ambien used for pain and sleep

I've been using ambien for about 9 years for sleep,and I also realized it gets rid of my chronic upper back pain due to a buldged disc, I've also had for about 9 years. I take 3 12.5 mg. during the day in 1/3 chips as needed for pain, and 1 to 2 at night for sleep. It works great with no side affects. I've tried all the injections pain meds, muscle relaxers and topical creams and nothing else has worked. Would like to taper down, but don't know how, because I don't want to go to work in pain everyday. I live a stress full life, and cannot afford to take anytime off work for rehab. I am a single parent taking care of three kids, with no financial or family support. Surgery is not a option at this time because I can not afford to take time off work with no pay.My goal is to stay out of pain so I can function. I wish there was a better way. If I run out of my ambien I cannot sleep, and my back pain is in unbearable pain, and end up at the emergency room. Any comments ?

Your dosage of Ambien is extremely high. Where are you getting these kinds of doses? 12.5MG/day is the highest dose any Dr. will prescribe & insurance will cover. You are taking triple that amount.

I was in a similar situation except only half of what you're taking. You will will need to go through medically supervised detox. Ambien withdrawal is very intense, difficult and dangerous. Worse than benzos.

To scare you further into considering getting immediate help, please
speak with your Dr. about getting off Ambien now. Your tolerance is so high you can not taper. You have a serious dependency/addiction . Seek help now or you will end up in ER very shortly.

Get off the Ambien , then seek out pain management help.

I'm in pain management, and nothing has helped. The only thing that keeps me out of pain is ambien. I did some research on the internet to see if any one else was using ambien for pain, and surprisingly there were other people who experienced the same thing. Ambien is prescribed for sleep, but also can help with stress,anxiety,and muscle pain. I researched this info online. If I was a stay at home mom and not so worried about bills all the time, I could probably heal myself.

I've never heard of Ambien used for pain management ever. However sleep is good therapy but nobody can sleep all day.

I doubt you'll be able to fall asleep without the Ambien. You should have been prescribed muscle relaxers as they don't have a 6-8 hour effect like Ambien does. Like mentioned it'll be hard to taper off Ambien now.

You shouldn't be taking Ambien during the day and if you're driving on Ambien that's taking a huge risk.

Dr.Kacie, 

I, too, have found that a half of an ambien, 5mg.  helps me through the day with my chronic pain.

I take 15 to 20mg at bedtime to sleep.  

For some reason, ambien lowers my muscle pain all day, and I can continue my work.

God bless.

Coen

Welcome Coen to the forum and although this is a older thread I'm leaving it because I think it's important to understand the dangers of taking ambien in higher doses then prescribed and since the OP they have issued warnings and many Drs pulled patients off altogether.

Well as far as pain control all I see happening here is the Ambien is basically working as a muscle relaxant and therefore may be relieving pain of that nature. There are much better choices out there and are not off label and covered by insurance. Not to mention far safer and less addictive. That's the only thing I can see Ambien contributing to as far as pain control goes,it's relaxing effects.

Welcome to HW.First I've heard of this.Ambien didn't didn't help my sleep problems so I've only taken it a week,maybe.

Take care and God Bless.

Rick

I took Ambien, half the smallest pill, for a while and it helped me get to sleep if I popped into bed right away. If I stayed up it quit working.

I stopped cold turkey when I read in my journal in the kitchen that I'd self-medicated during the night, and I didn't remember anything about it.

It may have lowered pain, wasn't really keeping track, although I may go back into my journals because I have written down pain levels for years. I do know my pain levels have increased over the last year even though I was given an extra Norco for "breakthrough." That still only makes 2 plus my 3 little Tramadol.

I've also got Klonopin available, took one early this evening, for worsening spasms in legs. It also makes me sleepy, although I'm getting tolerant to that too. Diazepam works for spasms, also used to make me sleepy, but I got tolerant. I may go back to the diazepam (after talking to doc) because Klonopin lasts 30 hours or so. But diazepam only helps 4 hours.

It's important not to mix meds without talking to the doc!

Welcome to the forum. The best thing to do is to work with your dr & do a slow wean to avoid withdrawal symptoms. There is a really good chance that you will have an increase in your pain as you continue to reduce your dosage. Good luck.

This thread on Ambien brings back memories of my own experience taking it.

I took 1/2 of a 12 mg tablet of Ambien, at my usual bed time. Next thing I remember is being in the middle of the street outside of my house, at 2 am in the morning, with a policeman standing next to me holding me up.

It appears that I had an episode of sleepwalking due to the Ambien. I have no recollection of getting out of bed, nor of going down the stairs of my house, nor of opening the back door and going outside, nor of walking up the street. None. Zero. Zilch. The entire experience is all a blank slate.

My little dog, bless her heart, was trailing behind me the whole time I was walking outside. She did not leave my side. A policeman was on a regular safety patrol of the neighborhood and found me ambling along the middle of the street and "awakened" me.

I was embarrassed, beyond words. And utterly surprised that Ambien could take me on a journey of such intense sleep walking.

That was my one and only dose of Ambien. It is powerful stuff.
- Karen -

The 12 mg Ambiens are time released and shouldn't be broken or crushed. You have to be very careful with Ambien as it can cause black outs/memory lapses.