Is it hard to get off Ambien?

Answer 1

Like many sleeping meds, Ambien can create tolerance if taken continuously for the medium or long term. Ambien (zolpidem) works in through part of the same mechanism as benzos like Valium and Xanax. Benzos are well known for capacity to produce tolerance leading to withdrawal. It is not as bad with Ambien because it works only on some (but not all) GABA receptors whereas say Valium hits all GABA receptors. Still, discontinuing Ambien can cause a period of insomnia. How quickly you return to your baseline varies depending on how long/how much Ambien you were taking as well as you individual physiology – usually days to weeks. Withdrawal is much easier or absent if you take Ambien intermittently, e.g. once of twice a week.