ambien withdrawal symptoms can include the following:

• Irritability, anxiety, and agitation
• Confusion and delirium
• Fever and sweating
• Increased blood pressure
• Stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting
• Insomnia and rebound insomnia
• Panic attacks and emotional breakdowns

Ambien’s primary use is for the short-term treatment of certain types of sleeping disorders, such as insomnia.

When individuals are dependent on the medication and stop taking it, they may experience rebound insomnia. This withdrawal symptom can often be worse than initial insomnia the patient was treated for.

Rebound insomnia takes place because Zolpidem works by suppressing the body’s central nervous system. A reduction of nerve activity in the brain takes place. When the medication is stopped, the brain is left in overdrive. The brain works hard to overcome this abrupt change and fights to establish a sense of normalcy.

This can result in an inability to sleep. An increase in anxiety, confusion, and other Ambien withdrawal symptoms can also take place.

So what is the best course of action for someone reliant on Ambien? The ideal start to treatment is medically-supervised detox.

The dosage should be tapered down in a safe and secure detox environment. This safe environment can help to prevent the risks of patients developing more complicated and serious side effects.

How Long Does Ambien Withdrawal Take?

No two individuals withdrawing from Ambien will have the same experience.

The withdrawal duration can vary between individuals.

Ambien withdrawal symptoms could last for a few weeks for some people, while others may see their symptoms last several weeks.

Some in recovery from Ambien have lived with rebound insomnia for several weeks after going through detox. While this may not sound pleasant, the majority in recovery find they sleep better after withdrawal.

Those who have been abusing larger doses of Ambien for longer periods typically suffer from the most intense withdrawal symptoms. Those who have abused Ambien significantly are more likely to suffer from withdrawal symptoms for a longer period of time.

Those who abuse the controlled-released version of the medication may experience withdrawal symptoms for much longer.

Ambien was designed to help individuals fall asleep.

The controlled release version of the medication was designed to keep people sleeping soundly. This is accomplished by keeping the drug in the body for more extended periods of time. This means that it can take longer for the drug to leave the body during detox.

What Does Ambien Detox Look Like?

The chemical composition of Ambien is quite similar to drugs in the benzodiazepine category.

This means that the symptoms of withdrawal of Ambien are quite like benzodiazepines like Valium and Xanax.

The individual in recovery should typically be free from the withdrawal symptoms within two weeks.

The worst of it tends to take place during the first week.

Ambien has a half-life of just around two hours, much less than most other sedative types.

The symptoms of withdrawal can start to appear within two days of the last dose.

For the majority of individuals, the symptoms of withdrawal will initially be mild.

Confusion, mood swings, memory loss, panic attacks, and rebound insomnia may become a reality.

After the peak of withdrawal symptoms, individuals in recovery from Ambien addiction begin to feel a sense of normalcy.

The symptoms of withdrawal should start to ease during the second week.

Any symptoms of withdrawal that remain after two weeks are considered to be post-acute withdrawal symptoms.

Some of these may last for several months after detox.

They could include anxiety, insomnia, irritability, agitation, and poor concentration.

The detox process from Ambien dependency is typically a tapering approach. This involves a gradual reduction of the Ambien dose over a fixed period of time.

The body will be able to adjust to being free from Ambien gradually.

The tapering approach can help to stave off panic attacks. It can also keep blood pressure under control and avoid the potential for convulsions.

Some individuals struggling with Ambien addiction can taper off the medication in just a few weeks, while others may need several months.

Regardless, the goal of detox is to ensure that discomfort is minimized.

Detox also helps to keep withdrawal symptoms from becoming too severe.

Medically managed detox is a vital part of treating Ambien addiction.

At Resurgence Behavioral Health, we understand the complexity of addiction to Ambien and are here to help.

Free Insurance Verification for Rehab

With a comprehensive treatment plan that introduces therapeutic solutions, patients are offered an improved chance of recovery.

Like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), medically managed detox and therapies can help provide individuals in recovery with better coping skills.

If you or somebody you love is living with an addiction to Ambien, there is no wrong time to reach out to learn more about recovery options.

At Resurgence Behavioral Health, our team of experts will support you every step of the way.

This begins with verifying your insurance coverage, so you can focus on recovery and finding sobriety.

It can be understandably stressful to work with insurance companies when you are focused on overcoming addiction.

Our team has experience with skillfully navigating insurance coverage and other coverage options.

Focus on your sobriety in a supportive environment.