How does one taper off Ambien?

Hi Takoba66...
I tapered off of Ambien 10 mg several years ago as the insurance company removed it from its "formulary". Then dr didn't want to write for it as it goes on their license and he was afraid. I have kept two different, inexpensive pill cutters at home. I replace them both twice a year as the blade dulls in time and then crushes the pill one is trying to "downsize" if not sharp. Walmart, grocery store and amazon are where I've gotten my different pill cutters. One works best for round tablets, the other works way better for oblong tablets like Ambien. It has a unique shape. I took the 10 mg tab and with great precision cut it in Half in the pill cutter for elongated pills. I immediately started taking the 5 mg. at bedtime, out of the gate. No I didn't sleep well but what choice was there, right? However, after the first night, of this new 5 mg. dose, I then added over the counter Unisom (for sleep) but only took half a tablet. So at bedtime I took 5 mg. Ambien with half a Unisom tablet. Some people use Benadryl or similar. I opted to only use half of a Unisom tablet because I don't like having a lethargic, drug type hang-over the next day. I am very sensitive to meds and taking a whole Unisom was too strong for me. For weeks I took the 5 mg Ambien+ half a Unisom. I did relaxing things in evening before bedtime, like soaking in tub of warm/hot water, bubble bath, listening to soothing music, reading, deep breathing (not a fan), do anything that you find soothing or calming. Once I felt I could sleep with 5 mg. of ambien+half a Unisom, I took the 5 mg. tablet and cut it in half. I took 2.5 mg. ambien with Unisom for weeks. Then, I began taking the 2.5 mg. ambien every 'other' night. After several weeks, I didn't take the ambien again but did increase the Unisom to a full tablet for sleep. A relative who is a physician told me to go "Low and Slow" in reducing the dose and allowing my body to adjust to the lower amount vs rushing it. It was a little bumpy at first but honestly, I guess with the Unisom on board, I really didn't have any bad experience tapering. I do believe you have to go low and slow and let your body gradually ease/adjust to lower doses. You will find that you can sleep on your own without it but it is a journey but not one to fear. I no longer use Unisom. That said, I do have nights where I only sleep 3-4 hours, other nights 6 hours is the best I can do. I do some exercise, walking, biking also in an effort to tire my body out so I will be able to sleep. I have Fibromyalgia and knee surgery, so can't fly as freely as I did 20 years ago. I used to jog but unable now. Prudent physicians recommend a 10% taper schedule. You can do this because I took Ambien for 2 years and no longer do. I'm no longer 20, 30 or 40. Have alot of joint pain and this BMS which kicks up at bedtime. So I understand how difficult sleep can be. My dr did give me a rx for ambien which I filled but paid for it out of pocket (no insurance). I save those like they are pure Gold and only use one if I've hit a patch of consecutive nights with little to no sleep. I don't care that I had to pay for them because I do not take them often. I'd rather skip paying for a haircut or many other things in order to have one rx for emergency sleep. Your taper will be a success. Low and slow and get a pill cutter (cheap) for rectangle ambien. You can cut them down to 5 mg. and then to 2.5 mg. without any problem.