Doxepin to wean off ambien

[Imatryin]

What is the dosage of the Doxepin?

10mg capsules

[Sir NoddinOff]

I found that the plastic pill splitters that you buy in drug stores are virtually worthless after a few uses. Go to a hardware store and buy single side razor blades, the kind with a metal band on one side. Put the pill on a piece of cloth and then just cut it visually to an approximation... that's good enough... you don't need a digital scale or such. If you are taking capsules then pour the contents out on a hard surface like a hand mirror then divide until you've got the portion you need.

[Imatryin]

I found that the plastic pill splitters that you buy in drug stores are virtually worthless after a few uses. Go to a hardware store and buy single side razor blades, the kind with a metal band on one side. Put the pill on a piece of cloth and then just cut it visually to an approximation... that's good enough... you don't need a digital scale or such. If you are taking capsules then pour the contents out on a hard surface like a hand mirror then divide until you've got the portion you need.

Perfect! I will do that! Thank you!

[avi123]

Has anyone had any luck with using Doxepin to wean off Ambien? I'm on 10mg at night and it does nothing. I end up taking an Ambien 2 hours later anyway. I've only just been prescribed Doxepin 3 days ago. So maybe I haven't given it a fair shake. Also, I just started feeling the benefits of cpap therapy within the last two weeks. So maybe it's still too soon and I'm putting pressure on myself only being on cpap for a little over two months?

Thoughts? Those are my important questions.

The rest below is for entertainment purposes and for all you arm chair addictions counsellors. Now here's the "addict" speaking...

I'd like to get off the Ambien, but I can't afford anymore sleepless nights. 15 years has been long enough. The last two weeks, I'm finally seeing real results with the cpap and I don't EVER want to go back to feeling the way I did pre-cpap. I even had the energy to go swimming (like for exercise--not standing in the pool with a glass of Cabernet.) I like falling asleep in 20 mins versus 2 days later while sitting at my desk and waking up with drool all over my papers. (Yes, that used to happen A LOT pre-cpap.)

I can think of hundreds of worse things to be addicted to than Ambien. I have no side-effects, other than I can't seem to fall asleep without it. I've never had a dose increase in two years and the only time I took more than one a night was when I first started cpap which also coincided with a car accident. (For the record, the accident was not Ambien or sleep related. The other driver ran a red light.). I'm back down to one a night.

So seriously, what's really the harm in 10mg of Ambien, if it helps me ignore the elephant nose on my face and fall effortlessly to sleep? Other than bp meds, which my doctor says I may be able to lower the dose or possibly go off completely in the next couple of months if my bp keeps going down the way it has, Ambien is the only medication I'm on. (Occasionally an Advil Allergy & Sinus for bad sinus days as a last resort if the Netty Pot doesn't clear everything out.)

I cut the 10 mg of Zolpidem tablet (generic Ambien) in half and take it only if I can't fall asleep within 30 minutes after masking. After I take the 5 mg Zolpidem I sleep for 6 to 7 hours. Half the time I don't need to take the Zolpidem at all.

You wrote this:

So seriously, what's really the harm in 10mg of Ambien, if it helps me ignore the elephant nose on my face and fall effortlessly to sleep?

Well, recently, Ambien became a CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE by the FDA. It looks like that you don't understand the meaning of it! Ask any pharmacist what it means.

[palerider]

Well, recently, Ambien became a CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE by the FDA. It looks like that you don't understand the meaning of it! Ask any pharmacist what it means.

you idiot, you obviously don't understand what "controlled substance" means.

Zolpidem is classified as a schedule IV controlled substance (like benzodiazepines).
Sonata is classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance by federal regulation.
Lunesta (Eszopiclone) is classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance by federal regulation.
Rozerem is the only FDA-approved hypnotic that is not a controlled substance.