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.

Trouble after taking Ambien
Date: 10/22/2009
Personally, I’ve had a long clinical history of insomnia (8+ years) and have taken a number of different pharmaceuticals in an effort to affect any sort of difference. I’ll say that ambien (and for that matter, all the other z-drugs) was decidedly effective in terms of knocking me out for eight solid hours…after a 1-3 hour semi-lucid period that, subjectively, was very, very similar to being very, very drunk.

It’s been years since I’ve taken anything for insomnia at all, but I do still remember at least one incident of crashing my car into a sign while under the influence of ambien, and another of a police escort (while on foot) home, with very little recollection of the immediate circumstances in both cases. Don’t get me wrong, I’d give an arm and a leg to be able to sleep well consistently…but the trouble I managed to get myself into after taking ambien (and before falling asleep) posed too much of a threat to my own personal safety for me to feel comfortable taking it again on any sort of regimen.

Dexter

Negative side effects
Date: 10/27/2009
I’ve been taking Ambien on and off for about a year now. It lets me sleep, that’s the best thing. But I also have some pretty negative side effects too. I get this “high” and start cleaning. Asked the pharmacist about this and he said it was a form of “sleep-cleaning” (like “sleep-walking). Lately I’ve been having panic attacks and crying fits. Apologizing to my husband. Waking up the next day and not remembering what I had said or done. Checking my inbox and getting response emails from people I emailed…then having to do damage control!

Kat

Ambien suicides
Date: 10/28/2009
My husband shot himself in the head while taking ambien for only two weeks. He was always a happy man who loved life he never would have done this if it hadn’t been for this drug. This happen Sept. 23, 2009 we were going to celebrate our 28th anniversary this month. Now the man I loved and who loved me is gone from my life because of this drug. Since his death I heard nothing but terrible things about ambien. Other suicides by people who never would have done so. This medicine should be taken off the market before more people are killed.

A.

Ambien helped me a lot
Date: 10/28/2009
I have been taking 10 mg zolpidem (ambien) for months now even after being diagnosed with anxiety (take 10mg lexapro) and it has helped me a lot. I do take it everyday and as I’ve worked through some problems it has become more effective. I will taper off of it eventually. I am a Christian and believe that with Gods help all things are possible! For now I am very stable and life is great! My suggestion is try it but it won’t solve the core issue of your sleep problems, you gotta find out what’s bothering you.

Kristy

Withdrawal
Date: 10/28/2009
People always ask-how long till it’s out of my system? THAT HAS NOTHING to do with the withdrawal. The withdrawal is caused by it NOT being in your system. When it leaves your system, that is when the WD starts!!! And Ambien is NOTHING compared to Opiods or Benzos. Nothing at all! Switch to Lunesta and you should be 80% fine, 100% within 2 weeks. Of course I know nothing about Lunesta WD (YET)

Paul

Short periods of spacing out
Date: 10/28/2009
My gosh I am trying to pass a math test and keep screwing up on the simple ones. I set the problem up right, but later when it gets graded, I missed some that I knew how to do. I’m beginning to think it is the Ambien. I have been on it for years. I am trying to be a nurse and if I can’t pass the math test I’m not gonna make it. I just hope if I stopped taking it my memory will return. I have little short periods of spacing out, because I keep screwing up on little details and think I did great but I messed up on a stupid mistake.

Julie

I reach for that bottle every night
Date: 10/29/2009
Have been taking zolpidem for maybe 5 years now. Varied doses: 10mg, 5 mg, 2.5 mg lots of nights. I cut down on my own, but find I often wake up after about 4-6 hrs sleep, never rested. Always wake up too early, and tired. Once in a great while I sleep like a baby. I’ve never had any of the weird, scary side effects, but my energy level is low, and I have joint pain. Is this just age? I reach for that bottle every night, take my 2.5, not infrequently take another 2.5 in the night when I wake up, get a couple or 3 more hours and feel pretty good. Is this as good as it gets? I’m too dependent to stop taking it. I fear fragmented, insomniac days and nights forever. I nap a little almost every afternoon. Is there a better product? Is this inevitable with age? My grandmother had a little milk and whiskey toddy every night, my mother took Dalmane. I kind of wish I’d never started.

Julie

AskDocWeb: Some sleep problems are not just age. Taking an afternoon nap is one way to insure a sleep problem at the end of the day. That is one of the things they teach in a Sleep Clinic, which we highly recommend for anyone suffering from insomnia.

Aggression?
Date: 10/30/2009
Husband has taken ambein for years. approx. 3-4 months ago he showed mild symptoms of depression and agression, starting infreqently but more frequently. Last night he became enraged and totally out of control – this IS NOT, nor has it been in the past, his “normal” demeanor. He is 75 years old. Can continued use of this drug cause agression? Takes 5 mg. nightly.

Diana

AskDocWeb: The patient information on this drug says to stop using Ambien and call your doctor at once if you have any of the following serious side effects:

• Aggression
• Anxiety
• Confusion
• Decreased inhibitions
• Depressed mood
• Feeling restless or agitated
• Hallucinations
• Loss of personality
• No fear of danger
• Risk-taking behavior
• Thoughts of hurting yourself
• Unusual thoughts

Other reasons to seek immediate medical attention include allergic reactions (rash, itching, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, swelling of the hands, legs, mouth, face, lips, eyes, throat or tongue, unusual hoarseness, chest pain, fast or irregular heartbeat, memory problems, severe dizziness, or vision changes.

Please!
Date: 11/2/2009
Please everyone, read the product litature review before taking Ambien…. It is not for the elderly, do not let your doctor give it to the elderly. Also I think it should be taken off the market for good. Your health, your life is more important than the risk of what this drug may cause.

Shirley

Ambien for restless leg syndrome
Date: 11/3/2009
I have been taking Ambien 10mg every night for several months. It has done what nothing else could do for chronic restless leg syndrome w/pain and sleeplessness. Although my MD has prescribed it, I’m very concerned about long term use and changes in daytime mood and memory. I plan, based on information gathered on the Internet, to gradually withdraw my use of Ambien, even though my quality and length of sound sleep have improved dramatically.

Jo

Acting very strange
Date: 11/5/2009
I had been taking Ambien for a few weeks, when my husband reported that I was acting very strange, talking and acting out, but I was asleep. Last Thursday, I took one Ambien CR and one muscle relaxer (chronic back pain) and I woke up in the HOSPITAL! I apparently got up in my sleep and took a whole handful of more Ambien!!! My husband had to take me to the ER due to the overdose!! Also because I did overdose I had to spend 5 days in the psych ward!!! And here’s the kicker…I don’t remember ANYTHING about what I did. I have complete memory loss for all of my actions after taking that first dose prior to going to bed. BE CAREFUL!

Julie

A mild acid trip?
Date: 11/5/2009
I have been clean for about a year now. Back in my partying days I used every drug I can think of my favorite was heroin. Ambien reminds me of a mild acid trip no joke. I have been taking ambien for over four years now. I will agree I am addicted and honestly it to me is more addictive then any drug I have ever had and that includes extreme heroin addiction. However my insomnia has effected me my entire life. I cannot fall to sleep due to mind racing not a physical issue such as RLS. So even with the addiction I still need Ambien it’s a catch 22. Because of the mental factor nothing like Trazadone Zanex etc. In fact the feeling of those pills that make me physically lethargic only makes my mind panic more. Of course I have tried everything from avoiding light, no caffeine to meditation to no avail. So how in the hell do I get off of it if I need it? Is there ever a time to accept the addiction?

Jake

AskDocWeb: Accepting addiction may be okay if someone was in an “end of life” situation, but there are alternatives. There are so many people that have the same problem that there are now Sleep Clinics most major cities. These are the specialists that help people deal with every kind of sleep problem so check your local yellow pages.

Ambien suicide
Date: 11/6/2009
My husband committed suicide after only two weeks on Ambien. This is a terrible medicine and should be taken off the market. My husband of 28 years never would have done this if it wasn’t for his doctor prescribing this.

Andi

Complications
Date: 11/7/2009
I have been on ambien for over 8 years and have tried to get off but can’t. I am taking 2 – 10 mg a night I break 2 pills in 1/2’s and take it when I lay down and I do sleep for a couple of hours and then take another 1/2 sleep a few hours and until its morning time I continue this routine….I have had weight loss surgery so not sure if I am having complications due to ambien or the weight loss surgery or both combined…

I have been in the hospital for 5 days. My friend thought I was having a stroke and took me to the hospital. Of course the doctors didn’t give me ambien for 5 days and I did NOT sleep any of those 5 days…the doctors still have not found out caused the effects I have had…memory loss I didn’t drive for over 3 months and even to this day I have trouble driving in Houston and I have been here all my life….I could go on and on about the symptoms I have had…broke up my marriage of 24 years…I said and did things my ex said I would never do unless I was on the ambien…. If there is a class action suit I would love to get on it…I am still on ambien cause I cant sleep without it…I know I will need to go to a detox or a clinic to get off.

Debra
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