About Ambien

Discussion forum about the side effects of Ambien. Share your experience and opinion about Ambien. What would you tell your best friend about this product? Please remember that we do not give medical advice. That is for your local health care provider, who is familiar with your medical history.

Want to hurt myself
Date: 11/23/2007
Gosh, I just read some of the feedback! I just threw away all my Ambien. I woke up extremely depress and really want to hurt myself. After reading all these comments and realizing it was one of the effects, I will never take Ambien again!

John

Sleep walking episodes
Date: 11/23/2007
This stuff is scary. My partner at the time would go have a couple drinks and always needed Ambien to fall asleep. When he took a pill about 10 minutes later he would take another and another and then act really strange. Several times he would go downstairs and pull out a liquor bottle and start doing shot after shot after shot until I stopped him. Then he would just stare with a weird look in his eye and then he would try to force me to take ambien when I told him to stop. Needless to say we are not together anymore and he still don’t remember anything about what he was doing. It was like dealing with some kind of crazy person and I think he finally slipped me that crap while on one of those sleep walking episodes. That s hit is crazy. Peace Out,

Robert

Memory loss
Date: 11/23/2007
I took Ambien for a couple of years in the early 2000’s and very early on I noticed memory loss. I talked to my doctor about it and he told me he had not heard that memory loss was a side effect of Ambien. I continued taking Ambien for many months and my memory loss continued to worsen. Again I spoke to my doctor and again he said he had not heard of my side effects from Ambien and recommended I keep taking it. After taking Ambien for such a long time I began to experience long term memory loss and a lack of feeling of guilt plus, I experienced serious depression. All of this led to me doing some crazy things that ruined my career and almost destroyed my family life, most of which I don’t remember. I stopped taking Ambien against the advice of my doctor and now, years later, my life is normal again. Ambien is dangerous when used for too long a period and should only be used for short term sleeping problems. My father also took Ambien for a while and he experienced serious problems with sleep walking and memory problems as well.

David

No prescription needed
Date: 11/24/2007
Hi, I have doubt, please clarify it, for insomnia, I am using zolfresh since a month, I have seen many sites, where we can purchase products(sleeping pills) with out prescription, doesn’t it cause any harm(I mean there is chance of people committing suicide by consuming them), why are they selling with out prescription?

Maheswari

AskDocWeb: When people sell prescription drugs without a prescription, they are doing that for the money and they don’t care about your safety. They are called drug dealers.

Generic equivalent not working as well?
Date: 11/26/2007
Developed a resistance? I’ve been taking Ambien off and on for a couple years, maybe once or twice a week to get my body’s sleep schedule back on track when working 2 jobs with completely different hours. The last 2 bottles I have picked up from the pharmacy have been the generic equivalent of Ambien and either I’ve developed a resistance to the drug or the generic equivalent doesn’t work well for me. At times it seemed to work and other times not. Lately when I take a 10mg pill, 2 hours later I’m still wide awake. That happened the last 5 or 6 times I’ve taken one. Any information on the generic equivalent not working as well for others?

Rich

AskDocWeb: According to the manufacturer, the generic is just as effective but this is something that you can test for yourself if you have any doubts. It is possible to build up a tolerance or resistance to the drug when used for such a long time.

3 in the morning
Date: 11/27/2007
I’ve been taking the generic form of ambiem for over 4 months, and I don’t fall asleep on it. I also take doxepin 10 mg, and 3 store brand sleep aids to fall asleep. I have alot of bad dreams, and severe headaches in the morning. I’m dealing with depression, so I also take 2mg klonipin 4 times a day, plus lexapro 10 mg. With my usual ateninol for blood pressure, and allpuril 300mg for gout. Why does it take so much to put me to sleep. It is now a little after 3 in the morning.

william

AskDocWeb: It sounds like you are trying too hard, Ambien plus three store products is over doing it. If you can’t fall asleep with Ambien there are other medications that your doctor can prescribe. We suggest you find a sleep study and get a consultation.

Vision changes
Date: 11/27/2007
I am enjoying a good nights sleep but have noticed that since I started taking Ambien I have had vision changes. Has anyone else noticed this?

Harriet

AskDocWeb: There are several kinds of vision changes noted with Ambien usage; 3% report visual disturbances, 2% report eye redness, 2% report blurred vision and 1% report changes in depth perception.

Have conversations that I have no memory of whatsoever
Date: 11/27/2007
I have been taking Ambien for about 6-8 months now and I love it. I sleep better than I ever have before and I feel great the next day. I never have grogginess or a hangover feeling unless I sleep less than 6-7 hours. I have to make sure that I take it at a good time in the evening to get that rest, because sleep is important to me. However…I have noticed times where I seem to have moments of memory loss/confusion where my “connections” if you must, aren’t firing in my brain as sharp as they should. I’m 36 years old, one could say that age is starting to hit, but I believe I disagree with that. Also, when I take the Ambien, I have to be ready to lay down and sleep. Most times I just pass out on the bed and my husband has to come in and remove my glasses, etc., and apparently I say things and have conversations with him that I have no memory of whatsoever. But I manage this as best as I can and heed to the warnings because it has made a positive difference in my life.

Sherry

Warning
Date: 11/28/2007
I would like to warn people about the side effects I experienced with Ambien. I started taking Ambien because I couldn’t sleep while undergoing Chemo treatments. The major side effects which I finally have realized were the result of Amibien and not Chemo are the following: Extreme confusion during waking hours (I didn’t feel the confusion as much as others brought it to my attention), blackouts after I took Ambien (people would tell me they talked to me but I wouldn’t remember), mid and lower back pain, mild tremors in my hands and head. It took me months to realize that these symptoms were the result of taking Ambien.

Stehanie

Horrible migraines
Date: 11/30/2007
Since using Ambien, I have awakened with horrible migraines. Is this a common side effect?

Pegi

AskDocWeb: Headaches are a side effect. About 19% of Ambien users report some kind of headache but if it is horrible, you should report it to your doctor.

Ambien with alcohol
Date: 11/30/2007
I know that alcohol increases the effect of Ambiem, but what are the effects on the body with continued use in a person who is an alcoholic?

Janet

AskDocWeb: Wow, we fear for your safety, and the safety of those around you. Please discuss this with your doctor as soon as possible.

Most physicians don’t seem to be aware of this
Date: 12/2/2007
Ambien is intended for short time usage only. It is not supposed to be prescribed for more than 3 months, and ideally it should be prescribed for less than 2 weeks. Unfortunately, most physicians don’t seem to be aware of this.

Anny

Constant lapses of memory
Date: 12/2/2007
Both my husband and I have been taking Ambien for almost a year. Over the last couple of months my husband has been having constant lapses of memory and hasn’t been able keep focus or concentrate which has been a major problem since he is an engineer. This is the only medication he is taking and although he does have issues with sleeping, we are wondering what the alternatives are. Memory loss or insomnia!!!

Rhenae

AskDocWeb: Lunesta is one alternative or for a few other ideas see sleep.

Ileus?
Date: 12/3/2007
Could dose of Ambien at bedtime, followed by a Hydrocodone tablet taken upon waking 4 hours or so later, in considerable pain, possibly bring on an Ileus?

Elmer

AskDocWeb: No, it will not cause an intestinal blockage.

Mike and Juliet show
Date: 12/4/2007
I work for a morning show called the Mike and Juliet show. We are doing a segment about ambien and some of the effects it has on people (sleep driving, sleep crimes, etc). If you have had an experience you’d like to tell us about please email me at XXXXXXXX.com ASAP! Thanks!

Cara

AskDocWeb: Sorry Cara, our privacy policy prohibits publishing email addresses. Read more Ambien Feedback. Ambien – 37 – 38 – 39 – 40 – Page 41 – 42 – 43 – 44 – 45 – Last Page 120

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