Drug Ratings for AMBIENAverage Rating: 3.2 (1308 Ratings)
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Results are sorted by Gender with males listed first 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 |
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR AMBIEN | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
  | F M | | | | |||
| 4 | Insomnia | Binge Eating At Night After Taking Medication | I like this med as in it puts me to sleep and I can stay asleep until morning. I decided to cut down and eventually go off this med because of enormous weight gain over the past 3 years due to binge eating at night after taking med. (It didn't work, I could not sleep after cutting down). I take 12.5 mg. I have also tried multiple over the counter and prescribed meds for sleep. None work well except this med. I will try to take my med and then not get out of bed to go downstairs for late night snacks...It's the best I can do at this time. "I NEED TO SLEEP." | F | 48 | 3 years | 9/29/2008 | 4 | Insomnia | I often have no recollection of things I did under the influence of Ambien. My daughter has told me I have done and said some pretty strange things after taking AMbien and I have no clue what she is talking about. I continue to take it though because it actually does help me to both fall asleep and stay asleep. | I am fully aware that 1 of the side effects of this drug is memory loss while under it's influence. I would like to know if this particular drug causes memory loss in general--like kill off your brain cells memory loss? I have been experiencing and noticing in teh last 5-6 months that my memory as a whole seems to just be radically changed. I pride myself or should I say used to pride myself on having a great memory. Lately though I have dropped in IQ instantly. I am only 32yrs old and I am an educated person so this sudden change is casuing me a great deal of concern. I woudl just liek to know if anyone else has experienced these same effects. | F | 32 | 10 months | 4/9/2009 | 4 | Insomnia | none | used only two weeks so no problem with tolerance or addiction or withdrawal- great for a short term solution | F | 38 | 14 days | 9/20/2008 | 4 | insomnia from back/neck pain | Learned quickly to disable all methods of communication prior to taking it. Turn off the phone, hide the car keys, turn off the computer, lock the doors and put away my money and GO TO BED. I woke up in front of the TV one morning in my t-shirt and panties surrounded by Wal-Mart bags, my purse open and $300 gone. Did I just shop nearly nude? No. I had given my son money and a Christms list with no memory of having done this. I have had lengthy telephone conversations with no ideo what was said (probably loving-love everybody on this stuff). I have obligated myself to events I can't physically fulfill due to my chronic pain condition, but I felt good at the time I was called upon because I had just taken my ambien. I clean my house around 3 a.m. as it relieves my pain, but pain is much worse the next day. I just bought a bunch of dresses on E-Bay that aren't my size. TAKE THIS MED AND GO TO BED or better yet GO TO BED AND TAKE THIS MED. | The round lavendar pills worked really well for me, but then began to cause increased pain. There was another one that was a skinny white oblong pill that made me ill-very ill. I just tried the brand that has the 54-553 imprint on a round whtie pill and I am feeling nothing-no drowsiness & no crazy feeling.... well except feeling like I wasted my money and will be up all night. Don't take this during the daytime and don't drink with it either. Be responsible. I wish the CR wasn't so expensive because it worked better for sleep, but the kick of la la land leading to sleep wasn't there with the CR. Ambien does spice up the love life for women. | F | 40 | 3 years | 9/5/2008 | 4 | unable to sleep-anxiety | groggy in the morning... but I believe that it gave me severe tenitus ( ringing in the ears)... I have stopped taking it and I think the ringing is less... anyone else with this side effect? | In the past I have "sleeped walked and driven"... very scary stuff.. have to get 7 1/2 - 8 hrs. I did love the sleep part... it worked! | F | 56 | 6 months | 9/6/2008 | 4 | Insomnia | After being on Ambien for two years, suddenly stopped cold turkey. Experienced a seizure! | Ambien is great in that it does put you to sleep. However when it says its to be taken in short term, that is the truth! Very addictive! | F | 43 | 2 years | 6/2/2009 | 4 | insomnia/bipolar | IF you seriously are trying to regulate your sleep schedule/gradually work your way down to an earlier "bedtime", you need to get into bed (with lights off, no computer, phone, etc) NO MORE than 10 mins after taking it. i personally have a hard time doing this simply because if i could (healthfully/logically) stay up 24 hrs/day, i would. i write in a journal before i go to sleep and i am always suprised with what i've written the night before. i've traced all the shadows on my wall, made strange concoctions in the kitchen which i've found the next morning, etc. | feel good in the morning-able to wake up when i set an alarm, and usually without an alarm, without feeling groggy/hungover unlike other medications have been on. of course it completely depends what time you take it. the later you take it (after 2:30 am-ish) the later your body will naturally wake you up. i initially went on ambien temporarily, thinking it'd be about 2-3 months...it's been like 5ish months and stil using it, but i've started taking 5 mg instead of 10 mg and think i can definitely ween myself off as long as i'm serious about it. | F | 20 | 5 months | 6/2/2009 | 4 | Insomnia | Very mild, nothing compared to how I feel after a night or two with no sleep! A bit sleepy, sometimes vivid dreams, but not too disturbing. If I wake up and need to use the bathroom I feel a bit stumbly so try to be extra careful. Can cause amnesia when combined with alcohol. | I break a 10 mg pill into 3 parts (just use my fingernails - pieces aren't EXACTLY the same size). 1/3 of a pill knocks me out. I try not to use it every night. | F | 48 | 5 years | 6/1/2009 | 4 | Insomnia since childhood | Auditory and visual hallucinations mainly. Hallucinations only occur if I do not go to sleep after taking the medication (which occured if something came up... ie-a big deadline, family member came over, etc.). Funny taste in mouth and throat. About the hallucinations, for anyone interested... I have been taking sleep meds for 15 years. I went to a sleep study at 8 that showed I woke up some 25-32 times a night and never entered REM sleep. I have taken all types of sleeping meds and started AMBIEN within the past year. It works great for sleep with little weight gain, memory loss, or drowsiness the next day. I have had very convincing hallucinations, however. So convincing, I called the police on one occasion. , | Concerning the hallucinations, I live in an appartment and can hear my neighbors moving around... which is normal in a multi-family complex. For some reason, when taking AMBIEN, I have had experiences where I interperet these noises to be malicious and think people are in my home. I have even thought, and seen, in fact, people moving in my home. These hallucinations have only happened twice within the year, but were so vivid and convincing I called the police. To the woman who said everyone with a side-effect must have something wrong with them; trust me, I do not. Besides insomnia, I am very stable as an individual. I have a bachelors degree and work in a very competitive industry as an executive. I have been at sleep medication since I was 8. I am 23 now. I have documented insomnia. Ambien has a very strange side effect... no other medication or circumstance has caused hallucinations to me, on any level. I still take ambien, it is the only drug that works well for me. This is just a 'buyer beware.' This drug can do some funny stuff to your mind! | F | 23 | 365 days | 5/19/2009 | 4 | Insomnia | Drunk feeling/memory loss/eating weird foods/masturbating more then usual/texting late at night | Ok so like this drug is great; however, it is so freakin addictive. Does it help me sleep? The answer is yes!! I just don't fancy the idea of having amnesia every night. I will lay in bed the minute I take it. Then BAM! All of a sudden I will feel so good and buzzed that I will get out of bed and do shit for like 2 hrs before I finally crash out. For instance; I would text my friends late at night. (Good thing they stay up too) Eat all kinds of weird food. Masturbate more then normal. Yeah you are probably thinking what's considered normal? Well I did it more then what I would consider normal. At least for a girl. I would try on tons of outfits so I would have new ideas what to wear to work the next day. Hmm what else....oh and if you think that's weird get this. I would blow off going out with my friends sometimes just so I can stay home and take my ambien early. Well that's a great life. (Sarcastic) I need to come off of it but the mere thought of it freaks me out. | F | 26 | 3 months | 5/10/2009 | 4 | Insomnia | Memory loss, texting people really late, eating late, buying stuff online, seeing things move on the headboard... | I actually googled 20 mg ambien. I was trying to find out if it would be ok to double the dose as I still wake some during the night and didn't with cr. After coming to this site first I will not be trying that. In fact I will go for at least halving my dose every other night...and staying in bed... I take it expecting it to put me to sleep but it doesn't. I would lay in bed reading waiting on it to knock me out and it wouldn't. I would call my sons, i texted my Pastor once at 12:30 am... go get grapes out of the fridge and eat... I would pick up my book the next day and start where the bookmark was then back up a few pages finding nothing i remembered reading till i backed up a couple of chapters...my family also teases me about how I act after taking it like I am acting high on it doing all of these weird things but as some say the being able to sleep outweighs those things when you do not sleep without it. Tho I am concerned now as others have stated here about permanant memory loss... I am 49 and have always suffered with insomnia...herbal stuff breaks my face out... tylenol pm and those things give me nightmares...i have found no other working alternative... I also take 60 mg cymbalta...I don't know what else I can do... | F | 49 | 1 years | 5/4/2009 | 4 | Insomnia, nightmares, back/leg pain | Took Ambien 10mg for 4 years. Took Ambien CR 10mg for 6 months. I always dedicated 8 hrs to sleep, and NEVER drank alcohol. The ambien worked fabulous for sleep. Could sleep through the pain and the nightmares took on a less frightening quality. Negative side affects;definitely amnesia, exhausted during the day, mood swings, trouble concentrating. Doing things I would never do while not taking this med. Emailing, writing messages, phone calls that I don't remember making. This is after I would wake up after falling asleep. Complete inhibition. Sex with my husband that I do not remember. Raunchy sex that made my husband happy, but really started making my self esteem suffer. I felt too drugged to argue. I wish I were joking as I think back to all the things that happened when I took this medication. When switching to the CR, thinking perhaps the increased dose would help me stay asleep, therefore not wake up and do all this stuff (which didn't happen...woke up anyway), aft | I always took Ambien as directed, and didn't drink. I think as an occasional help to sleep, this would be ok, but not chronic like I took it as prescribed by my pain management doctor. I have now quit taking all Ambien as of 2 weeks ago, and the withdrawal was agony. Horrid night sweats, day chills, hallucinating, night terrors (thought my kids and cat were dead one night), anxiety through the roof. Now into the 2nd week of detoxing, starting to feel better, and my hair is starting to show signs of regrowth after taking mass vitamin supplements and scalp massage. I've also since, gotten a divorce. Sometimes it takes an odd situation to show the worst in a person, and my husband knew the Ambien was making me a different person, and he verbally and admittedly took advantage of that. Scary, scary medication! | F | 40 | 4 years | 7/9/2008 | 4 | I kept waking every hour | I have a burning tongue, mouth & lips. I am not sure it is due to taking Ambien for about 1 1/2 years. It does help me sleep about 6 hrs. Tried getting off, but am up constantly. Anyone experience this? | F | 68 | 2 years | 8/15/2008 | 4 | insomnia | giddiness, memory loss, wild sexual behavior, drunk feeling.the other ratings on this site really freaked me out...this drug is not something to be taken long term. wondering why my doc keeps prescribing it to me?? | I started taking this 19 months ago after the birth of my daughter. I now find I cant stay asleep unless I take it...I dont want to be dependent on this stuff. right now it is my 2nd day without it and I am taking herbs for my sleep issues. | F | 32 | 19 months | 7/24/2008 | 4 | sleepless nights | I just recently began taking ambien, maybe a week and last night apparently I woke up change my clothes and hid the car keys under my pillow and my husband said I was yelling at him and his buddy. I have no idea what happened. Im glad I found this website because after waking up in different clothes and searching for my car keys for about 30 mins today I am going to find another sleep aid maybe back to the OTC sleep help. | F | 42 | 1 weeks | 9/9/2008 | 4 | Insomnia due to anxiety | A little spacey, forgetful about 45 minutes after taking it. | This is a funny drug. It does a good job at helping me sleep at night with no hangover. However, if I don't go to bed immediately after taking it, I do things that I don't remember doing the next day. For instance last night, I don't remember washing my face before bed, getting into my pj's and having sex with my partner. That's a little scary! He said I seemed a little out of it and had no idea I had taken the Ambien. It does put you in a trance, so I highly recommend getting straight into bed after you take it. Otherwise, you may raid the refrigerator and not remember! Weird!! | F | 31 | 15 days | 9/15/2008 | 4 | Manic-related insomnia | A little grogginess upon awakening. | I am always shocked at the things that happen to people on this drug. Nothing of the sort ever happened to me. I just slept. That's it. I took them for 14 days, so I never got addicted. I would say it did it's job well. Sometimes it would wear off too soon though, but I did eventually go back to sleep. | F | 35 | 14 days | 8/5/2008 | 4 | Insomnia | Vivid and strange dreams, very dizzy after taking the medication.Made me think differently honestly if I didn't get to bed right away I felt like I had smoked pot. I did weird but (nothing harmful)things.But other than that I think it works great | Being dizzy is common which is why you take it and get into bed. Why are people leaving comments about driving after they have taken this?? That's just stupid! After reading about the wild sex I can agree, I just never thought it could be the Ambien. | F | 20 | 8 months | 8/8/2008 | 4 | severe insomnia | Memory loss, stumbling drunkenness, forgetting entire conversations, having sex w/ my husband having no memoery at all of this, food cravings, bidding on ebay auctions and not remembering, sending emails... | Works terrific for me for sleep. Have been taking 10mg this for 3 years now every day (my dr. did not express concern about addiction but I am just not seeing the reports and getting worried). Rebound insomnia if not taken. Certain times of month during hormonal changes it does not work as effectively. | F | 39 | 3 years | 4/24/2008 | 4 | insomnia | Severe memory loss. Doing things after taking the pill and not remembering, such as eating, talking to friends, etc. Those side effects wore off after a few years of taking the drug. | It takes a higher and higher dose to get the same effect. Very addictive. Be careful with this medication and have it monitored closely. | F | 36 | 4 years | 5/5/2008 | 4 | insomnia | drunk feeling if I don't lay down & go to sleep right away | Unable to sleep without it. Daughter woke me up one night & told me someone was trying to break in the house, I loaded a gun (had never done so in my life), and shoot a hole right through the bedroom door & through the wall. It's strong but it works! | F | 38 | 7 years | 2/17/2009 | 4 | often can't fall asleep | some mild hallucinatory sensations. | to avoid side-effects I've learned to take the pill only when I get into bed. I read for about 5 minutes, then turn off the lights and fall asleep within another 5. If I take it before getting into bed, it seems to not work as a sleep aid. I only take occasionally. | F | 63 | 2 years | 2/20/2009 | 4 | Toss & Turn for hours | legs weak, apparantly i stare at people, i've walked in my sleep, i make food, I eat, i had sexual encounters with partner that I do not remember, but apparnatly it was great | i don't want to give it up because it helps me sleep. i've taken it on and off for about a year. | F | 42 | 1 years | 2/27/2009 | 4 | insomnia/anxiety during nighttime | Ambien takes about 25-30 minutes to actually Work for me. I started on 10mgs for a month and once i started a anti anxiety med my doc gave me 5mgs. 5mg works just as good for me but i do wake up more frequently. I obviously try not stay awake to much longer after taking this drug BECAUSE YOUR NOT SUPPOSE TO.But i did, one night, after taking the pill, start to feel a bit wacky/dizzy/laughing alot..Then i APPARENTLY ordered like 50 dollars worth of online stuff, which i DID NOT remember the next day. THis drug make me forget the last hour of my nights completely. 10mgs made me hear people talking in my room. it was pretty funny.but yeah 5mg is better if u can switch to that you feel less drowsy in the am | F | 25 | 2 months | 3/28/2009 | 4 | insomnia/anxiety during sleeping | definitely works well if taken on empty stomach. I have tried with and with out food and def makes a difference. BUT it also makes u do insane things after taking it like oh i dunno order a bunch of crap online then have NO MEMORY of it the next morning LOL yay But ya i wake up a few times a night) i switched from 10 mil to 5 mil cuz im also on a anti anxiety med) i feel both milligrams work the same for me, but ya i laugh alot after taking it then i do wierd stuff for 20 mintues then fall asleep | F | 25 | 2 months | 3/28/2009 | 4 | Insomnia | I have had two occasions of when I wake up in the morning, there is no recollection of taking my glasses off, turning the TV off or even remembering what I was watching the night before..no matter how hard I try to remember. Last night, I apparently slept thru the phone ringing at 11:15pm..and the phone is on the nightstand next to the bed. That is sorta scary. Other than the occasional memory loss, I sleep well now..even thru my husband's snoring. | F | 47 | 2 months | 4/3/2009 | 4 | Stress, anxiety, unable to sleep | Hallucinations, sense of euphoria, wanting to eat and having no memory of it the next day until you see the wrappers/dirty dishes. And..SLEEP! | A very odd drug but useful. As many of the other reports here talk about, there ARE some side effects that have gotten some people into trouble. If you take an Ambien and continue to stay awake, walk around the house or surf the net you are bound to experience some of them. Words on the computer will start to bend, objects in your house will seem to float up towards the ceiling. It can make you think that objects are people staring at you. It can also make you feel like the "life of the party" and makes you want to start cooking and eating. The real danger is when people get into their cars and want to go shopping. Driving on Ambien will get you a DUI! I have found that Ambien CR keeps me asleep longer and have since switched. The eating/sleep walking/hallucinations are not as intense but they are still there. I do not feel groggy or run down the next day, no side effects afterwards, just the initial "twilight zone" of weirdness that happens before you finally | F | 42 | 3 years | 3/6/2009 | 4 | insomnia/ stress/ anxiety | none | after reading these comments for almost a week after i perscribed this medication i was too scared to take it. however i got brave last night. i made sure i took it while in bed and actually ready to go to sleep. i had no problems with it. i woke up about twice but was able to fall right back asleep without getting out of bed. when i woke up this morning i was totally ready to start my day!! THATS a feeling i never have becuase i am usually too tired. was not drowsy and was so thankfull for a good night sleep. So for those of you who were like me, it just might be okay..take it IN bed and stay there. | F | 30 | 1 days | 3/12/2009 | 4 | In somnia | Brand Ambien was effective at putting me to sleep; but I woke up a couple hours later (was taking 5 mg or 7.5 mg once a week). Generic Ambien gave me a hangover feeling next day (nausea, etc.), that brand Ambien did not give me. Amazing how brand Ambien can really help you fall asleep... But it's the STAYING asleep that is more problematic. So, I am trying Ambien CR now. | I am trying Ambien CR now. I tried cutting a CR pill in half, which you're not supposed to do with continual-release (CR) pills, and felt hungover the next day. Shouldn't have done that... I will try taking CR as recommended. | F | 35 | 2 years | 3/6/2009 | 4 | insomnia | amnesia, complete memory black outs, other than that it works wonders and helps me sleep! | i have had full conversations and not remembered them while taking ambien. very powerful, but it works for insomnia. | F | 30 | 2 years | 9/22/2009 | 4 | Insomnia | Regular waking, sleep walking and eating without memory of doing so. | Ambien worked wonderfully for me when I started taking it, but over time became less effective even with dosage increases. After a period where I had to take it almost daily for close to three months even 10mg wasn't enough to keep me asleep all night and I had to change medications. | F | 31 | 17 months | 9/7/2009 | 4 | Sick and needing sleep | mild hallucinations before falling asleep | I sleep great when I take Ambien but make sure you are ready for bed and in bed before you take it cause it comes on fast...don't try to stay awake. The next day I feel a little foggy-headed but that wears off and is counter-acted by the fact that I am rested and refreshed from a good night's sleep. (I only take it one night at a time now and again when needed.) | F | 27 | 1 days | 10/17/2009 | 4 | Insomnia | Loves that it helps me to fall asleep pretty quickly, but sometimes not quickly enough. I have made cell phone calls to my friends and been horrified the next day when I have looked at my cell phone record and not remembered any of them. I turn into a real chatter box after I take the Ambien. I very seldom wear jewelry and last night I woke up with 4 necklaces on, multiple bracelets on and rings and bracelets laying all over the bathroom. I don't remember doing any of that. I am afraid to ask my husband if I was acting any differently last night for fear of what he would say. I have had insomnia for as long as I can remember and being able to get a good night's sleep makes all the difference in the world to me. It is worth a little weirdness just to get some rest. People that don't have insomnia just don't have a clue how miserable your life can get. | Just don't leave your house when you are taking this medication. Call people, clean your house, put stuff away where you won't be able to find it later....just don't leave your house. | F | 56 | 2 years | 10/3/2009 | 4 | Insomnia | Well, I've been taking this med for about a year now. Things have been fine other than feeling overly tired when I wake up and less than an hour after taking it I become what seems like very, very drunk. Last night, however, was the first time I saw the figurines on my night stand moving. I'm not kidding. I even grabbed one and it was moving in my hand. I have never taken more than prescribed (5mg) and I'm too chicken to abuse it! It's helped me sleep great, but these recent side effects concern me enough to get in touch with my doctor. 'Til then I'll cut the pill in half! | This med has helped me a great deal. I suffer with depression so 7-8 hours sleep is essential for me. It is habit forming though. If I run out of pills (forgetting to refill) I'm dead. If I take Tylenol PM in place of the Ambien it causes me to get the shivers. I asked a pharmacist about it and they didn't see where the two meds could clash, but it did on me. So, for now, I can't forget to refill my prescription or I'll get no sleep at all. | F | 41 | 1 years | 8/9/2009 | 4 | insomnia | I took ambien CR... didn't have any side effects except i became dependent on them and needed more and more for it to work...not cool | helped me go to sleep, woke up feeling awake as i used to wake up feeling groggy | F | 18 | 2 years | 6/19/2009 | 4 | insomnia | I have slept ate for years on it. I wake up with crumbs in my mouth....I have also cleaned my house with little or no memory. Lately I have been getting up and taking another half of pill. Once I woke up with a melted fudgecycle all over my sheets. I try very hard to stay in bed! | I am totally addicted to it and have been for years. I get paranoid when running low. | F | 44 | 7 years | 8/1/2009 | 4 | Adjust to odd work schedules/jetlag | Nothing bad. I always take it and then immediately go to bed. I fall asleep within a half-hour and sleep about six hours. It's a good, deep sleep, so I don't need much more. The following day, my brain is a little fuzzy and I have some minor trouble with names. | I would not want to take it on a regular basis because it would be easy to become dependent on it. I take it only when, because of my work schedule, I have to sleep at odd hours or when I take trans-continental trips. For other times, an Advil PM and a little patience do the trick. | F | 59 | 2 years | 8/14/2009 | 4 | Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder | Short term memory loss, strange behavior with loss of memory regarding the behavior | I have used Ambien (10mg) for approx. 2 years. It's definitely helped my DSPD, which can be described as permanent jet lag. My normal sleep time without Ambien would be around 5-6am, and it's been that way since I was a child. Ambien has been pretty helpful with helping me push back my sleep time. That is, if you use it AS PRESCRIBED. The only time I experience the weird behavioral things is when I don't immediately go to bed after taking it. Yes, I have completely rearranged my living room furniture in the middle of the night. But again, thats only when I dawdle around after I've taken it. Be responsible, and this medicine might work for you. But, also no medicine will work the same way for everyone. For me the positives outweigh the negatives. | F | 25 | 2 years | 7/7/2009 | 4 | fibromyalgia | I resited taking this sleep aid, but it improved my quality of sleep. I sometimes have trouble getting my Rx filled, with insurace approval issues. When I'm without it I sleep poorly and feel terrible. | F | 58 | 2 years | 11/15/2009 | 4 | insomnia | excessive late night eating which has led to being overweight, sleep emailing, sleep texting, talkative | Although I'm almost positive this medicine has been the cause of my struggle with weight gain, it is a lifesaver. I get 6-7 hours of sleep a night and wake up refreshed, ready to start the day. I have struggled with sleep problems my whole life and have tried all sleep medications, this is the only one that's worked for me. It is so important to take this medicine as directed...when in bed and do not drive or take alcohol with it, simple as that. I love being able to know I can always have a good nights sleep. It's one stress I know I will never have again. | F | 31 | 4 years | 12/11/2009 | 4 | Back and neck injuries-pain | I have been taking the generic of Ambien for probably two years now. I have not experienced any side effects yet, other than if I don't take it, it seems I cannot sleep. I did note that the generics vary. The oval shaped pill by one manufacturer works better for me than the round pill. It is hard to get the pharmacy to have the right one in, but is worth calling ahead to ask. | I would recommend it, at least to try it and see if it works for you. I have not had other sleeping aids, but found that I wake up just fine with this medication. I have taken Lyrica for supposed fibromyalgia and woke up so groggy, it took hours to wear off. I believe the dose is low, 5mg. I don't have it with me, so I cannot check. | F | 52 | 2 years | 1/21/2010 | 4 | Insomnia | Middle of the night carb and sweets binges. Addictive qualities. | I have been taking Ambien and Ambien CR for years. It allows me to wake rested with no grogginess or other side effects. The only downside is you do build a tolerance up which I have and it becomes less effective. In addition, the night eating has just begun for me. I fight it though. All in all, it has helped my insomnia problem. It is very hard to go off of being that it is very addictive. You also need to take it IN BED when you are ready to sleep. | F | 43 | 3 years | 1/15/2010 | 3 | insomnia due to painful breakup | memory loss, possible deteriorating eyesight | I have taken ambien and it's generic (zolpidem) off and on for almost three years now. I take only half the dosage. At first I was taking it every night, occasionally with alcohol. (Yes I know. At the time I didn't care.) I have not had any symptoms of addiction, but I can see where it could become addictive. When you take it, it turns off your mind, which is a truly wonderful thing if you are in pain. Sure beats an extreme alternative, anyway. However, I'm now having disturbing and irritating short term memory loss (can't remember what I said 15 min ago, can't spell anymore, can't find the word I want). I don't know if it's Ambien related, but I wish someone would look into it. I must add that I agree with those that say lay down when you take it. Your brain is asleep, but you may not realize it. Don't take it for a nap! That is not long enough to process the drug. Once you take it, stay home and stay in bed for the night! | F | 36 | 2.5 years | 1/21/2010 | 3 | Insomnia due to anxiety | some tiredness durrig the day. | I have had insomnia for years. It comes and goes due to what stresses I have going on in my life. Most recently its really taken a toll on me, my family and my work. Sleeping for only 2-3 hrs each night, and that was broken sleep. Waking several times wide eyed and alert but completely exhausted. I crashed at work one day and just lost it. Had a full blown anxiety attack brought on by stress and lack of sleep. My dr prescribed me Ambien and he told me some of the side effects but didn't go into detail. I will be talking to my kids to alert them to the possibility of some of the things I have read on here. I took my first dose, 10mg, last night and for the first time in months I actually got some sleep.... 7 hours! I did wake up once to use the bathroom and then went right back to sleep. I do feel a bit tired right now, but not like before. As for now I am just happy to finally have something to help me sleep. I have rated this drug a 3 because I have only taken it for one night so far, if anything strange happens, or if my rating changes I will update my post. | F | 34 | 1 days | 12/3/2009 | 3 | Difficulty Falling Asleep | Quickly falling asleep is the only "good" side effect. The rest were odd/bad/scary: hallucinations, severe memory loss before sleep and after waking, sleep sex, incoherent speech, eating large amounts of food, texting, calling, posting odd/incoherent things online, drug/alcohol seeking urges. Completely changed my personality! | I did not take Ambien nightly, only as needed. Worked very well for me at 1st. Side effects began with incoherent speech. The longer I took Ambien, the worse the side effects became. The following behaviors that I exhibited ARE NOT normal for me & a bit embarassing: hallucinations, memory loss before bed, eating large amounts of odd food, stupid phone calls/text messages, strong urges to snoop through my bf's stuff. Went through his personal items & scattered stuff everywhere (that was fun explaining). Strange sexual behaviors like spending hours (yes hours) looking at pornographic material online. Went back through my browser history next day & was shocked/appalled. Really started questioning Ambien when side effects escalated into dangerous activities such as seeking alcohol, pain killers, Valium, even more Ambien if I could find it around the house. Final straw was the day my boyfriend hurried home after receiving nonsensical texts & strange "personal" pics from me. He arrived & found that I had cuffed my hands/legs together & had his loaded pistol lying on the bed. Of course I was asleep on the floor by then and didn't remember a thing. Everyone reacts differently to all medications. If this drug works for you then wonderful! However, if you or a loved one starts this medication, please, monitor the side effects and/or reactions. They could be potentially harmful to yourself or others. | F | 30 | 1.5 years | 11/8/2009 | 3 | Insomnia | nothing severe or serious that I noticed except drowziness, which I expected and some after wakeup dizziness and fatigue(minor) | worked for awhile so I could get some sleep, and stay asleep, for a decent amount of hours (7-8)...unfortunately, it stopped working for me. Strongly recommend that you do not abruptly discontinue due to possible withdrawal effects. I tapered off using pharmacists and doctors suggested schedule but I tapered off even slower than suggested. Seems to worked out ok. | F | 39 | 1 years | 10/22/2009 | 3 | Insomnia | Strange dreams, odd behavior, wild sex, and not remembering anything from the night before! | I took this medication about 8 yrs ago for 2 years. I abused it and became addicted. It was very hard to get off of it. I think it took me almost 6 months to get a good full nights sleep after I stopped taking it. I am on it again because it works and I am more mature to take it correctly. I hope that this time around it will be short term use and easier to get off. | F | 31 | 2 years | 7/13/2009 | 3 | Insomnia from fibromyalgia/Savella | None | I will start taking this medication tonight to try to sleep more than one hour. I have been going to bed, sleeping like a rock for one hour and then my mind runs in circles all night and I don't get any more restful sleep. Reading these comments has quite frankly scared the crap out of me but I have alerted my husband to watch me for several nights and make sure I am just sleeping and not wandering around the house eating, or doing something else stupid...I will post my results on here in a week. | F | 33 | 1 days | 9/29/2009 | 3 | INSOMNIA | I have been taking ambien cr for 30 months experiencing chronic vaginal pain, tingling in face, lips and hands feeling of fullness ,pain when sitting or tight clothes ..horrible | can you stop cold turkey | F | 58 | 2 years | 10/12/2009 | 3 | sleep difficulties | I am writing to offer condolences to the woman who discovered she'd slept with her son's friend after taking Ambien with a glass of wine. My heart aches for you! You must accept your innocence even if others don't. At first I thought Ambien was a wonder drug. I had to sleep in an arctic field camp (with continuous summer daylight, heat and mosquitoes) sharing a weatherport with six other people, and between the Ambien and earplugs got the best two weeks of sleep ever. Then on vacation in Hawaii (where I slept on the Murphy bed in the living room because of my husband's snoring and my light sleeping) I took it one night after a glass of wine and walked down to the water. All I remember after being at the shoreline was waking up the next morning fully clothed in bed with my husband. Thank God I'd found the right unit, and was in bed with my own husband, but it could have all come down so differently and I wouldn't have known or remembered a thing. I have not taken Ambien since. | I was only taking Ambien on an as-needed basis when traveling or having a particularly difficult time sleeping. I don't think I ever finished one prescription's worth. | F | 53 | 3 weeks | 9/8/2009 | 3 | None. I take 5mg and go right to bed. | Why would you take a sleeping pill then jump in the shower??? As so many others have stated you take the medicine right before you jump into bed. You are clearly not supposed to take a sleeping pill and then attempt to shower,stay on the computer,watch t.v.,etc. | F | 37 | 1 years | 2/13/2009 | 3 | Couldn't sleep, on Zoloft | It appears that, although I've only taken Ambien a few times, last night I opened the garage door (which I always check before going to bed because of bears) and MAY have driven, although I don't think so. I've been off a regular sleep schedule ever since we came back from Australia for 10 months. I never would have known about this except my husband asked me this morning if I opened the garage door. I said no. I didn't talk to my daughter until this evening and she said she HAD NOT opened the garage door (she's 24 so this was not a teenager trying to escape). I do remember dreaming (once I went to sleep) that I couldn't find my car...I thought it had been stolen. So, unless there was some kind of electrical problem (and then why not open the other garage door?) I was sleepwalking. This has scared the bejeezus out of me. Ambien DOES help me sleep but it takes a long time to take effect. As of tonight, NO MORE AMBIEN. If I'm asleep and driving a car (!!!) I am a danger | This is terrible to even ASSUME it happened! | F | 54 | 5 days | 9/2/2008 | 3 | Insomnia | Hallucinations, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, black outs. | I have taken Ambien off and on for about 5 years. This drug helps me sleep at first but has never kept me asleep more than a couple hours. Ambien has caused me to do many things I don't remember doing the next day, such as sleepwalking, preparing and eating food, having complete conversations, having sex, and much more. In myself and several others I know who have taken it, it has caused strange hallucinations in which you believe there are people in your room or house that aren't actually there. As strange as the side effects are, it did cause me to want it again day after day. Strange drug. | F | 27 | 5 years | 3/13/2009 | 3 | insomnia | I get up and eat candy, chips, ect. Sometimes make phonecalls and ramble on and on. Seem to feel depressed after taking it for more than a week at a time. That is the main thing that I do not like. I was not depressed before. Some nights it works and other nights I am up 3-4 times. I have marked forgetfulness since taking this. Wake up feeling kind of paniced not refreshed. | I am presently trying to get off of it. I feel like it probably is addictive. I never take more than my 12.5 CR, but I feel like I have to have it. Last night was my first night off and it did not go very well. Hoping that tonight and each day will get better. | F | 55 | 2 years | 6/7/2008 | 3 | Insomnia | No memory of emails, phone calls, text messaging, late night eating and finding it all in my bed the next am. Getting in my car and driving to get food, in my PJ's,i hit several curbs and came within 2 feet of hitting a building. awoke at 4 am in with vague recollection and ran outside to look at my car to find 2 flat tires, rims need replacement, engine protectant cover i had placed in my trunk. very lucky.. | I have taken this drug for about 5 years and take 20 mgs per night. Due to the accident, i now am terminating the drug. My Dr. said to do it cold turkey, but reading up on this, it looks like there are serious side effects in terminating. I have been cutting back on my dose and hoping i can stop taking. But the mental dependency has me concerned. Has anyone successfully terminated? Please share your story | F | 45 | 5 years | 6/3/2008 | 3 | mild insomia couldn't stay sleep | extreme drowsiness in 10 min | It is Anesticia(spell check) in a pill form | F | 42 | 4 days | 7/18/2008 | 3 | insomnia/anxiety | dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, loss of memory | It worked good the first few times i took it, after that i was prescribed 5mg- 4xday for anxiety because i found out i was pregnant and was taken off of lorazepam. It didn't affect me at all as far as making me drowsy after the first week, it definately helped with my anxiety. I did notice that about 20 minutes after i took it, i wouldn't remember anything i did after that. I'd eat, make phone calls, go out places, and i wouldnt remember anything until i awoke the next day. It was a very scary thing. It makes you feel good and helps, but it's definately not worth the side effects. | F | 24 | 4 weeks | 5/14/2009 | 3 | prolonged Insomnia | Woke up to find the wrappings and top of ice cream on the kitchen table. Found empty pint container in trash. I do not remember eating it---and no one else could have. Scarey!! | Can not continue with a drug that appears to make me eat and not remember I ate. I try to take it only every other night and take only 1/4 to 1/2 of the 10 milligram tablet. | F | 72 | 8 months | 6/13/2009 | 3 | insomnia | some drowsiness and sedation after about 30 minutes, grogginess for several hours the next day | I dearly wish I could say Ambien worked for me. I've had serious insomnia for the past year due to anxiety and depression after a divorce. I've tried numerous sleep aids, both prescription and OTC, and Ambien (not Ambien CR) seems to work the best for me. Unfortunately, that just means I can usually sleep about 4 - 5 hours instead of the 9 or so hours my body truly needs. An improvement over the 2 - 3 hours I was only getting a night for close to a year, but still not enough. I have found that 10mg Ambien along with 1 - 2 BioChem Tension RX Nighttime (OTC, made by Country Life) works a little better than the Ambien alone so I take that combo 2 - 3 times a week. | F | 32 | 1 years | 6/7/2009 | 3 | wanted a normal sleep schedule | the first few times i took it i fell asleep directly after. i found that i would wake up at the exact same time every night i took it, at 3 am, and i'd get a drink and go back to sleep. it worked decently when i used it for what it was meant for. | i heard such "great" things about how good ambien was if you took it and fought the urge to sleep and just stayed awake, so i tried it. i took it late at night while i was laying in my bed watching tv and talking to people online on my laptop. i had a few things laying on my bed, like a pair of pants and a hairbrush. WELL. after i took it, i was talking online and my laptop screen started changing. it was like i was staring through the screen into another world, where i was walking around the side of a mountain. i couldn't even see my instant messaging boxes because they kept moving and i was just so confused and trying to concentrate on the mountain. it hurt my eyes so bad that i just threw the computer on the floor. after that, i layed in bed and i started hearing voices (which was actually the tv) and i thought it was coming from the pants and hairbrush that were on my bed. i all of a sudden got this random idea that i was an egyptian queen and the pants and the hairbrush | F | 18 | 4 days | 9/4/2008 |