The results of a new study involving mice may help explain the Ambien side effects that some users have reported, where they engaged in complex activites, such as driving, cooking or eating, while asleep.
The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, investigated the side effects of Ambien on mice who had their whiskers trimmed. Mice whose brain receptors had changed to deal with the loss of whiskers were found to suddenly become susceptible to Ambien sleep walking and other activities.
Researchers from Georgetown University Medical Hospital indicate that it is possible some users of the insomnia drug, whose brain receptors are different for some reason, may be responding to Ambien the same way, leading to the complex activities while they are asleep.
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Learn MoreAmbien (zolpidem) is a sedative manufactured by Sanof-Aventis, which is one of the best selling medications in the United States. It is heavily marketed through direct to consumer advertisements to help people fall asleep and stay asleep with an extended release version.
A number of users of the drug have suffered catastrophic or fatal injuries as a result of Ambien sleep walking, attempting to drive a car or prepare food. While the user is half asleep and half awake, they may do things that they would not do if they were awake or attempt to do things they are not alert enough to do.
Reported injuries have occurred as a result of car accidents, falls, cooking injuries like fires and even people eating raw meat. However, hard scientific evidence explaining the phenomenon has been difficult to produce.
The new study suggests that Ambien may shut down brain circuits that inhibit other parts of the brain from working while asleep. Without those inhibitors, brain circuits that would normally be dormant become active. However, researchers say the experiments showed that it’s likely only to happen to people who have had their brain receptors changed in some way. This could occur in a variety of ways, such as by stress or alcohol use.
Researchers cautioned that more research into the Ambien sleep activities is necessary before any definitive conclusions can be made.
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33 Comments
DaveMay 31, 2016 at 3:29 am
I was drugged with ambien made to smoke crack and raped for about 3 weeks straight before I figured out it was going on. I had no actual memory of the events but very strange feelings. I never took it knowingly I was drugged. It's been almost 10 years since then and I still can't function normally I have not had a girlfriend and suffered the loss of most of my friends. Stay as far from this drug a[Show More]I was drugged with ambien made to smoke crack and raped for about 3 weeks straight before I figured out it was going on. I had no actual memory of the events but very strange feelings. I never took it knowingly I was drugged. It's been almost 10 years since then and I still can't function normally I have not had a girlfriend and suffered the loss of most of my friends. Stay as far from this drug as you can.
DixieJanuary 28, 2014 at 7:35 pm
I am left crippled with pain from Ambien 10m. I think the 5m is safe, but I am 115 lb. female and when asked for something to help me sleep I was given a prescription for Ambien 10m...I really didn't know anything about the drug. A little while after getting the 10m Ambien, I was unknowingly in the bathroom, fell backwards onto the commode and broke the fake marble lid into pieces. A couple wee[Show More]I am left crippled with pain from Ambien 10m. I think the 5m is safe, but I am 115 lb. female and when asked for something to help me sleep I was given a prescription for Ambien 10m...I really didn't know anything about the drug. A little while after getting the 10m Ambien, I was unknowingly in the bathroom, fell backwards onto the commode and broke the fake marble lid into pieces. A couple weeks later, I took the Ambien, and instead of going to bed I thought I would look up a few things on the computer; not smart, when I got up my brain was asleep and I fell backwards and broke my tailbone. I have had x-rays and MRI's to pieces...I am now in Pain Management, my nerve endings are damaged and I am going to have to have the Neurostimulation Therapy for Chronic Pain disk inserted in my back...DON'T DO Ambien 10m, I take Ambien 5m and it does not do this to me. I really shouldn't take it at all.
ReginaMay 20, 2013 at 4:38 pm
My neighbor was taking ambien and also lortab because he supposedly had PTSD from being in the military. One night he had taken his medication and mixed it with alcohol. At 3:30 am he pulled a .40 from under his pillow, held it up to his bedroom wall and fired 5 shots into my apartment. He thought someone was coming through the wall to get him and he was shooting to kill. On the other side of that[Show More]My neighbor was taking ambien and also lortab because he supposedly had PTSD from being in the military. One night he had taken his medication and mixed it with alcohol. At 3:30 am he pulled a .40 from under his pillow, held it up to his bedroom wall and fired 5 shots into my apartment. He thought someone was coming through the wall to get him and he was shooting to kill. On the other side of that wall was my son. The first bullet went through my son's foot, through his wall and into my room, striking the wall 2 inches beside my head. There was a delay and then he shot the other 4 bullets, luckily we dodged those. I honestly don't think he was appropriately warned about the side affects and mixing with alcohol. Not to mention the VA did not follow up with him appropriately. We are currently awaiting a trial....he was charged with aggrivated battery with a firearm, firing into an occupied dwelling and discharging a firearm while intoxicated. When he was arrested, his blood alcohol level was .132. Just wondering if I could sue the makers of ambien......
elizabethJanuary 28, 2013 at 4:07 pm
I don't take ambien but,my husband does. I despise the doctor who prescribed it! My life is hell. My husband takes it if he doesn't go to bed right away I constantly have to wake him.he then gets food falls back asleep with it in his mouth. I'm afraid of him chocking, falling with knife in his hand, going outside,driving. When he goes to bed , he keeps me awake twitching,jumping ,talking. He gets [Show More]I don't take ambien but,my husband does. I despise the doctor who prescribed it! My life is hell. My husband takes it if he doesn't go to bed right away I constantly have to wake him.he then gets food falls back asleep with it in his mouth. I'm afraid of him chocking, falling with knife in his hand, going outside,driving. When he goes to bed , he keeps me awake twitching,jumping ,talking. He gets up during night stumbling. Wakes me talking and thinking I'm other people. He doesn't remember anything. The next day he's sleepy after sleeping 12-14 hours. He does nothing ! We have no life anymore. I can't remember the last time I got a full night sleep. I know have a 56 year old child that needs constant care because of this drug. Of course he doesn't remember so its not as bad as I say. But. I'm tired and seriously considering divorce because of this drug. So think of what it does not only to u but your family.
SharynJuly 13, 2012 at 4:44 pm
received a call from my cousin last night. My other cousins' daughter drowned in the family swimming pool. After going to bed and taking her Ambien, she sleepwalked out of the house and into the pool. Her husband found her at the bottom of the pool the next morning. The ME told the family the death was a result of Ambien induced sleepwalking and it is not a rare occurence. Are you kidding me? This[Show More]received a call from my cousin last night. My other cousins' daughter drowned in the family swimming pool. After going to bed and taking her Ambien, she sleepwalked out of the house and into the pool. Her husband found her at the bottom of the pool the next morning. The ME told the family the death was a result of Ambien induced sleepwalking and it is not a rare occurence. Are you kidding me? This drug MUST be taken off the market!! What can we all do to initiate removal of this lethal drug!! She was a wonderful 42 yo woman who leave behind a devestaed husband, 2 kids, parents, and many other family and friends.
kimJune 28, 2012 at 4:12 pm
i was prescribed ambien while my son was like 9 months old because i suffered from insomnia and i took it as directed i took it on a monday around 9pm and didnt wake up until 12am wendsday and its only me and my son in the house at the time and i didnt hear him cry at all i didnt hear the door nor did i hear the phone ring. i only took one and that was my first time taking any kind of sleep medica[Show More]i was prescribed ambien while my son was like 9 months old because i suffered from insomnia and i took it as directed i took it on a monday around 9pm and didnt wake up until 12am wendsday and its only me and my son in the house at the time and i didnt hear him cry at all i didnt hear the door nor did i hear the phone ring. i only took one and that was my first time taking any kind of sleep medication. my son was covered in stool and urin and began to eat it because he was hungry. i reported this to my doctor and was told thats part of the side effects give the medicine about two weeks to get in my system and allow my body to respond to it................REALLY WTF i never took this medication again or any other sleep aid. PEOPLE BE CAREFUL THE DOCTORS GET PAID TO USE US AS GEINIE PIGS BY THE COMPANIES THAT MAKE THIS MEDICINE THATS WHY ITS SO IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO KNOW IF IT HAS SIDE EFFECTS ON YOU. AND THEY DO THIS WITH OUT OUR CONSENT. WE TRUST OUR DOCTORS TO GIVE US WHATS BEEN PROPERLY RESEARCHED AND APPROVED AND WE TRUST THAT THEY GIVE US THE MEDICINE THAT THEY STAND BEHIND.
RipleyMarch 20, 2012 at 7:55 am
Chronic insomnia....spell correction. I get so angry about this I forget to punct. and miss letters from typing so fast=(
RipleyMarch 20, 2012 at 7:49 am
I had taken Ambien for awhile (not every night) before I started having problems with it. I would take 5-10 mgs. at night and go to bed, never anymore than 10 mgs. I was so desperate for sleep and had been told it was a safe option by my doctor. When I first started having problems I was eating all kinds of food and cooking while I was on it. Then, started calling people and having emotional [Show More]I had taken Ambien for awhile (not every night) before I started having problems with it. I would take 5-10 mgs. at night and go to bed, never anymore than 10 mgs. I was so desperate for sleep and had been told it was a safe option by my doctor. When I first started having problems I was eating all kinds of food and cooking while I was on it. Then, started calling people and having emotional calls with random people in my phone and I remembered nothing. I had no idea and was so mortified. I did not know this was taking place because of the Ambien because these things just developed unlike a normal allergy that you would have everytime you take it. It progressed into me taking more than the regular doseage because I could not remember taking it and was taking it multiple times a night. I never had withdraw symptoms or felt like I had to have it, but maybe that is because I did not take it all the time. My husband was having to babysit me because I think he thought I was having some type of unexplained breakdown. We finally figured out what was causing it after I was admitted to the hospital for a rare stomach condition and since the ambien was on the list of medications I took they would bring one at night for me. After a few days, my first clear memory was waking up in the Physc faculity of the hospital because I was out of my mind. Hallucinating, not being able to be present and just not with it. I remembered nothing! I was scared and had no idea what was going on. I, like many others asked the doc if it was from the ambien and they said, "no!". I was floored to find out after taking time off from one medication at a time to find the culpret that it was indeed the Ambien! They kept telling me it would not do anything like that, but it was 100% the problem! They would not even entertain the thought of it being the sleep aid. They just kept telling me I would not have this type of reaction to it and it had to be a mental issue. I have NEVER had mental issues! I lost 10 days of my life and my husband had to fill in the blanks and I felt horrible for him. He had no idea what was wrong and was scared I would never be the same again. I was taking this medication as dispenced and did not abuse it. It was such a severe situation in the hospital because it was aggravated by dehydration and the other meds. I would rather just not sleep at all these days. It is much safer. DO NOT think just because you take it now and you don't have these effects right away that it can't happen to you. It literally just started one night. Be so careful and hopefully, they will find a better option for those of us with cronic insomnia.
RonNovember 23, 2011 at 3:50 pm
My Ambien story luckily does not involve being pulled over for DUI but I guarantee if I had been pulled over I would have went to jail. At 3:30 a.m. after working a 10 hour shift I took 1 Ambien and went straight to bed. I can’t say when I got up but usually I would sleep 4 to 5 hours. I know I worked outside on a deck of mine simply by the progress made. I assume I decided to have some alcohol ar[Show More]My Ambien story luckily does not involve being pulled over for DUI but I guarantee if I had been pulled over I would have went to jail. At 3:30 a.m. after working a 10 hour shift I took 1 Ambien and went straight to bed. I can’t say when I got up but usually I would sleep 4 to 5 hours. I know I worked outside on a deck of mine simply by the progress made. I assume I decided to have some alcohol around lunch time but I don’t remember drinking. Sometime in the afternoon I remember being in a CVS pharmacy but don’t remember driving there or back home. I don’t remember going to work at 3:30 p.m. The first thing I remember about work was being confronted by my manager and the area production supervisor. They asked me how I got the scrape on my forehead above my left eye. I did not know and the only thing that came to mind was maybe I had bumped my head on a machine I had worked on the previous night. I did not know I had fallen sometime earlier in the day. I had two scrapes on my left foot and ankle, a bruised left hand, a large bruise on my left elbow, and a large bruise on my left shoulder. I found this out after getting out of the shower the next day. They knew something was wrong with me and took me for a drug and urine test. I failed a breathalyzer test with a reading of .15. I researched that number and found that for a man of my size that would be equal to 96 oz. of beer, 10 oz. of liquor, or 40 oz of wine. I’m absolutely positive in my normal state of mind I would not drink that amount of alcohol knowing I had to go to work in just a couple of hours. It sounds mind boggling to me. So after 17 years of being a model employee with a perfect record I was fired. I was making $29.07 an hour or over $60,000 a year plus overtime. In 3 more years I would have been eligible to have my health insurance covered until Medicare or Medicaid took over. Now I have no health insurance at all. I live in a small town at least an hour from any sizeable city. Employment possibilities are next to slim and none. I will never find employment and get paid what I was making when fired. I will have to relocate IF I can find employment at 53 years of age. I know trying to sell my house is going to be difficult with the way the economy is. So, the possibility of losing my house and the approximately $30,000 of equity I have in it could soon come into play. I don’t know yet if I can draw any unemployment. So I have no income at all and my savings might last 6 months. I’m trying to stay positive but, I worry all the time and can’t sleep. Ambien has devastated my life. My working career and life situation which was smooth and comfortable is now in shambles and I believe I should be compensated for it. I may never recover from this situation. I took the Ambien according to their instructions without alcohol and went straight to bed. Little did I know 8 hours or so after taking Ambien and then having some alcohol I would be walking around hurting myself and in a “blacked out” state of mind not to mention getting fired. I am so lucky the law did not get involved and complicate this matter worse and that I didn’t kill someone or myself. I want to know if you will help me or let me know of someone who can.
TinaOctober 2, 2011 at 10:06 pm
Ambien caused a DUI for me and has ruined my life. I had been taking ambien for a couple months due to serious sleep issues as I am 49 and peri-menopausal. Then one night I was home, took my ambien, and got into BED to sleep. After waking up in jail, I was in shock. I have a perfect driving record and I am devasdated to say the least. Two days later I lost my job and my entire career depends o[Show More]Ambien caused a DUI for me and has ruined my life. I had been taking ambien for a couple months due to serious sleep issues as I am 49 and peri-menopausal. Then one night I was home, took my ambien, and got into BED to sleep. After waking up in jail, I was in shock. I have a perfect driving record and I am devasdated to say the least. Two days later I lost my job and my entire career depends on driving. Since I am in the medical industry and a representative, the companies do a complete background check. I cannot not apply for jobs because of this. I had to pay my attorney to start $6500, I live from paycheck to paycheck. Not only did I wake up in jail, I wrecked my car, thank God I hurt no one else. I have since heard tons of ambien sleepwalking stories. The rules need to change, you should not be allowed to pick up this medication from the pharmacist without sleepwalking, sleepdriving being explained to you and put on the bottle as a warning. I now stand to lose my license, and have lost my home, have no way of getting employment. If I could do it all over again, knowing this information and this risk, there is no way I would have taken this drug. It truly has ruined my life as I wait to see what happens now in court. I am finacially, and emotionally devasdated
ShaunSeptember 21, 2011 at 2:00 pm
I live in the UK (its called Zolpidem here), and only took 20 mg once, as I had been awake for 1 and a half maybe 2 days, admittedly it wasnt prescribed legally, but I had seen them taken for sleeping, so took a couple. I have to add I had been drinking Cider during that night so alcohol was still in my system. Anyhow for some reason (and this information is from witness statements) I hadnt gone[Show More]I live in the UK (its called Zolpidem here), and only took 20 mg once, as I had been awake for 1 and a half maybe 2 days, admittedly it wasnt prescribed legally, but I had seen them taken for sleeping, so took a couple. I have to add I had been drinking Cider during that night so alcohol was still in my system. Anyhow for some reason (and this information is from witness statements) I hadnt gone to sleep like I had though, and drove my car to a tourist spot near by, and took my airsoft gun (which looks like a real assault rifle). An ex plice officer saw me parked up on the high street at one point and then called the police. the police tracked me down to the tourist spot where I was apparently walking around with the gun (holding it by the handle, it looks like an M16 for those in the know), the armed police confonted me and I was nearly shot, instead one of the officers thankfully recognised the guns plastic components and a police dog was set on me, and had a meal of my right thigh. At that point I think I was awoken, but it was brief as they said that I had told them I wanted to die and be shot by them, which I dont remember, all I remember are snapshots and no 'story' to this dream. Needless to say I am now in a lot of trouble, I have been charged essentially with dui, having an immitation firearm in public, and having an immitation gun with the intention of causing fear of violence. Basically if all goes badly I could face 6 years in prison, in fact I was not given bail initially and experinced it already for 5 days. I am hoping rational minds will prevail and I will get not guilty, although I still may be banned for driving when all my intention was that morning was to sleep. I hold these companies responsible and am shokced to have read all your experiences (but also relieved as hopefully this will be brought to the Jury's attention). My problem however is that I have been depressed for maybe a decade now and the law system here is such that they will be trying to 'prove' I was attempting death by cop. And here in the UK to help with your depression they send you to jail lol (really helpful). I know what the depression is and I know the highs and lows and have been living with it and content in general in regards to life etc. Lets hope my lawyers do a good job, and that governments get the stick out with these companies, and regulate them more!
maryApril 17, 2011 at 6:42 pm
i took ambien 5 years ago as prescribed one nite after taking it i got in my car and drove and sustained a dui i had no idea what happened another time i took it i walked out of my home and walkd 5 miles in the rain and did not remember a thing i had no idea what happened this all happened before the warnings came out another time i took the drug and sustained another dui this drug should be tak[Show More]i took ambien 5 years ago as prescribed one nite after taking it i got in my car and drove and sustained a dui i had no idea what happened another time i took it i walked out of my home and walkd 5 miles in the rain and did not remember a thing i had no idea what happened this all happened before the warnings came out another time i took the drug and sustained another dui this drug should be taken off the market savoentis has all their fancy lawyers and it takes a lot to go up against them
JanieMarch 18, 2011 at 7:49 pm
My husband broke his neck a few years ago. At one point he was prescribed ambien for sleep. One night after having been asleep for about 4 hours he got up and tried to drive to the store. He went the wrong way and got into a car accident. No one was hurt but the took him to the hospital for blood work as he seemed intoxicated. Then they took him to jail. The blood work showed no alcohol or i[Show More]My husband broke his neck a few years ago. At one point he was prescribed ambien for sleep. One night after having been asleep for about 4 hours he got up and tried to drive to the store. He went the wrong way and got into a car accident. No one was hurt but the took him to the hospital for blood work as he seemed intoxicated. Then they took him to jail. The blood work showed no alcohol or illegal drugs in his system. There was no soma or hydrocodone which he did have prescriptions for. The ambien showed up and after several months he had to serve 8 days in jail. Ambein should be taken off the market. It cost us more money than I can even bear to think about.
ReneeFebruary 14, 2011 at 11:18 pm
As a flight attendant I have unusual work schedules so taking Ambien has been a part of my life over the past two years. Recently I met with my supervisor who called me in to discuss a letter that someone had sent the company. I fly lead almost regularly so I was not concerned about meeting her. She read a letter from a hotel employee that read like this. "On Sept. 29, hotel staff got a call from [Show More]As a flight attendant I have unusual work schedules so taking Ambien has been a part of my life over the past two years. Recently I met with my supervisor who called me in to discuss a letter that someone had sent the company. I fly lead almost regularly so I was not concerned about meeting her. She read a letter from a hotel employee that read like this. "On Sept. 29, hotel staff got a call from a guest in regards to a woman trying to get into their room, and when she was unable to get into their room tried to get into another, hotel staff had to get this "intoxicated" woman who identified herself with airline ID. She couldn't remember what room she was in, and we had to get her downstairs so we could figure out what room she was in. When we took her to her room she started getting undressed in front of me and my coworker (both males) she insisted that we leave the key in the door, we said it wouldn't be safe and left the key on the nightstand and left." When my supervisor told me that the were talking about me I almost threw up. She was concerned about my drinking within 3 hours of our scheduled flight. I had absolutely no recollection of this happening, I have no idea where I had been or why. I remember the layover, I remember going to sleep and showing up downstairs for our ride to the airport. I was never intoxicated, as I would never drink within FAA regulations. Anything could have happend to me, I could have been raped or murdered. I also have had sex with my now ex-boyfriend, doing things I would have never done had I been aware. I thought he was giving me a date rape drug and I even went to my family physican so that I could be tested for it, they were negative. I should have stopped taking it then. Please, please think twice before taking this medication. I would never allow my children to take it. It needs to be taken off the market. When you take a pill that is specifically designed to help you sleep and you end up doing anything other than that, it should be immediately removed from the market. I don't know why the FDA hasn't pulled the drug. Many people have died, or ruined their reputations simply because they wanted a good nights sleep. I strongly recommend AGAINST taking this drug. Please think about your family before doing so.
brianJanuary 25, 2011 at 4:30 pm
about 4 yrs ago I started taken it and have had mutiple problems 20 lbs weight gain, eating while asleep, mucsle cramps legs and neck ,fatigue ,facail swelling ,tougue swelling , jaw pain feels like lock jaw ,facial tics,drymouth and throat so bad it would crack , dry skin Jaw grinding at night ,memory loss .it is a great sleping aid for short term use Im in for 6-7 doctors a gastro intestalnal ch[Show More]about 4 yrs ago I started taken it and have had mutiple problems 20 lbs weight gain, eating while asleep, mucsle cramps legs and neck ,fatigue ,facail swelling ,tougue swelling , jaw pain feels like lock jaw ,facial tics,drymouth and throat so bad it would crack , dry skin Jaw grinding at night ,memory loss .it is a great sleping aid for short term use Im in for 6-7 doctors a gastro intestalnal check, prilosec 2yrs cat scan$ 5-6000.00 Ive ask every doctor if it could be ambein and they no .but, I'm 6 days with out and I feel better!! be careful!
ansNovember 27, 2010 at 1:02 pm
I have taken Ambien for years w/o problems. I have a bad back and take morphine - for a year. I OD's for ~ 3 weeks/2 wks. in ICU a while ago. I did not know w/happened as I am cognitively intact with all meds (operate at high-functioning cognitive level). One night - after the OD, I took an Ambien w/my meds and I felt like there were people in the room and there was a party going on. My wife-to-b[Show More]I have taken Ambien for years w/o problems. I have a bad back and take morphine - for a year. I OD's for ~ 3 weeks/2 wks. in ICU a while ago. I did not know w/happened as I am cognitively intact with all meds (operate at high-functioning cognitive level). One night - after the OD, I took an Ambien w/my meds and I felt like there were people in the room and there was a party going on. My wife-to-be saw something very wrong and said "What's the matter!". I said that she wouldn't understand and then she woke me. I could not verify her picture who she was. This must have been the Ambien, the only new factor. And I tried it one more time - same occurred. I cannot sue b/c the PDR does not indicate that Ambien, nor any diazapam is contradicted and only causes "Moderate" interactions. Something is terribly wrong here; I felt as if in a dream and this seems the only way to understand how I OD'd. To those who've suffered and more, I wish you my best. This Rx is dangerously underestimated imo.
BobNovember 26, 2010 at 6:34 am
I have taken Ambien for about two years and it works great. I'm more energetic and my mind is clearer during the day. However, I have had some side effects...The weird food thing for one...never anything dangerous. I get extremely aroused at night; my wife and I have had some marathan sex events that of course she thinks are awsome....Some of them I don't remember.
AdamSeptember 29, 2010 at 9:33 pm
I've taken Ambien on and off for the past year. After going a full week without any sleep the mind and body does very bad things (hallucinations, very bad coordination, a complete inability to do any complex task or communicate, monster headaches, weakness, confusion, depression, poor decision making, the shakes, fainting, clumsiness, irritability, loss of appetite, etc) and I would have done any[Show More]I've taken Ambien on and off for the past year. After going a full week without any sleep the mind and body does very bad things (hallucinations, very bad coordination, a complete inability to do any complex task or communicate, monster headaches, weakness, confusion, depression, poor decision making, the shakes, fainting, clumsiness, irritability, loss of appetite, etc) and I would have done anything for a good nights sleep. I hear these stories of some people who have problems; but, believe me, when you don't sleep for days at a time, you won't care. This was the third drug the doctors tried and the first that actually worked for me. The only weird thing that ever happened to me was that I posted limericks on facebook while "asleep" once. They were oddly quite clever; but none-the-less disturbing to discover. I try not to take it unless I don't get a reasonable sleep for two or three days in a row, and then I try to only take it for a couple nights, which seems to allow me to get back into a normal sleep schedule. This system seems to work for me. I don't know where I'd be without it.
CommentSeptember 29, 2010 at 5:05 am
Ambien when used properly is benificial. If adverse reactions occur you need to speak to you meducal professional in order for them to prescribe the correct dosage and time of day to take them. It will help short term but not long tern.
CharlesSeptember 23, 2010 at 9:49 am
My father-in-law was taking Ambien for years. We were a very close family, he had everything to live for. He and his daughter (my wife) were very close. He shot himself in the head last night for no apparent reason. He kept the gun by his chair for protection. Read the symptoms, they are real for some people. Don't take the risk, it may only be a matter of time. This drug has the potential [Show More]My father-in-law was taking Ambien for years. We were a very close family, he had everything to live for. He and his daughter (my wife) were very close. He shot himself in the head last night for no apparent reason. He kept the gun by his chair for protection. Read the symptoms, they are real for some people. Don't take the risk, it may only be a matter of time. This drug has the potential to cause you to do things you would never consider otherwise.
BrandiSeptember 17, 2010 at 1:30 am
I have to say this medicine has been a blessing to me, I was so sleep deprived because of working nights do days, i hope they don't take it off the market.
JillianSeptember 12, 2010 at 9:38 pm
My mother was prescribed Ambien years ago, and took it faithfully. It was only after many, many years of use did she have problems with it. I would have to lock the garage door from the garage-in because she insisted she had to help her mother - who is dead. She's driven her car to her childhood home - a half hour drive away - to find her mother. The "new" (see: twenty years) owners always cal[Show More]My mother was prescribed Ambien years ago, and took it faithfully. It was only after many, many years of use did she have problems with it. I would have to lock the garage door from the garage-in because she insisted she had to help her mother - who is dead. She's driven her car to her childhood home - a half hour drive away - to find her mother. The "new" (see: twenty years) owners always called me to pick her up. She has since switched to a new medication. When I first got to college, I had a very hard time sleeping. So I was prescribed Ambien by my doctor - 10 mg, nothing major. I thought the medication was great - I'd take it, lay in bed for the heavy Ambien sleep to take me over, wake up a little sleepy but nothing too much. And hey, I was at college so my continuous exhaustion was blamed on schoolwork. LOL - Let me laugh at that again - LOL. I went to lunch one day, and saw this woman eating alone, so I asked, "Do you mind if I join you?" She looked at me like I was nuts and said, "Jillian, are you kidding me? Just sit down. You'd think we were strangers." Apparently, for the past two years of college, I'd sit on the front steps of our dorm and talk with her for 3-4 HOURS EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. About everything - she knew EVERYTHING. I didn't remember it. I asked my room-mate about it, and she said yeah, I was NEVER in the room at night - and when I was, I was talking to her about seeing things or hard-core cleaning the dorm. So she started locking me in the room and hiding my car keys. I would get up, walk out with my car keys - come back fifty minutes later with bags of stuff from Walmart - a store fifteen minutes away. In one tape, I fell down the stairs of my dorm multiple times - fracturing my kneecap (found out the next day) - but that night it was like I didn't feel it. I used a girl's shirt as a towel as I washed my face with a shower cleaning solution. I thought all of this was a dream. All of it - just a dream, if I even remembered it. This is the story of my last night taking Ambien: I had gone to bed, seemingly fine. I woke up to find friends in my bed and all over the floor of my dorm. When I went to bed, they weren't there. I was filled in: I had gone to bed and about 2 hours after I had set my alarm, I had called one of my friends. I was hysterical, terrified. He couldn't understand me very well, but he understood that I felt someone was in my room and that they were going to kill me. He gathered a bunch of our friends and came over (to an all-girl's dorm at a Catholic college, mind you), where they snuck in and had an RA open my dorm door. I attacked them, thinking they were working with a dwarf that was hiding in the corner. Despite all attempts to calm me down, assure me that this dwarf did not exist, etc - I could not be calmed or consoled. Turned out one friend had to sleep in the bed with me, and two had to sleep in the floor between me and the "dwarf" before I would even relax. I stick with Tylenol PM, now.
elaineSeptember 12, 2010 at 5:22 am
My elderly mom took Ambien in the hospital. It put her in a stupor for two days where she could not eaat or hardly drink. Combined with the effects of diuretics, she developed renal failure and eventually died,
TonyaSeptember 2, 2010 at 5:51 am
My husband was prescribed Ambien by our family doctor to help him with his sleep deprevation, it totally changed his personallity and after taking it on a regular basis for about 2 months he went to bed one night with a loaded gun in his hand and commited suicide...he left behind a wife, a daughter who had her senior prom in two weeks and graduation in a month plus a son who was to graduate the ne[Show More]My husband was prescribed Ambien by our family doctor to help him with his sleep deprevation, it totally changed his personallity and after taking it on a regular basis for about 2 months he went to bed one night with a loaded gun in his hand and commited suicide...he left behind a wife, a daughter who had her senior prom in two weeks and graduation in a month plus a son who was to graduate the next year plus we are now financially cripple due to not having his income. I am disabled myself and my husband had a wonderful job, was up for promotion that would have put his salary to over 100,000.00 per year....I would really LOVE to get in on a lawsuit against the makers of this drug...I tell everyone I know that takes it to be very careful taking it....it took my family away from me, he was only 39 when he took his life, which was NOT at all in his personallity to do...I totally blame the ambien
DawnJune 18, 2010 at 10:06 pm
I had severe side affects from Ambien. I started getting sick a couple of months after taking it and it got worse and worse.I didn't relaize that it was the Ambien causing it and ended up having thousands of $$$ of medical tests run trying figure out what was wrong with me. I finally read an article about the Ambien side affects one day and decided to stop taking it. My symptoms went away almost i[Show More]I had severe side affects from Ambien. I started getting sick a couple of months after taking it and it got worse and worse.I didn't relaize that it was the Ambien causing it and ended up having thousands of $$$ of medical tests run trying figure out what was wrong with me. I finally read an article about the Ambien side affects one day and decided to stop taking it. My symptoms went away almost immediately and have not returned. Only now I am out thousands of dollars. If you are reading this DO NOT TAKE AMBIEN!
julieApril 14, 2010 at 10:45 pm
I took an Ambien the other night around 7pm, and found myself waking up in a county jail cell at 6am, thus being charged with Disrderly Conduct, Criminal Charge. Police said I was stumbling in and out of the roadway, causing unsafe traffic condition. Last and only thing I remember was getting ready to go to bed inside of my apartment. Now in big trouble and very frightened...
williamAugust 10, 2009 at 10:01 pm
in 200I I took ambien at 2pm, at 11:30 pm I awoke in jail for hitting two cars in my neighborhood. This is a dangerous drug too say the least. When you take a drug that is suppose to be safe, and then wake up somewhere else than the safety of your own bed, or home, someone should sue the hell out of the makers of ambien.
angelaAugust 1, 2009 at 3:42 am
I have been taking ambien since 1995- it has the good and bad - not sure which out weighs the other- but without it I can't sleep- I've stopped taking it two or three time (had to be up nights with no sleep) but have always went back- I have done and said things I have no knowledge of- even sent a message to my boss at 3 am almost getting myself fired.
TammyJuly 29, 2009 at 10:10 pm
Anne my husband also takes ambien and he takes it only to help him fall asleep not for other purposes and believe me he takes it goes to bed and i have found him getting food out of the refrigerator and also trying to walk out the front door of the house with car keys in hand sooooo you cant say that if it is taken as perscribed it does wonders for people with insomnia because it is still a danger[Show More]Anne my husband also takes ambien and he takes it only to help him fall asleep not for other purposes and believe me he takes it goes to bed and i have found him getting food out of the refrigerator and also trying to walk out the front door of the house with car keys in hand sooooo you cant say that if it is taken as perscribed it does wonders for people with insomnia because it is still a dangerous medication even when taken as directed.
KirstieJuly 27, 2009 at 9:46 pm
I took an Ambien while in bed. In the morning, I woke up in the same position I fell asleep in; addtionally, I had a painful, broken wrist. I have no idea how or where this happened. Also, I'm not sure there is a recreational use for Ambien. Sleepwalking on it is so common that, in their own print ads, the very first thing mentioned after the Ambien name is walking, cooking, or driving after t[Show More]I took an Ambien while in bed. In the morning, I woke up in the same position I fell asleep in; addtionally, I had a painful, broken wrist. I have no idea how or where this happened. Also, I'm not sure there is a recreational use for Ambien. Sleepwalking on it is so common that, in their own print ads, the very first thing mentioned after the Ambien name is walking, cooking, or driving after taking it.
anneJuly 10, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Ambien is a sleeping pill. When used as directed, it will make you sleep. When people abuse the drug, and use it for other purposes, than it becomes dangerous. It is too bad for the people who suffer from insomnia, and benefit from the effects of this powerful hypnotic. that there are those giving ambien a bad rap. I hope it remains on the market, because it has been a God Send for me, and I n[Show More]Ambien is a sleeping pill. When used as directed, it will make you sleep. When people abuse the drug, and use it for other purposes, than it becomes dangerous. It is too bad for the people who suffer from insomnia, and benefit from the effects of this powerful hypnotic. that there are those giving ambien a bad rap. I hope it remains on the market, because it has been a God Send for me, and I need this drug to sleep. Take this medicine only to sleep. Take it, then get into BED, Not a car, or the pool or go to the beach. Its for sleeping, deeply, and thats all its prescribed for.
E.B.July 8, 2009 at 9:02 am
My heart goes out to you. I have taken ambien since 1998 and have found it to be very unpredictable. One day it works and the other day it doesn't. Memory loss and weird food habits are the norm. I take it to sleep days but have found it to be rather addictive. I hate the stuff, but when it does work, there is no hangover symptoms like other sleep aides. Overall it should be pulled from markets be[Show More]My heart goes out to you. I have taken ambien since 1998 and have found it to be very unpredictable. One day it works and the other day it doesn't. Memory loss and weird food habits are the norm. I take it to sleep days but have found it to be rather addictive. I hate the stuff, but when it does work, there is no hangover symptoms like other sleep aides. Overall it should be pulled from markets because of the danger that you encountered with the drug. I've been lucky, and had many close calls. But as I stated earlier, the $h!ts addictive as hell and the docs have no clue. One evil drug, it's ruined me and no one will listen. I'm all out and have to wait till Friday to get my re-fill! As far as I'm concerned, they should dispense it on a day by day basis. But who knows what kind of kickback everyone pushing it gets. As for lawsuit? Forget about it, big pharma runs this country.
JCJuly 2, 2009 at 3:16 pm
My mom drowned because she took ambien and it didn't kick in immediately so she walked to the beach and fell asleep. The tide came in while she was in a sleep so heavy that it was like a semi-coma and the tide drowned her. She was only 54. She left a husband and two young daughters behind. Ambien is a lethal drug and should be banned from the markets instantly. Too many people have had unnecessary[Show More]My mom drowned because she took ambien and it didn't kick in immediately so she walked to the beach and fell asleep. The tide came in while she was in a sleep so heavy that it was like a semi-coma and the tide drowned her. She was only 54. She left a husband and two young daughters behind. Ambien is a lethal drug and should be banned from the markets instantly. Too many people have had unnecessary loss and heartbreak from it. The good definitely does not outweigh the bad. I am outraged though because there is nothing I can do to prevent it further.