Anyone one here taken ambien for a long time 3 years or more and the just stopped?

I ca not share my slepping. My slepping didn't not have mental side effects.

Not me, but a good friend got to where her memory was horrible. Got off ambien and it improved.

Took it for 3 months to assist in sleeping. Biggest mistake I ever made. F’d with me mentally and would still wake up at 2 am wide awake. Felt like I would need to go running in order to make myself get tired again. I would pace the floors trying to figure out what the F I should do. I started reading articles online which stressed the hell out of me and decided to quit cold turkey which they do not recommend. As one article mentioned take a couple of days off from work like Thursday and Friday so that you have 4 days to try and get back to normal. I didn’t sleep for 2 days straight but glad I quit taking that shite.

I know you stated 3 years but I only took it for 3 months.

There are many stories out there just like yours and unfortunately they have far worse outcomes.

Ambien is a dangerous medication. Mixing it with alcohol is extremely dangerous.
This doesn't get talked about because very infuential people are still making billions of dollars in profit from it.

I woke up one morning and I had marsh mellows, graham crackers and a Hershey bar on my stove. It appears I tried to make smors with candles. I had no recollection. Went cold turkey. Scared the shite out of me.

If anyone is interested in the depressing hypocrisy of our government and the power of Big Pharma's lobbying, here are some interesting things to consider:

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Schedule I drugs, no medical benefit and high abuse potential are:

heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), marijuana (cannabis), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy), methaqualone, and peyote.

Schedule II, some medical benefit and high abuse possibilities:

hydrocodone per dosage unit (Vicodin), cocaine, methamphetamine, methadone, hydromorphone (Dilaudid), meperidine (Demerol), oxycodone (OxyContin), fentanyl, Dexedrine, Adderall, and Ritalin

Schedule IV: low potential for abuse and low risk of dependence:

Xanax, Soma, Darvon, Darvocet, Valium, Ativan, Talwin, Ambien, Tramadol

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FYI, the full schedule:

Schedule I drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Some examples of Schedule I drugs are:

heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), marijuana (cannabis), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy), methaqualone, and peyote

Schedule II

Schedule II drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with a high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence. These drugs are also considered dangerous. Some examples of Schedule II drugs are:

Combination products with less than 15 milligrams of hydrocodone per dosage unit (Vicodin), cocaine, methamphetamine, methadone, hydromorphone (Dilaudid), meperidine (Demerol), oxycodone (OxyContin), fentanyl, Dexedrine, Adderall, and Ritalin

Schedule III

Schedule III drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. Schedule III drugs abuse potential is less than Schedule I and Schedule II drugs but more than Schedule IV. Some examples of Schedule III drugs are:

Products containing less than 90 milligrams of codeine per dosage unit (Tylenol with codeine), ketamine, anabolic steroids, testosterone

Schedule IV

Schedule IV drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with a low potential for abuse and low risk of dependence. Some examples of Schedule IV drugs are:

Xanax, Soma, Darvon, Darvocet, Valium, Ativan, Talwin, Ambien, Tramadol

Schedule V

Schedule V drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with lower potential for abuse than Schedule IV and consist of preparations containing limited quantities of certain narcotics. Schedule V drugs are generally used for antidiarrheal, antitussive, and analgesic purposes. Some examples of Schedule V drugs are:

cough preparations with less than 200 milligrams of codeine or per 100 milliliters (Robitussin AC), Lomotil, Motofen, Lyrica, Parepectolin

I drink a few beers at night and sleep like a baby. After all the things I've heard about Ambien, I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole.

Would never take it after my ex gf told me stories about waking up sitting in her car in the driveway with the car running with only whatever she was or not wearing when she got in bed on.

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and the thought of your Doctor prescribing it to you for 3 years

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No reputable doctor will prescribe it to you for three consecutive years if you use every day. They will prescribe something else at intervals.

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shite has you hooked after a few weeks

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You are not supposed to take it daily for this reason. You're supposed to use an alternate method for at least a couple of nights a week.

Ambien is a miracle for those of us who actually have insomnia. Anybody who misuses it and then complains about the side effects can go frick themselves.