AMBIEN Reviews (ZOLPIDEM TARTRATE)Average Rating: 3.1 (1450 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare AMBIEN with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by Age oldest to youngest. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 |
More on AMBIEN: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR AMBIEN | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 1 | Sleep disturbance/depression relate | A few episodes of sleep paralysis and associated hallucinations, where people were in my bed, sitting around the bed and talking to me. Then one very terrible experience when taking it earlier in the evening with one glass of wine and dinner, when I fell asleep briefly, woke with a jolt, then apparently caught a taxi to my ex-partner's home and acted out, resulting in being arrested. I am a 46 year old woman, who has never ever done anything remotely aggressive, never acted out in any way, and in fact hate any confrontational experience. | I threw out this medication the next day. I am ashamed and humiliated and cannot bring myself to tell any of my friends. Fortunately, I have spoken to medical colleagues who have related other stories about this medication - the one thing in common seems to be that it should not be taken by people who have significant levels of stress or depression as it can cause a automatism type reaction, and that apart from the sheer embarrassment, can lead to more serious consequences. This medication should be prescribed with much greater caution. | F | 46 | 2 months | 11/2/2006 | 1 | Given to me in hospital stay | Been on this medication for 2 years, after doing my own research and reading this web site, I realize what I have suspected the last 6 months or so, the horrible axienty attacks when i don't take it for just one night that led to me being taken to the hospital, abnormal thoughts of knives , I don't have any knives in the house, not any for cooking or anything, horrible ear ringing, ordering things online in the middle of the night, | I don't know how to get off this drug, tried taking from 10 mgs to 5 which I usually do, to half of that, then went back on it again. Anyone can help me please email me at [email protected] | F | 46 | 2 years | 1/4/2007 | 1 | chronic insomnia | There is help to allow you to sleep and IT IS NOT AMBIEN. I posted some months ago that this is the devil's drug and a portal to hell - and I still believe that. | First, the help that is out there is Seroquel and can be prescribed by your doctor. It does not make you "high" (for those that are addicted or pre-disposed to get a high, you won't like it). My experience with Ambien almost ruined my marriage and my life. I went off cold turkey and of course suffered the consequences of a racing heart and lack of any sleep. My doctor (God bless him) prescribed me Seroquel and I am out in 15 or 20 minutes and sleep through the night uninterrupted (I can be awakened if needed and function properly, though a little tired). It is actually a drug to treat bipolar disorder - I am guessing the manic side of the disease... Anyway, I wanted to share this to anyone that suffers the hell of insomnia and is looking to an alternative. For me, there is absolutely no Ambien-type effects and while groggy for the first 10 minutes or so in the morning, the rest of my day is beautiful. ALL drugs manipulate our brains and like many, I wish I could get by without them. Seroquel for sleep is as close to sanity and peace that I have experienced in a long time. God bless those suffering from addictions and from the crazy games our brains can play on us - includin not letting us sleep. Keep trying - there is help and after YEARS of hell, I found it. I hope you do too. And PS: Those of you that claim to take Ambien without any side effects at all and call the rest of us addicts...well....maybe rethink your motives of belittling others. | F | 46 | 1 days 5 mg 1X day | 6/21/2010 | 1 | CHRONIC insomnia | Loss of memory and almost the loss of my good life | I have been Ambien-free several months now and things are good - not perfect - but good. I'm awake and posting just after 3 am, so my problems still rear thier heads at times. I presonally know the hell of insomnia - but I promise you the effects of Ambien are worse than hell. I posted here several times that I was addicted to Ambien and I called it the Devil's Drug - and I still believe that. My husband is a policeman and says they are seeing a real rise in DUIs - FOR AMBIEN. He said that some of the people react like they are on PCP and fight like crazy. I also spoke to a man that works for the VA and he helps treat those addicted to drugs. I asked him if he is seeing any problems with Ambien. He answered, "Oh, yeah. A huge problem". I just want to add that I find it sad that people here think it is funny to get a little high and not remember a conversation or two, so consider Ambien harmless. And as for the occasional poster that defends Ambien and says it is perfectly safe if you don't abuse it....(first of all, are you a drug rep?) Go to Google and look up the woman that slept so deeply she didn't realize her toddler got up and ended up drowning in the toilet....or of the housewife that masturbated in a restaurant and the police were called... Think that couldn't be you? Think again. Ambien can cause you to do things that will ruin your life - or the lives of those you care most about. | F | 46 | 5 mg 1X day | 2/19/2010 | 1 | Insomnia | I was sexually assualted while taking this medicine. As much as I wanted those people to be locked up, I know that I was just as guily. This has ended my marriage of 15 years. Please be aware that you can take this and do things that are completely out of your charcter. And the worst part, you can't remember anything! this medicine has ruined my children's lives. I'm so ashamed. Please be aware of what this can do to your life. | I was a normal soccer mom, until my Ambien nightmare. If you think this could never happen to you, then you are a fool! | F | 46 | 2 years 10mg 1X day | 10/7/2010 | 1 | Could not sleep through the night. | Back and neck pain and tightness, After visiting the chiropractor and message therapist with no relief, I miraculously made the connection that it was the Ambien and not stress that was causing my pain. I have been off the med. for less than a week and feel great. The back pain is completely gone. | 46 | 6 weeks 10mg 1X day | 10/29/2012 | 1 | On and off for 1 year | amnesia, stumbling, hallucinations | The Devil's Drug and possibly a portal to hell. I have had chronic insomnia for years and started taking Ambien with great success at first. I would fall asleep right away and wake up rested. I guess my body built up a tolerance and I wrote emails, talked to people on the phone (losing several important relationships and getting fired from my job because of the irrational behavior I didn't remember). I became addicted. After putting my marriage in danger 3 days ago (I won't go into why, but it was an "Ambien Incident"), my husband and I stood together and flushed them down the toilet. Never again. Never. I have had high anxiety and hardly slept in the past several nights, but I don't care. I'll live through that and get over it - I would not get over losing all the good in my life. I am determined to get my life back. I'm glad it works for some, but please know it is dispensed like candy and with little warning of danger. It almost ruined my life - don't let it ruin yours. Seek alternatives! God bless. | F | 46 | 1 years | 12/4/2009 | 1 | chronic insomnia | loss of memeory, stubling, eating excessively.... | I posted here back on the 4th of December. It has been 9 days (nights) without Ambien and there have been some rough points, but over-all, I'm just glad I got off it when I did. The problems that stuck out were that I sure as heck couldn't sleep. My heart pounded so loud I swear I could hear it. A little bit white-knuckle. Dreams also got REALLY weird when I actually COULD sleep... and I could feel my body (and mind) actually desiring to take Ambien again. I also keep thinking I see something out of the corner of my eye, then there is nothing. Not comfortable and it is disconcerting. But it IS endurable. Over-all. Totally worth giving it up. It is getting better since I stopped and I am starting to sleep. Seriously, please beware you could do something so horrible when you take this stuff - and not remember ANYTHING. Nada. Not even an inkling of memory. I'll post in a few weeks and give you an update. I told my doctor the problem I had and he told me there was an older anti-depressant that tested very well for helping you go to sleep and not have fatigue the next day and it is only prescribed for sleep now. THIS DRUG IS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE ANY AMBIEN OR LUNESTA SIDE-EFFECTS. I can't remember the name, but I will call and find out, then post it. Good luck. Happy sleeping. If you become addicted or have crazy symptoms, please get help to stop if you can't do it on your own. God bless. | M | 46 | 1 years | 12/10/2009 | 1 | insomnia, headaches | I detest this drug. I have been taking 2.5 to 5 mg in 2 separate doses for about a year. It makes you feel like you're in a BLACK HELL HOLE the next day. Yes and it gives bizarre dreams. (frightening and violent ones.) I can't work or drive the next day sometimes. Lay in bed all day waiting for it to wear off. No taste sensations and some nausea as well. Our culture and lifestyle are so whacked with problems that our population suffers so much anxiety and insomnia. ALL THESE SYMPTOMS SHOULD BE GIVEN GREATER PUBLICITY AND REPORTED IN THE STUDY RESULTS!!! Those Ambien commercials are INCOMPLETE. | I'm trying to wean off of it. Forgot to mention dry eyes and inability to keep eyes open or focused as another symptom. Today is a perfect example of Ambien poisoning. | F | 46 | 2 years | 10/22/2009 | 1 | insomnia | loss of memory, loss of motor skills, and a number of other horrible side-effects | It has been just over a month since I ditched Ambien and I am here to say it DOES get better. A lot better. It was horrible at first when I quit and there is a definite detox period. Time passes and you can still be existing with Ambien (because it certainly isn't living), or you can shake it and get off the stuff.As I posted before I lost my job, most of my life and finally almost my marriage because of Ambien. Nothing is worth losing what God blessed me with. What bothers me here are people that say the DRUG is great and they have hardly had any bad experiences EXCEPT for a few crazy emails or whatever. If you can have a convesration (or whatever) that you don't remember, then what else could you do and not remember? Why not hurt your child or take a knife out of a drawer to stab somebody? Really, there isn't a difference if you don't remember....Just go to bed immediately? What if you need to get up? What if there is an emergency of some sort with a spouse or child? Are you just MIA? Or will you get up and do God knows what? Save yourself. I am against this horrible drug 110% | M | 46 | 1 years | 12/30/2009 | 1 | I quit Ambien two weeks ago and I can tell you I am going freaking NUTS. I want to grab my ears and pull them off. I can't sleep, just like before. My teeth are gritting and I wish I could bite off my tongue!!!! I know the relief Ambien has - I spent YEARS staring at the ceiling and watching the sun come up with no rest at all. Then I went to work and suffered. I have depression, so that went wild too! I know your pain. Let me just say, this crap is not worth it. Hitting my head with a hammer would feel better than I feel right now. I have posted twice. I have said I was quitting to get my life back. For the love of God, don't put yourself where I am. Talk a good game about falling asleep and feeling good....lots of luck. This really is a devil's drug. You could be wher I am right now and never know what happened. | F | 46 | 1 years | 12/16/2009 | 1 | Insomnia | Headaches, anxiety. | I have taken Ambien off and on for five years, but have taken it everynight for the last two years. I have taken Ambien and Ambien CR. When I first started taking Ambien I thought I found heaven. When it kicks in I got this "life is beautiful feeling" and then fell into a happy, peaceful slumber. Waking up the next day, I felt refreshed. However, I discovered this honeymoon period did not last forever. I developed a tolerance and moved on to Ambien CR. In my experience Ambien CR does not produce that "life is beautiful feeling". It takes longer to work. You are supposed to take this on an empty stomach and that is very important - no food 2 hours prior. Taking it after 1 to 1 1/2 hours after eating and it would stay in my system the next day. Then came the worst part. I got a good night sleep, but the next day I experienced extreme headaches, anxiety, depression, aggression, dread eventually panic attacks. Ambien is something that should only be used occcasionally. Unfortunately, for those of us who have lived with insommia for years, once you take it - it is easy to get mentally addicted to. That is the risk you take it with it. I just quit it - because the anxiety and depression is unbearable. | F | 46 | 5 years | 1/15/2010 | 5 | Peri-menopause sleeplessnes | Much better sleep, feel better in the morning. | Prior to Ambien (actually the generic) I was a very light sleeper and was up several times at night, then the next day I was always tired at work. But now I sleep better. The only thing I worry about is that I don't think I can sleep without it. My family dr won't give it to me at all, so my gyno does. | F | 45 | 2 years 5-7mg 1X day | 2/23/2010 | 5 | Insomnia. | No side effects. | DO NOT DRIVE AT ALL WHILE TAKING AMBIEN! TAKE AMBIEN AFTER YOU GO TO BED! | F | 45 | 3 years | 6/1/2006 | 5 | Insomnia | None | This is a great medicine for those who really need it for insomnia. I take 10mg 30 minutes before bedtime and get a good nights sleep and wakeup rested and alert with no drowsiness at all. | M | 45 | 1 years | 11/7/2006 | 5 | I have chronic RLS | The only one I have is that it does seem to make me sleepier the next day than I would otherwise be. I have not had any wild & crazy episodes like so many other people, thankfully. | I developed chronic Restless Legs Syndrome during my pregnancy a couple of years ago and it was making my life miserable. I went from being a person who had no trouble sleeping to someone who was sleep-deprived. My doc suggested Ambien & I was reluctant at first, but now I'm so glad I take it. I have been able to get a full night's sleep ever since! I will add, however, that I DO NOT take Ambien if I am the only person at home with our son. I am afraid I won't hear if he cries or needs us. Otherwise, I am very satisfied with this medication. | F | 45 | 2 months | 10/4/2008 | 5 | Sleep disorder | I hate to admit this, but I love Ambien. I sleep such a solid night's sleep, and I wake up feeling perfectly refreshed. However, I only take 2.5 mgs (split the 5mgs in half). I am a litte scared that I am suffering memory loss, or it could be all part of turning middle-aged. | All these other comments scare me. I take Ambien every night and I'm so happy. My husband believes I am addicted and he's right. I am addicted. But the quality of my life, as well as how I am doing so much better in my job because I'm not tired, cannot be discounted. | F | 45 | 150 days | 1/31/2007 | 4 | Fibromyalgia | 1st night took full dose 10mg, but husband unable to wake me for 20mins, so cut back & eventually ended up on only 2.5mg(!) per night. | regulated my sleep quite well, but didn't result in significant improvement in pain levels, and after time fatigue seemed to be caused by the Ambien - even during daytime, 12hrs after having taken it, so shouldn't have continued for so long. Stopped taking after about a year, had no problem sleeping, and got a little energy back. | F | 45 | 1 years | 4/22/2008 | 4 | Insomnia caused by Chronic Pain | Occasional sleepwalking or sleepeating episodes and amnesia of the event (not remembering conversations the night before). | I take 5-10 mg of Ambien only maybe 2-3 times a month and alternate with Lunesta as needed. Yes, these are potent drugs and should be treated with respect. Take them while you are in bed. Not partying, or while staying up, you need to take the pill and go straight to bed. I would not always have the sleepwalking/sleepeating episodes, maybe only 3-4 times a year? I notice that the 10mg tends to cause more sleep walking and the 5mg has no side effects at all. Go straight to bed after taking. | F | 45 | 5 years | 12/20/2008 | 4 | Insomnia - waking too early | More uninhibited sex life. TERRIBLE midnight eating. HORRIBLE midnight cooking of nonsensical foods if I'd had any alcohol. Ranting, emotional outbursts on text and email. And finally, rebound insomnia bad enough to get me off this devil's brew! | At first-- it was a miracle. Sleeping more than 5 hours with no "wake up" was perfect and I was a much "better" mother to my children, and more fun to be around because I would have slept. Then, 5 years ago, the uncontrollable midnight eating started. Every single night. Hotel mini-bars --- LOOK OUT! You'd be emptied. That was followed by cooking the most insane, gross foods if I'd had alcohol within an hour or so. Texting and calling and emailing with misspellings, and saying silly, overly emotional things to people whom I normally would not "cross that line". A year ago, rebound insomnia started. I realized, "Why the hell would I continue on this drug when I get the same effects OFF the drug?" Notice bad memory problems creeping in. Self loathing for the addiction to a drug set in, as well. So, I fired up my meditation CDs, got a low dose bottle of Melatonin (which makes me too groggy and weird-feeling, even at a low dose) and decided to start exhausting myself, aka, exercise. Wish me luck. Cold turkey when last dose ran out and I couldn't get a refill in time. So far, more than SO GOOD. If I can get off, anyone can. Also, I am sick of my daughter calling me "AMBI" any time I act fun or silly!! | M | 45 | 7 years 10 mg 1X day | 7/28/2010 |