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.

No side effects
Date: 4/26/2005
I slept well with no side effects. I am 68 years of age.

Betty

Mom is addicted
Date: 4/27/2005
My mom takes ambien, she has recently become addicted and she takes it almost every night. It scares me because alcohol is always involved. She recently had a gastric bypass surgery of august 2004…since then she has become addicted to ambien. It’s so scary and I don’t know what to do. How can I help her? I stay up all night long, to make sure she gets in bed ok. I worry constantly. She 43 years old and I have to babysit her to make sure shes ok and doesn’t have like a ceaseur or something. Its gotten to one time she lost the pills, that she dug through our garbage to see if she accidentally threw them away. I really need some advice.
hope to hear from you soon.

Ashley

AskDocWeb: Drinking alcohol and taking ambien is dangerous. If you can, talk to your dad or another relative and let them know what is happening. If no relative is available, call her physician and tell him of your concerns. In some areas there are free services to help people in need. They go by many different names such as Community Telephone Counseling, Youth Hotline, Teen Hotline, Crisis line and Helpline. One of these may be able to assist you.

Emphysema and Ambien
Date: 4/28/2005
Can you take this (Ambien) if you have emphysema?

Foley

AskDocWeb: Yes, but remember that it is only recommended for a short period of time.

Ambien is addictive
Date:
There are people who have been prescribed this drug and after taking it for months still don’t know it is addictive and they are addicted to it. There are a host of uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms and some serious ones. Think twice before you take a sleep aid for more than a week.

It is quite possible the addiction will first manifest itself by waking up in the middle of the night and needing another pill. You may find yourself taking a higher dose to achieve affects you more easily achieved with less. Over time, more and more of a dependancy develops. And withdrawal is difficult, can feel like it is life threatening. (And can be for the elderly.)

Be careful. Be cautious. And look at the boards of those who have had serious withdrawal problems if you want to take this drug. It’s not worth it. Turn on a late night show, miss a night of sleep or two. You will eventually obtain the sleep you need naturally. Don’t risk further more serious problems from a drug addiction. Life and you are too good for that.

Sue

Memory problems with Ambien
Date: 4/29/2005
I came to this site looking for help. When I go to bed, I might be completely sleepy. However, as soon as my head touches the pillow, my mind gets into high gear and thoughts are pushed into my mind. That keeps me up. So, I started to take ambiem about a year ago. Today, I have heart palpitations that leave me short of breath at times. I also have hard time remembering words of things I do everyday. About 2 months ago, I couldn’t remember the combination to a lock I have used every day for the last 1.5 year. I don’t know what to do. I am afraid that if I get off ambien all at once, I might get some dangerous reactions since I keep seeing “Do Not get Off this drug Abruptly”. Anyone relates?

Alessandro

AskDocWeb: A lot of people share your uncertainty and fear with Ambien. Please talk to your doctor about what alternatives may work for your situation.

Any liver or kidney problems?
Date: 5/3/2005
Can long term use of ambien cause serious problems such as liver or kidney disease?

Vickie

AskDocWeb: No, we have not heard of Ambien causing liver or kidney disease.

Taking Ambien with Meridia?
Date: 5/4/2005
I have been taking ambien when I experience infrequent insomnia. I have had no carry over effects and I get a deep, good nights sleep. I am, though, wondering if it is safe to take with Meridia which I have just started taking and am experiencing only the insomnia.

Wendy

AskDocWeb: Ambien is okay to take with Meridia. But remember, Ambien is only meant for short term use.

Please!
Date: 5/4/2005
I have been on Ambien for 5 years now. It has ruined my life! Total memory loss, severe depression, muscle pains, TMJ, loss of all my teeth… I’ve been at home for 5 years! I’ve become a totally different person. Please, stay far away from this drug !

Laura

Could have hurt myself or somebody else
Date: 5/6/2005

I had a fight with my boyfriend one night and took an ambien so that I could sleep. I stayed up and typed him a note on the computer. I had the bottle there and took another one. I am not sure how many I actually took but I think maybe 4 10 mg pills. The only thing I remember is almost falling over in the chair. I went to bed and when the alarm clock went off I did not hear it. My boyfriend said that I did not move. He started trying to wake me and it took him 15 min to get me awake. I got up got dressed and he drove me to work. I do not remember getting dressed or putting on my makeup. I felt like I was drunk and I had a horrible hangover. If you are going to take these to help you sleep put them in the kitchen, take 1 and go to bed then. Do not stay up. People claim they take you on a trip. They are right but if you read the forums you will see that people do crazy things when they take them. Like get in a car or feel like somebody is in the room with them. Or you might like I did take a few more. I am not a teenager I am an adult and now that I realize that I could have hurt myself or somebody else. If I do take these again to sleep I will take 1/2 or 1. Now I know why they have a limit on how many you can obtain per month. Be careful if you take ambien.

Susy

Sleep great but
Date: 5/7/2005
It helps me to sleep great but I cant stand up without feeling like I am going to land of the floor from dizziness. It lasts for hours. Can’t even type after taking the pill, but it does help me to sleep. Thank you,

Leslie

AskDocWeb: To be safe, you should go straight to bed and stay there after taking ambien.

Looking for something that works
Date: 5/8/2005
I used Ambien for about 3 months after I got in a car accident, because I couldn’t sleep due to horrible nightmares. I took it 4-5 times a week, and about 15-20 minutes later I felt like I was drunk. I would be stumbling around, and acting really weird. I would wake up in the morning and wonder why my cell phone was open, and I had called 2 or 3 people. I had no idea what I had said to them, and later when I talked to them about it they told me what I said, I couldn’t remember it, no matter how hard I tried. Ambien did give me the best sleep I had, had in a long time. It let me sleep for 7-8 hours without disruptions and when I did wake up I felt really good. I wasn’t tired or cranky. It was the best sleep I had gotten from taking any kind of sleeping pills.
But then my doctor said she wouldn’t give it to me anymore and said I needed to try something else. She said it was addicting. I think a lot of medications are addicting. I have always had problems sleeping, and I took Trazadone for 12 years, from 1st grade up until I graduated, but it always made me tired, and cranky in the morning and most of the day. I haven’t taken trazadone since my senior year which was about a year ago, and even though I can’t sleep. I refuse to take it because of how it makes me feel in the morning.
I have tried Seriqual. That didn’t work, it made me too tired the next day. I tried Risperdal, that made me so tired that I slept for over 15 hours. I have even tried Tylonol PM, but even that made me kind of tired in the morning. I haven’t found anything that works as good as Ambien, and even though there are side-effects, I think its ok to take it 2-3 times a week when you really need it. But if anyone knows of any other kind of sleeping pill that has worked for them, please let me know! Thanks!

Amanda

AskDocWeb: Try Lunesta, it’s new on the market.

Advice on Ambien use
Date: 5/13/2005
Ambien is not meant for long term use, but because it is so clinically effective you cannot help but take it every day. With proper exercise, limited caffeine intake (especially before 5pm) and a decent diet, there is no reason that one needs to be reliant on this drug. If anxiety is a problem, I recommend taking Valerian which is a natural sedative that is not addictive. This will calm you during the day as well.

Cindy

Muscle pain with Ambien
Date: 5/14/2005
Have been taking Ambien for several years. In the past year I have started developing muscle pain…it is only in the muscle on the top of my leg from the knee up to the top of my leg. It seems to be getting worse. I have had several tests run and nothing shows up. Could this be a side affect of the Ambien? I take 1/2 to 1 tablet every night.

Carole

AskDocWeb: Muscle pain is a side effect other users have reported from time to time. An orthopedic specialist may be able to help.

Can’t sleep
Date: 5/17/2005
Lately I haven’t been able to sleep. I think my hormones are really high. What should I do?

Matt

AskDocWeb: Here are a few suggestions that may help. You could avoid eating and no drinks with caffeine in them within 2 hours of bedtime. Then calm yourself by quieting your environment a half-hour before bedtime. Shut off the TV/radio/music and relax during that last half-hour of the day. If you make a habit of doing this, you may soon learn to go to sleep within minutes of lying down. Of course it helps to make bedtime the same time every day. Also, a hot bath at the end of the day may help. Read more Ambien Feedback.

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