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.

Sleep driving
Date: 8/12/2008
I took ambien after going out to dinner-had a few glasses of wine, went to bed, a few hrs later I apparently got out of bed-no shoes-socks- just my pajamas and drove my car and rolled it several times ending up destroying my car, getting several injuries, and now facing an investigation of a poss. dui and I was in my own bed and slept walk and wrecked my car!! This medication is very scary, I have no memory of getting out of bed and driving–not recommended

Melinda

Feeling tired thru the day
Date: 8/14/2008
I have been taking Ambien for several years. I feel extremely tired all day. I split a 10mil. in half but it may not be perfectly split. Should I be feeling this tired thru the day. I’m almost to the point that sometimes I feel like I’m going to pass out.

Barbara

AskDocWeb: No, you shouldn’t feel that tired. Please don’t take a chance on passing out, contact your doctor.

Sense of taste diminished
Date: 8/15/2008
I have been using ambien for about 10 years. I have recently noticed that my sense of taste has diminished quite dramatically. I am healthy in all other respects. Do you think this could be related to the ambien?

Betty

AskDocWeb: Taste perversion is one of the possible side effects of Ambien. There are many drugs that affect your sense of taste.

Mad at myself
Date: 8/16/2008
I took Ambien(generic version zoldipem) for about a year. Am trying to get off the drug–taking half a pill, and then am going to try half a pill every other night. This is my second attempt. First time I tried, I was so addicted, by the seventh night of taking half, I was so exhausted that I gave in and took a whole pill that night (10 mg) and for the next two nights took a whole one. I was so mad at myself—now I am back to taking half again, but I’m experiencing heart palpatations in the nighttime before I take the pill…please answer me on this…I’m so worried, and that is making my heart race even faster—has anyone else experienced this? Where do I see an answer? worried.

Jane

AskDocWeb: In clinical trials 2% of Ambien users experienced heart palpitations. If you haven’t already done so, consult with a sleep clinic. They may be able to help you through this.

Are these okay?
Date: 8/15/2008
Is seriquel ok for sleep? My doc put me on this but I also take lexapro for deppression and Ultram for mild lower back spasms/pain. Are these ok to take together?

Melinda

AskDocWeb: There is a high interaction potential with using Lexapro and Ultram together that could cause problems with blood pressure, body temperature, muscles, and thinking. It also increases the chance for seizures. This combination needs to be carefully monitored by your doctor to avoid problems. It is important to tell your doctor all medications you are taking and about any problems you have with those drugs. Call your doctor if you experience any of the following:

• bad headache
• trouble walking
• difficulty speaking
• trouble moving your arms or legs
• feel anxious
• trouble thinking
• do not recognize where you are
• do not recognize the people around you
• feel very sweaty or have a fever
• feel your muscles are tight or shaky
• feel your heart is beating very fast
• have a seizure
• feel nausea

Strange headache
Date: 8/18/2008
I’ve been taking ambien for about 3 months now, and I really think it helps with my sleeping problem. Although I have experienced the memory loss, and also experienced a somewhat state of euphoria at times. The side effects, until now have been very inconsistent. I have recently developed a strange headache that has been hurting for almost a month now. I’ve been to the doctor as well as a chiropractor to remedy my headache-to no avail. I’m wondering if it might be the ambien?

Patti

AskDocWeb: Headaches are one of the side effects that should be reported to your doctor.

How long does it take
Date: 8/18/2008
I take soma (25) per day. Is there any way to tapper from this demon I tried cold turkey, I feel like my heart is running 100 miles an hour and sleep forget it! I will go days and give in … how long does it take to sleep once you quit. PLEASE HELP IM VERY SCARED. I HAVE TRIED VALIUM AND ALL BENZO CLASS DURGS NOTHING WORKS.

Scared in Arleta

AskDocWeb: It sounds like you may have to consult with a doctor to get the help you need. Look in your yellow pages under Physicians for Sleep Disorders and find a sleep center or sleep clinic. They can provide the help you need.

Ambien Story
Date: 8/19/2008
Ambien Story I have not read yet: I have had chronic insomnia since I was in my early teens due to an incident that happened at night when my parents were out with friends. As a result, I have night mares and trouble falling asleep. I tried vallerium root but that had lasting effects of grogginess the next day and didn’t stay asleep on it. I did go to counseling for years, but nothing ever helped.

In my 30’s I tried the holistic methods of yoga, relaxing music, deep breathing, etc. and that did not work. So, now I’m in my early 40’s and I experienced a full blown panic attack, (of course I thought I was dying of a heart attack) went to the ER, the whole nine and they put me on Paxil and AmbienCR 12.5. It was taking a long time to fall asleep on the CR and my Dr switched me to reg. 10mg. For the first time in 30 years, I am able to sleep and not have heart palpatating chest pains from horrific nightmares when I awake. But, here are the real scary and embarrassing things: 10 mg’s no longer gets it done and I have only been on them for 6 months. (I am not a drinker, smoker or recreational drug user other than synthroid, Paxil, Xanax only when I fly) and of course Ambien. I also have 3 companies that I own and 10 tons of stress that goes with that so now I find myself taking a 10mg and cutting another in half or just taking 2 10’s together. It still does not take effect until about 45 minutes later. Good news is, I sleep like a baby and for the 1st time in 30 years I do not have those nightmares.

The bad news, I started urinating in bed. My husband has sleep apnia so he has his own room and doesn’t know. I have not told anyone yet. I had to go and buy depends and wear those everynight. I try not to eat or drink at least 2 hours before I know I will be taking the pills. I am sooo scared after reading all of these comments and I know I am headed down a scary path. It really crushes me because the fear of sleeping and lack of sleeping were ruining my life. My Dad has extreme insomnia and his doctor said I t is hereditary. The urinating is my only side effect with a little memory loss. My Dad has the sleep walking and binge eating with no memory of it. So, has anyone else had bladder issues while taking ambien and what was the result. And, is Insomnia possibly hereditary? Thank you for reading this long comment, I am feeling depressed and ashamed.

Jamie

Weaning off Ambien
Date: 8/19/2008
I have been on Ambien for 5 1/2 months because I have A-Fib and the meds for my heart cause insomnia. Before this I usually have had no problem falling asleep. I am prescribed 10mg but have been breaking it into half tablets. Most of the time I get 6 hours of sleep. I am concerned about being on this because even when I get a good sleep I’m still tired and I can’t remember things as well, which is not me. But, my other meds can cause some of the same things. I thought if I could at least eliminate one drug with these side effects I might feel better. While weaning yourself off Ambien can you take something like Valerian Root and Passiflora plex. at the same time to help me sleep? Thanks!

Linda

AskDocWeb: Not sure what you are referring to with Passiflora plex but Valerian Rootwould lilely help. It works best when taken nightly over a period of several days.
Please Note: Products containing valerian extracts may cause false positives for benzodiazepines in most standard drug screens.

Serious insomnia issues
Date: 8/21/2008
I have had problems with sleep my whole life, but about 2 years ago I started having fairly serious insomnia issues. I would only sleep for 2 hours a night, and sometimes not at all. I was a complete wreck for a year straight. I tried all of the suggested natural remedies for restoring my sleep back to normal, but nothing worked. I really didn’t want to take pills for sleep, but things eventually got so bad that I gave in and went to my doctor. He gave me Ambien 5mg to be taken every night for a month. I immediately started sleeping better, and my life became normal and healthy again. My doctor then gave me a monthly script. I still take Ambien (2.5mg per night – just enough to very slightly relax me and help me to drift off), and I can honestly say that the past year’s sleep has been some of the best of my life. I am rested every single day, in large part due to Ambien. It’s been a life-saver for me. That being said, I do believe that it is a drug to be taken very carefully. The many posts on this site attest to its potential for side-effects and addiction in large doses, and these are things that shouldn’t be taken lightly. I’m thankful that a small dose works well for me, and I wouldn’t want to take more than 5 mg tops.

Jason

Rozerem
Date: 8/22/2008
I am trying to come off of ambien after extended use. I have usually taken 1/2 a 10 mg pill nightly, but found I was getting up in the middle of the night, so I’d take an extra 1/4 of the pill. Doc suggested I try rozarem for a while with the ambien then dc the amibien. Any ideas on how long it should take till the rozarem is fully effective?

Ericr

AskDocWeb: If you mean Rozerem, it takes between a half-hour to an hour and a half on an empty stomach.

Sleep walking
Date: 8/23/2008
I have been taking Ambien CR fairly regularly for over 3 years now with no problem. In the past 3-4 months I have had 3 sleep-walking episodes, none of which I remember anything. The first 2 episodes were harmless. A couple of items that were downstairs when I went to bed were in the bed with me when I woke up the next morning. Several nights ago I had a 3rd episode which was very serious and resulted in a trip to the ER the next morning. My foot was badly injured. Apparently I had gotten out of bed, gone “downstairs” (10-12 steps) and then gone another set of stairs to be basement. I woke up in my bed, had brought 2 items from downstairs upstairs and had a very serious “fall” down the basement stairs. Two days later I found the shoes and glasses I keep by the bed. My glasses were on the floor of the basement and my shoes were underneath the basement stairs, in different places. I had no idea where I had gone, what I had done or how I had injured my foot. I will not take the medication again.

Jan

Headache
Date: 8/24/2008
I have been taking stilnox & Aropax for two years, not at the same time. I take one for three days & the other for three so I dont get addicted to one or the other. However… I now get a headache when I take stilnox & I get grumpy on it also.

Susanne

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