Sleeping Meds

[HaleyM]

Hi there! 

 

Brand new to the forums (my first post!) and starting Whole30 with my husband on February 1st.  

 

I had a question for those that have started the program or come through it successfully...I take 5mg of Zolpidem (generic Ambien) for insomnia EVERY night, no exceptions. My insomnia is pretty bad and has been with me for years. I'm guessing that I'll still have to use it at night when I start Whole30 but am hoping to wean myself off as quickly as possible during the 30 days and will (HOPEFULLY!!) be done with it by the end. Has anyone ever just not taken their sleeping pills while on Whole30? What results did you have? Do you recommend it/not recommend it? Or were you in the same boat and experienced that you could stop taking it while on Whole30?

[violetta]

I take Mirapex for restless leg and sleep and my experience is that you should try to get to a steady state with the food and then attempt to wean off.  There are a lot of suggestions on the site for how to get sleep (darkened room, NO ELECTRONICS, going to sleep at the same time every day, etc) but having weaned off of Ambien a few years ago, it is no picnic.  I would probably plan for a longer Whole 30 if you want to include weaning off.  I was able to get to 1/2 a dose for RLS and I am sleeping better but not perfect after 50 days.  Make sure you have a pill cutter and cut those things into the tiniest portions so you can go to 3/4, 1/2. 1/4 and give yourself plenty of time.

[hsheffield]

I have also taken ambien for years but have been sleeping so much better on the whole 30 that I haven't needed one for weeks.

 

Agree with kdb re: the taper of ambien. 

 

it's been the best part of the whole 30 for me. I used to wake up 3-4 times a night even with the ambien. now I'm waking up once if at all and getting a much deeper sleep. 

 

for me, things got really good in the sleep department by the end of the 3rd week. good luck!