“Sleep-driving” while under the influence of Ambien has captured wide attention and continues to be an alarming problem. Ambien (zolpidem) is one of the new “Z” drugs used as sleeping pills that are popular in commercials and doctors’ sample cupboards. But alternatives exist (most obviously …
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I take 20 mg of ambient every night and have been for a number of years. I have done things such as sending emails, text messages, phone calls, preparing and eating food, to name a few.
Last night I actually hopped in the car and ran to McDonalds because I did not have any thing in my house to eat that I wanted. I only vaguely remember what happened and woke at about 4 am thinking it was a dream. From what I think I remember or have pieced together, I drove directly into 1 curb and very possibly second curb. I got out of the car, in my pajamas, and pick up the car parts that had come off of my brand new Mercedes and threw them in the trunk. When I woke, I found food all over me, on my dog and in my bed. I still am not sure if the dog went with me to McDonalds….
I do not remember ordering food, paying for the food, getting home or even eating the food. It is Sunday morning and the tow truck has come and taken my car to the Mercedes dealership because it is not drivable. I estimate there to be at a minimum of $3,000 in damage….. Not a good morning for me.
I am still in shock that this happened. But it is very real. I am concerned as to how I will sleep tonight and whether to take the ambient. Tomorrow I will call my doctor first thing.
Thanks for listening.
I have suffered from insomnia for many years. I finally broke down and asked my doctor for something to help me sleep. Since starting the medication I have noticed a few things that were odd. In the morning, one or more of my house doors would be unlocked, I have eaten during sleep, and I have gotten on facebook. However, I recently made phone calls to people at 3 in the morning. I am no longer taking it. I would rather lose sleep until meditation and yoga help (if they ever do).
Can one of the medical people here point to any comparison of the memory problems related touse of sleeping medication and anesthetics?
I have been using Ambien for years with no side effects what so ever. I also have two friends who take it with no side effects. I take 5mg a night. I wonder if sleep driving, eating, etc. could be related to dose. 20mgs seems like to much to me.
Hi,
I just wanted to add to my comment above, that I too have been using ambien for years, maybe 5 or so years. Due to continued problems with sleeping, my dose continued to rise until I reached the 20 mg. I also tried the CR and it did not work for me.
Over the years, I recommended it to several friends since my treatment was successful, but added they may want to start with the CR first.
With what just happened to me, I am not sure how I feel about the drug. perhaps in small doses it works fine. But I think there are some memory side effects with the small doses.
At this time it is not right for me. I have gone for 7 days without taking ambien. I have not had any real noticeable side effects from stopping the drug. However, it is difficult to sleep, but i do get some sleep. I do believe that the drug is addicting and people can become dependent.
Fortunately for me, I was laid off from my job 2 weeks ago (I am fortunate to have this opportunity to get off the drug – not the part of no job) . It makes it easier for me to get off the drug at this time since I haven’t any where to be. But if I did have to show up for work, I think I would be here telling a different story of not being able to let go of the drug. Right now I fear the day I do have to return to work and if I will need the ambien again to sleep.
Hi Paige,
Have you talked to your doctor about alternatives? I don’t quite understand why you would want to take the Ambien again when there are so many other options. Especially since, as you point out, it is addictive, and you had that sleep-driving experience.
Taking sleeping pills for years is never a good idea, in any case. They’ve only meant for short term use and they are dangerous. Have you tried some other, non-drug techniques?
Should I be disturbed that John McCain is also a regular user (as ABC reports)?
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Politics/story?id=4919842
It seems that most of the side effects occur when your sleep is disturbed or interrupted (something likely to occur when you are president)
This is a great thread. I too have been on Ambien for 5 or so years. I have had terrible things go wrong too. ie: waking up with food all over and making food, going in the swimming pool in the middle of the nite, fighting with my husband, calling people, waking up with brusies that are big, telling my husband outrageous things. I stopped taking it 8 nights ago and I have has some terrible withdrawal symptoms. It was not fun, but the calm of not knowing that you will do something that would hurt someone else or yourself is ok. It happens that I have seen a big difference in the drug since it has gone generic. Anyone else? Thanks
I have been taking Ambien for about five months. My husband has told me of some bizzarre things I have done, I just laughed it off. Most of them involve roaming around the house, eating food, and occasionally having sex with no recolection of it. I just say “yeah, right” and don’t give it a second though. However, last night I was videotaped eating ice cream right out of the carton, “stirring” an empty cup, dumping “sprinkles” into the ice cream carton (I didn’t even know we had sprinkles in the house), dumping sprinkles on the table and then onto the floor…mumbling things that didn’t make sense. I also was, according to my husband, “playing with my pills” and, this morning I was several pills short. This happened once before, so now I fear that my life may be in danger if these medicines are not kept locked up. Could I possibly be overdosing while alseep? I only take 5 mgs. dose per night. I do not use illegal drugs, and I only drink occasionally on weekends, and dont use Ambien on weekends. Up until recently I thought the Ambien was doing me good!
I have been taking Ambien for years, My family would get a kick out of me on the Ambein. I would eat like a pig and still want more! I once made myself popcorn and was eating it and then I started to rub the popcorn on my dirty socks and ate it! My daughter said that I looked like a crazy person and would not stop what I was doing. My daughter said that it was no longer funny she said that she had thought that I had lost my mind forever, She had to get my husband to hold me down on the bed to stop me from rubbing popcorn on my dirty socks and eating it. I could not believe what they had told me the next day. I found this to be very bizarre and I did not remember any thing that I had done the night before. I did that last year. NOW I have done some thing more Bizarre, Crazy and Dangerous that I don’t even want to tell any one what I did. but now I am more worried then I have ever been about talking the Ambein! Well here it is! I have been suffering with a bad tooth it had broken off to the gum line and was very jagged and had sharp edges that was very painful and I don’t have the means to get it pulled. About 10 days ago I took my Ambein and went to bed only to awaken at 7:30am when my husband came home from work a started to yell at me as WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING! I was sitting on the side of the bed with blood all over myself, my face, my hands, my clothing, my bedding, the floor Blood was every where and sitting next to me was all the tools I used to pull my own tooth out! and they also was covered in blood. I had awaken to a nightmare at me own hands, My husband said he was going to have me committed! I don’t remember any thing about what I have done to myself and now I have a great big hole in my gum into my sinus cavity and I have been trying to take care of it by myself because I am to embarrassed to seek Medical help I can only pray to God that my own body will repair it’s self and pray that I will not ever do any thing so insane again. Right now I out of my Ambein and I really don’t what to get my refill at this point I’m to Afraid of what I could do next!
I took generic Ambien-woke up the next morning and apparently called in sick to work, which I have absolutely no recollection of-I fear losing my job because of bizarre behavior caused by this drug. As mentioned by another person in this thread, I too woke up the next day to discover I had somehow taken 6-7 of the pills without knowing it. I think this is a very dangerous medicine for some people.
So I am reading these storys and I cant help but to laugh, only because I am the wife of an ambien prescribed wonderful man. He turns into this uncontrolably funny man while on ambien. Now yes he is funny most nights but some nights its scary. Like when we wake up in the morning and the doors are unlocked and we have no idea why, or if he had gone anywhere. Theres nights when (and this happens alot) he’s smoking a cigarette, and the ambien kicks in and he drops it on the floor, now if I wernt in ths house at all times he would burn down the house. We have cigarette burns all over in front of his chair. One night me, him and a friend of ours where all hanging out, it came time for him to take his ambien and her and I desided to secretly video tape him on his ambian. He sat her down on his lap and started telling her storys, Then out of no where he tells her with a very serious face “you need to go, you need to go help your brother” she looked at him funny and said “why do i need to save my brother?” laughing as she said it. The he says “the aliens are coming to your house, there going to go in his window and put an implant in his neck!” This bothered her alot but we let it go. Theres been nights when we would have what I like to call “ambien Sex” I define it as The best sex EVER!, and Sex for hours. Its just amazing how wonderful the sex is and then waking up to him not even rememebering going to the bedroom. I personally LOVE IT. He had one trip when he had suddenly got really pissed off and I didnt understand then he tells me that people were building a tent in the livingroom in front of his TV and he couldnt see his show. Last night I tried to put him to bed, he said “The dogs are coming, and there coming now” I of course egg it on and ask why they were coming, he then said “To see how many ARMS they can fit into ONE UNITY” lol I couldnt rememeber everything else that followed but it was just to funny. Then I put my legs up against his head standing in front of him to get him up and said come on hunny im taking you to bed, he said “your not taking me anywhere in this” I said in what babe he said “in these wires and bares” he had watched a jail show last night and seeing my legs infront of him he thought he was locked up.
Now dont get me wrong I worry, I worry i may not be here one night and he is going to burn the house down or go out driving and hurt himself very bad. Ambeins is the only way the man can go to sleep, nothing else works. He has to take 1nd1/2 10mg pills everynight. With all the other pills he is prescribed to take he would never sleep if not. But with all the funny things he’s done I’m still so scared he’s going to really mess up one time and thats all its going to take. With him being a hunter anything could happen with his thoughts on ambiens, hes been on ambiens for 10+ years. I just dont know how to feel about ambiens.
No offense intended Jennifer/Stephen but I think maybe you need to be more afraid and less amused and take Steve to the doctor. These are very alarming things and if he ever behaved like this in the daytime you would consider having him committed to a psych hospital for some help. ANY medicine that can make a person act so erratic and without memory of it later one is highly dangerous. With alcoholics they call these blackouts and consider it very serious. I am concerned for all of you who have these stories, this is scary and dangerous.
I struggle with insomnia and have for many years. I won’t bore you with my details. I occasionally use Ambien but I’ve become leary of it because sometimes I can take as little as 5 mg and find myself falling asleep over and over all the next day and if I try to use it more than once in a while it sometimes has no effect at all.
Insomnia is a really rotten deal to have but I’ve had enough bizzare experiences in life that I do not want to have any more.
Some of what is being written about different colors in light at night may be something to really look into and would be a lot less scary than the Ambien “Follies” some people are performing. Good luck; I know you all need help.
i LOVE AMBIEN. i AM AN AMBIEN ADDICT. i DONT WANT TO BE BUT IT MAKES EVERYTHING SO MUCH BETTER. MY ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT I WANT MORE AND MORE. I ONCE SHAVED MY WIFE’S CAT ON AMBIEN. SHE IS NO LONGER MY WIFE. WHEN I TAKE 20MG, I CAN’T SPELL, CAN’T READ AND I LOVE CALLING AND E-MAILING PEPOLE BECAUSE I GET THE SENSE THAT I LOVE THEM AND WANT TO TELL THEM THAT EVEN THOUGH I NEVER WOULD WITHOUT IT. I DON’T WANT TO STOP BUT DO I NEED TO GET HELP? AM I A DRUG ADDICT?
Hi Mij,
Just the fact that you’re asking if you might be an addict and are worried about your behaviour, tells me that there’s something wrong. I recommend going to a therapist who can ask about more details and help you decide what you might like to do about it. If it is an addiction, you can beat it. Good luck!
You know…Ambien has the same effects as does alcohol and I think it might be good to seek a medical doctor, then a psychotherapist to see if perhaps this medication is numbing some internal “pain” or problem that is being submerged by Ambien or if (perhaps you had a history of alcohol usage or abuse) you may be reverting back to this stage by using Ambien. Ambien can be considered the alcohol without the smell!
There may also be some medical reasons why you’re “addicted” to Ambien. This is a very serious sedative-hypnotic drug and I think before anyone decides to take it, they should talk with their doctor extensively before using it. As we research a job before we apply, we should too when it comes to sedative-hypnotics or any drug for that matter. I strongly encourage you, as I knew someone very close who didn’t believe me and soon learned the hard way.
Best of luck.
http://www.drugs.com/search.php?searchterm=Ambien&is_main_search=1
I have only used Ambien a couple of times. I also found food all over me when I woke up.
The night before I had my son by c-section, I was given seconal at the hospital and I totally dissociated and hallucinated as well. never again!
It sounds from these comments that there is a problem with Ambien.
Mij, of course you are an addict. That is how you start out your comment. Then you close with a question about it.
I am not opposed to the good feelings that are often associated with both narcotics, and pain relief in general. (when I do not use a drug and suffer through the pain, I tend to get high also from my own body’s production of opioids)
But I hate anything that makes me feel out of control, like pot, or these sleeping pills as well, or that are ‘mind altering’ vs. ‘mood altering’
I think that everyones experience with medications I different. I work in the behaviarol health field. What I know about ambien is that it was made to be a one to two week treatment plan. And if ur insomnia is still bad there are better long term options. Its being on ambien for a prolonged time that makes these s/s show up. Study someone for a week they may feel stoned but sleep all night no issues. Take a patient that takes it for longer than a month and ull start notiving side effects then the longer the more dellusional a patient will seem. Sleepwalking driving eating. If these do happen a med change needs done immediately and maybe even supervision for a couple days or so.
KAT, your claim that Ambien doesnt have symptoms/side effects unless its taken for a longer period of time is simply NOT TRUE! I had strange uncharacterized behavior the first week that I took it. I had not even taken it every night but only when I couldnt sleep. I put a cigarette out on my arm the first night!..and I was wide awake one minute and woke up to the burning pain the next minute! The next time I took it, I found that I had gotten up in the night and made a hot dish. The only way I know this is because I found the hotdish on the bottom of my bookshelf!
Something that needs to be made crystal clear here is that Ambien is not just a sleeping pill but it’s a hypnotic drug! THAT is what doctors need to tell their patients BEFORE they prescribe it! Because you work with people who are medicated does not make you an authority. I’m sorry, I don’t mean to offend you but please don’t make statements unless you have done your homework! I have read the drug company’s test results and there were clearly a large percentage who displayed bizarre behavior right away. THIS DRUG NEEDS TO BE TAKEN OFF THE MARKET~ BUT, because big pharma will loose millions, they won’t do it. Lining their pockets is more important than the safety of the public!
Everyone’s experiences are different, Kat, you’re right: I know someone who experienced hallucinations every time he took a single dose of Ambien, and he didn’t take it regularly or long term.
You’re also right that if serious effects happen, a med change is needed immediately.
Don’t keep taking it and hope it’ll get better, if there’s a problem there are many healthier alternatives.
Have bipolar 1. Currently taking Depakote, Lithium, Prozac, Seroquel, lorazapam, clonazepam, and AMBIEN.
Several nights ago I UNKOWINGLY got into my car after having 3-4 beers in my own home and then taking pills (excepts Prozac) and drove into a mail box. I remember NOTHING! I would NEVER drink and drive or drive after having taking my meds. I was sleepdriving and sleepwalking. I face up to TWO YEARS in prison. At advice of my psychiatrist (who will speak to the relationship between Ambien and sleepdriving in court along with someone else who has witnessed my sonanbulism) and lawyers I am checking into a 30 day psych ward program so I never drink at all again and to get off the Ambien and 2 benzos. Hopefully I’ll get the statutory minimum–30 days–and the court will see my treatment as time served.
I am a school teacher who has worked hard for years to live a productive life despite bipolar 1. I have never had law troubles. I am so shocked and terrified. ANY ADVICE? IDEAS? I would so appreciate it! Thank you!
Hi Ava – sorry to hear about your situation. Any advice I might have is not as valuable as your lawyer’s and I wouldn’t dare offer any.
I will suggest, though, getting in touch with Devin Dove who maintains the Ambien Outrage web site I wrote about in the post (see link above). His email is devindove@yahoo.com.
Good luck.
Also in addition to my comment with the fall that I sustained, it could have very well killed me. I still have blurring vision and headaches from the impact…
My email address is as followes
I was going through a divorce and went to my doc due to stress and anxiety attacks, he gave me Lexapro, Ativan and Ambien, I took the ativan for only a month to help get through the divorce process, went off the lexapro becuase I thought it was IT that was cuasing to me to be MORE depressed. Took the ambien on and off, gave me double vision but seemed to sleep, went off for a long time, it has been now a couple of years and I decided to ask for some more ambien from my doc becuase I wanted help with sleep ( I rely on Tylinol PM) I went back on the ambien and it was a NIGHTMARE, started Drinking more beer at night and the last episode was me thinking I would take one and then go to bed, the next thing is I am drinking a beer in my garage and smoking cigs, then BOOM I completely blacked out, My daughter tells me she came out and I was FACE DOWN on the Concrete with blood on my forehead, helped me back to bed, she dumped the pills, she was scared I would take more, and poured the beer out, I threatened to go get more beer THANK GOD she took my keys, the next morning I remember NOTHING, I had a Huge Goose egg on my forehead and a swollen eye, and bruises everywhere, I look like I have been in car accident, I must have went down with FULL Force! Now I am not bragging, but I am a good looking gal, and when I had to go back to work I was VERY Embarrased, how to you tell people at work, you took sleeping pills then drank and fell?? I will Never take this again, you can really really hurt yourself bad, NO CLOWN in my ambien state, I felt very anxiouse, depressed and guilty for a couple of days, but better, ONLY PM tabs for me!!! It also seems to open up the door to any “other additions” such as drinking/shopping,eating,sex, gambling, you name it, if you have ever had an issue with any sort of impulse prob, Ambien OPENS that closed door in your mind,and off you go! BEWARE, they should not have this stuff on the market, Are they trying to kill us??? Ok now I am sounding paranoid, but you know you should be, Marajuana should be legal not this CRAP!
So now Tiger has been said to have had Ambien Sex with one of his Mistresses. Is this the new celebrity drug/sex craze?
I have been prescribed Ambien for the last year and a half or so and only recently began taking it every night. I take only 10mg and sometimes even cut it in half and just take 5mg to get to sleep. I am starting to get concerned about what the long-term effects of taking it could be but at the same time I’m terrified of NOT taking it and the possibility of not being able to sleep. I think it’s more of a psychological thing than physical for me. I am planning to taper off and stop within the next month because of my concerns. I haven’t driven on it (that I know of!) but I have eaten, walked around the house, cooked, while on it. And I feel like my mind is not as sharp the longer I’m on it…not looking forward to the withdrawal but I think this has to be done!
Oh, I’m also Bipolar and feel like the Ambien may be exacerbating it at times…
To those who have experience with Ambien and odd behavior in the middle of the night, I would really like to speak with you. I am an attorney in Oregon and currently working on a case wherein the client drove his car while still asleep or unaware of what he was doing. Please call me at (541) 382-4404 or email me at info@romanolawpc.com.
I have had similar experiences taking Trazodone (old-time anti depressant prescribed as I needed the sedating effects, as well, as had been hypo manic {bipolar 1}for 5 mos. & only sleeping 2-3 hrs. a night & suddenly crashed into a depression & overdosed on my psych meds). Also was taking 1 mg. of Klonopin & other psych meds (Abilify & Lamictal) but the sedating ones (Trazodone & Klonopin) caused me to do the “sleep-eating” & also I would have a phone conversation w/one of my grown kids & then NOT REMEMBER THE CONVERSATION AT ALL THE NEXT DAY.
I would be “knocked out” almost immediately after taking my night-time meds. Sometimes I couldn’t even bring myself to brush my teeth. I couldn’t stand up & get the energy to do that & would brush my teeth at 3:00 a.m.
My children & husband became very concerned, yet I needed to sleep so I instructed my husband to not let me talk on the phone after taking my night-time meds.
Luckily, EMDR treatment w/my therapist has “cured” me of the insomnia & I’ve been off those meds. So I don’t think it is just Ambien, but all sedating meds can have that effect.
My husband and I have been using Ambien for about 4 years. Early on we use to take it nightly but after realizing we were suffering side effects like memory loss we have supplemented back to using mostly Melatonin. Other than the memory loss, we haven’t recognized any other side effect… until last night when we each took an ambien to get us through trying out our new tent and air mattress. About 30 minutes after taking a pill we decided to each have a glass of wine. Things got real fuzz after that but I know for certain I had the most intense sex of my life. I don’t consider myself out-going in the bedroom and I haven’t had many lovers before my husband of 14 years but we had about 2 hours of no-holes-barred sex. I had no idea what I have been missing. I will continue to use Melatonin most of the time but will reserve my Ambien for certain special nights.
well get off the stuff, I got a dwi April 30th 2010
Don’t remember driving it was 9:30 am, and I did $10,000 in damage to my truck and don’t remember!!
got to er and the police thought they got me for drunk driving, but there’s no alcohol!, so not I have been told I misused drugs, I have had eeg’s mri’s and cat scan’s and there’s nothing showing up, but the physical test of sezures I don’t pass!
I can’t walk the line or stand with my eyes closed…I go to court the end of the month if the blood work comes back, boy not knowing I drove 20 miles and hit a block of street signs! is scary, I did this 2 years ago almost the same thing and at that time I was on Amien only 3 weeks, now 2 years later, I’m screwed! Have not drove for 3 months, and won’t till they clear me of being able to….I too fell on my face and got up and didn’t think much of it, also fell a sleep on the kitchen floor my husband found me…after you have these things happen do you have the need to sleep for days? I am just wiped out after these things happen
I can say finally I am not the only person who goes through the sleep walking and eating due to ambian. I have been a police officer for many years and suffer from depression and anxiety. Being a single mother than dealing with the job I was going out of my mind. I was put on ambian, zoloft, and ativan as well as a few other medications and it did more harm than help. I had a very healthy life and suddenly I started putting on a lot of weight and we couldnt figure out why, than I started waking up to find a mess in the kitchen or pasta in my bed. My children were not old enough to use the stove and would be asleep and thouht I was nuts for even thinking they would awake in the middle of the night to cook! I spoke to a friend and she stayed a few days with me and one night she woke up and I was cooking chicken at 4am. she tried to wake me but I finished cooking ate and went back to bed. In the morning I had no idea what she was talking about. I stopped taking it for the fear of burning my home down while we were all asleep. For anyone using these medications please look for alternative medications and be careful
I took my regular perscribed ambien last night IN BED like usual. The next thing I knew I felt an impact and my face going into an airbag. The cops asked if I had been drinking. I was honest with what happened even though I believe I was still under the effects. They let me go. I don’t really remember walking home….I think my car is totaled. I tried to get it back today but they said they are still doing an “investigation.” I don’t know if I’m going to be in any kind of legal trouble. I’m not even positive what I hit. I think it was a street light at a somewhat high rate of speed. Now I have no car. Am a full time student at a school that is about a half hour drive away. And a reservist at a reserve unit that is about an hour drive away….I’m stuck. I’m screwed. I don’t know what to do. I cannot believe I did this. I had done things like go walking around. Write emails. Eat odd stuff. But I had always been smart enough to NOT GET IN MY CAR. I finally screwed that up last night.
I am a self proclaimed A-head. My sister too. I’ve found that I have a 10 minute window from the time I take my pill until the amnesiac properties take over. Family knows not to call past 7:30 because I won’t remember the conversation. We have both learned we can become financial moron’s if we get online. Unfortunately the “surprise shopping” shows up in a big brown truck a few times a week with our “special deliveries. The best one is a years subscription to Ancestry.Com for $200. WTF????
I’ll bet you’ve never woke up with Reeces Pieces stuck to your ass. I sure did. Brought a bag to bed with me. BIG MISTAKE! The most comical part is getting a call from my sister the day and she asks: Do you remember calling me last night? Knowing the answer is an obvious NO.
But we love our little white pills and aint gonna give em up.
I find Ambien effective in fighting off severe OCD with paranoia. Oh, it does not go away, but at least I can function while not having emotional pain. When I get to work I take it with my soft drink. I would say I take it on the average of 3 times a day. When I run out I just order more online. Every so often I can go back to my doctor and get ambien by perscritpion for only $15.
I also dream in almost photographic detail while on ambien. Last night my dream consisted of me being at a swimming resort swimming with tourists and a few bathers dressed as pengiums.
I thought it was a dream, but it wasn’t. I woke up to the worst pasta salad ever. I put weird things from my pantry in it, including bean soup mix and whole garlic cloves. I also broke a glass and put the big pieces on the counter but left the small. If only my dogs could talk. I think that the problem isn’t really that you don’t know what you’re doing but you forget what you did. Although in no condition to drive I think I was aware enough to turn off oven and cook food.
I took Ambien for years and it helped me sleep, at first. Then, instead of sleeping I would walk around without any memory of it. I gained weight from eating without any memory. I think Ambien could be great for occasional insomnia but I don’t recommend it for long term use.
I been taking ambien for 5 or 6 years now and I’ve experienced . eating and talking jibberish and talking on the phone, even having sex, but there was allways some kind of memory except for the food, never remembered eating but I would wake up with my kitchen a mess. up until now I really didn’t think it was something to get too alarmed about. Just thought I was hungry. I’ve heard of people that took it and woke up in like isle 8 of they’re super market with cart of food and they have no memory of how they got there or what they were doing. I always thought those were just stories and that stuff really didn’t happen. Well I sure was wrong. Recently I took my ambien right after dinner like I usually did and sat on my couch for a min with my wife to have a cig before bed. Sometime while I was smoking it kicked in. That’s where it all went blank! My wife takes ambien as well. She said we had a beer together and then went to bed, well I didnt go to bed, she said instead she woke up to the sound of the car pulling out the driveway, when she tried to stop me she said that I said I was going for a tim hortons coffee and almost hit her with the car and drove away with no lights on. Now we went and got a coffee earlier in the afternoon. I don’t know if that had something to do with where I was going or what. Next thing I remember is standing in jail being told to blow in machine, which I blew 0.09 .then blank again. Then I woke up in a cell acouple hours later. In which I got booked and released. its 30 degrees outside and I can’t believe what im wearing. While asleep I got dressed. Changed from pj’s into cargo pants no briefs, a thin, thin sweatshirt I’ve never seen before no socks and my neighbors sneakers he uses to mow his grass with. Now im just shocked, cars in impound and I have no clue what happen. Now im charged with DWI, and driving on the sidewalk with a whole bunch other tickets, facing 1 1\3-4 yrs in jail. Obviously im done taking ambien. Good to c other people have similar stories regarding this medication. Too bad the court isn’t going to except that as a legitimate excuse. It doesn’t make it ok for me driving but I think when stuff like this happens it should be taken under consideration that when you take ambien, its like temporary insanity, because you really have no control over your actions or be able to make rational, clear decisions. I hope people read this either a ambien veteran or someone thinking about taking it, and that you decide not too, or if you must take it atleast hear what happen to me and don’t think for one second it can’t happen to you.
Stay away from this drug!!!!! use a hammer to get some sleep before taking ambien! This drug will kill you and or ruin your life. Trust me I know, I had a life changing experience while taking this drug. Never trust a doctor to get a quality night of sleep. Do your homework about the medication first!!!
DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG — I was yesterday under arrest and am now facing jail time (60 year old grandmother, who never smoked pot) because of this stupid drug!!! Have no memory from approximately 8:30 in the evening until 1:30 AM at the police station in handcuffs and vehicle with approximately $3,000 worth of damage — I have no idea what happened during that time frame. Please save yourselves the trouble, expense and possible jail time.
I have not had any of the side effects. In fact I was taking a sleep aide from a health food store that made me dizzy and gave me vertigo. Ambien actually gives me pleasant dreams about things like puppies and ice cream.
However this is super scary. I have PTSD and am going through something unbelievable and horrifying.
Ambien is the only thing that has helped me sleep so far. I have been on it maybe a month. But the one thing it definatley has done and it is a clear difference is it makes me heat sick. I live in NYC with constant heat waves so I have been heat sick a lot. But the alternative is not to sleep!
PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG. It ruined my life for 5 years. The first couple years everything seemed to be fine taking this drug. Then I started getting depressed so my doctor put me on Zoloft. I took one Zoloft pill and the Ambien the night before. Later that evening I started having severe burning in my legs and arms and having problems breathing and my heart pounding. I could not even walk and my husband was not home. I thought I was dying. I managed to get to a phone and called 911 and they got me to the hospital. They diagnosed me with serention syndrome and paraythesis. I have never had high blood pressure but my blood pressure was going up to 165 over 100 and then it would drop to 150 over 95. They finally got me stable and went home the next morning and was really weak. I thought this was just a allergic reaction to the Zoloft so I never took another one again. I then noticed my I started staying dizzy all the time and I would blame that on my allergies. The burning sensation and tingling in my arms and legs continued and would get worse at night . My shoulders would burn with this severe pain as well. It was getting to where I could not work and I could not handle the least little amount of stress. I thought what is going on with me. I really had no reasons to bre so stressed. I went to my internal doctor and she said the redness in your skin is caused by anxiety. This was another symptom I was having red streaks in my arms and legs. I kept telling these doctors I feel like I have posion in my body. They would run all these different blood test and find everything normal but it wasn’t normal to me. The aches, pain & burning sensations in my body kept getting worse. I couldn’t wait for nighttime to come so I could just take an ambien and go to sleep to get rid of this pain. This continued on for 3 more years. I saw rhumatolgist doctor, neurologist to check me for MS and any other autoimmune diseases. I had a brain scan everything was normal. Then these doctors diagnosed me with fybromyaglia and they tried to put me on lyrics. Iread the side effects and was scared to take it after the reaction that I had from Zoloft so I just continued to be in pain and continued taking the ambien. My uncle who is a retired infectious disease doctor said you need to get off the ambien. My thoughts were but I can’t sleep and I had tried melatonin and it did not work for me so I continued taking the ambien and then I had another huge scare. I was still not getting a good night sleep on the ambien so the next day I would have no energy so I went to the health food store and they gave me this strong herbs to take in the morning and it also curbed my appetite and I thought this great. The next day I took another one and then I felt like these are to strong for me so the next day I did not take one. These were making my heart race. I then had the scare of my life I was laying Dow on the table getting waxed and I get up to get dressed and completely fell on my knees my legs gave out. I could not walk. I then finally was able to get up and walk to the desk to pay but I could barely walk. I am a very healthy girl. My legs have always bent he strongest part of my body. I workout all the time doing spin, Zumba & yoga classes.. I was thinking what is going on with my body. I was getting ready for our trip to Jamaica and I was thinking am I going to be able to go. Are my legs going give out on me again. It was like I was paralyzed. Went to Jamaica got back still feel bad all the time. I finally gave in and decided to take my uncle’s advice and said I am ready to get off this ambien. I read online how other people managed to get off of it completely so I slices chips of the pill and would take a melatonin. The first couple of nights were a little restless but then I noticed I was able to sleep ad even dream which I rarely did on the ambien. I then noticed I was not having the severe burning in my legs, arms & back. The twitching was going away I forgot to mention that symptom. This was causing me to have severe nerve damage. Today 6 weeks and I am ambien free and I am getting my life back. I am still having a little tingling. I am feeling like a brand new person. I spent tons of money on doctor bills and none of these doctors could figure it out. It took my uncle who was a retired doctor to figure it out. All these doctors thought I was crazy. I think God everyday I am getting my life back. I beg you please don’t use this drug!!!! I know this long but I really felt the need to share my story so I might be able to help someone and save you on expense of numerous doctor bills.
Thanks for writing in such detail. Your story sounds like my own. I have been seeing so many doctors just begging them to find out what is wrong with me for the last year. I have lost so much memory and it is so scary. I have always been a health person up until two years ago. It dawned on me today that I feel the best beginning around 3 or 4 in the afternoon each day. I have been on Ambien for about 5 years and today I started to think that maybe it has built up in my body for so long that it could be the problem. I asked the doctors several times if this could be causing the fatigue, tingling in face, memory loss, high blood pressure and depression lately. They all said no but the only way I will be able to rule it out is to take myself off of it and see how I feel. Tonight I will cut my dose of 5 mg in half and try to wean myself off it. Ambien has helped me sleep in the past I will admit but if it is what is zapping my personality and emotions than it is not worth it. Thank you for posting what you did. It seems to be right along with what I am experiencing. Have a good weekend and keep your fingers crossed for me!
I wish I had investigated Ambien before taking it. I took an ambien and it didn’t seem to work. Thats the last thing that I remember.
Apparently that same evening I also took EIGHT MORE PILLS and I attempted to back my car out of the garage…right into another one of our cars in the driveway. I don’t remember ANY OF IT. Never again. I have never ever had anything even close to this happen to me. I do not drink, I don’t do drugs and now I don’t take Ambien.
This is what happened to a very close friend. BEWARE OF AMBIEN! He found out that his 14 yr old and a friend were putting porn pics on the web of themselves. But when she was caught, she talked her mom and dad into just keeping it between them and her friend’s parents. Then it happens again! By this time, mom and dad are divorced and vistation is set up with his 2 daughters coming to spend a week, every other week.
Between the divorce and now problems with the 14yr old, the doc puts dad on ambien to help him sleep. To make things worse, the doc gives him antidepressants! The first night he takes the ambien and starts getting ready for bed. But friends unexpectantly drop by. Since his dr told him that Ambien is ‘just a SLEEPING pill, how bad can it be? He figures he will just get tired. Since he’s single now, friends dropping by is a common occurrance. His freinds start telling him about his somewhat bizarre behavior that they witness when they drop in and it’s always after he’s taken an Ambien. The behavior was always harmless but still, not himself and whats worse, he doesnt recall doing anything out of character. Although he usally didnt plan to have friends there when he had the girls, it’s something that isnt always in his control so the girls saw some of his odd behavior.
His 14 yr old begins to periodically say, ‘dad, did you take your sleeping pill? I’ll get it for you.” She did this more and more while there for their visitation week. Unfortunately, he just thought it was harmless, maybe her way of helping him out. He had no idea that anything else might be going on. They had been getting along ok so why should he think otherwise?
Then one day he comes home and finds his 14 yr old with the boy and they are in a compromising position. Understandably, he’s upset and sends the boy packing and tells his daughter that she will not be able to see the boy again but also that she’s lost all of her priveledges until he can figure out what to do. Of course an arguement ensues and she is threatening him that she will do whatever she wants and he can’t stop her! Each day they argue until the end of the week came and he took her back home to her mom. That was on a Friday. On Sat afternoon he hears a knock on the door. He looks out and sees it’s the police but since he hasnt anything to worry about, he answers the door. They proceed to arrest him for sexual assault against his 14 yr old daughter!
There is a lot to tell but ultimately, he has lost everything, job as an architect, his home, land, all personal property and worst of all, his daughters! He sits in prison today. He does not recall ever doing anything inappropriate to her. They claim there are pics. However, he was shown 1 pic of his daughter and a man/boy but he said it clearly is not him. He has begged to see the police report, the ‘other’ pics that she claims she has or anything that will give him more information. But he gets nothing! All he can go by are the things he was told by his friends when they visited and when he was on Ambien, doing things that were totally out of character for him. To make matters worse, he spent 55k on a lawyer who was later found to be friends with his ex. Since he had no prior experience with the law, he had no choice but to trust his lawyer. What a mistake!
While he sits in prison, the 14 yr old is living a pleasant life doing anything she wants. Her mom doesnt put any restraints on her activities so she is very happy! She has her dad out of her life the way she wanted! Meanwhile, his life is ruined! But the worst part is that he is being tore apart inside because he doesnt even know if he did something to harm her! PLEASE~DON’T TAKE THIS DRUG! This could EASILY HAPPEN TO ANYONE!
Ambien is a seriously dangerous drug that is being prescribed to patients who should NEVER, under ANY circumstance, use a dis-associative episode causing drug. My Fiance is in jail because he is mentally ill and was given ambien, by a licensed psychiatrist mind you. I am unable to go into everything that happened, at length, because this is an ongoing case. What I can say is; Ambien is known to cause dis-associative episodes in “normal” people. With people who have naturally occurring dis-associative episodes, it can cause violent reactions. My fiance believes he’s going to go to prison and he doesn’t even remember what he did to me that caused his arrest in the 1st place. He had been taking Seroquel 100mg 3x a day, he was prescribed both by the same doctor. He has a history of becoming violent during his episodes. This doctor should be the one with prison hanging over his head, not my fiance, who also happens to be the person who takes care of me. I told the DA honestly what had happened, they don’t care. He just a criminal to them. He broke the law, he must pay. So I went to his PD and gave him every shred of evidence he needed to prove what had happened, or rather what I claim happened, is really what happened. I am disheartened by what we allow to pass for justice these days. When I look at my fiance, I see a beautiful, wonderful, good man, with a heart of gold. He does more for me in a day than anyone has ever done for me my whole life. Since he’s been gone, 2mo. 15 days, I have lost an enormous amount of weight, 50lbs, but that was 2 weeks ago. I have shrunk since. I wore a tight 16 when he was taken, I wear a size 12 today. This man would not ever hurt me intentionally. The DA calls me “his” victim. No, I am just another victim of a system that protects it’s own and does what is in its own, best interest. I don’t know how all this is going to turn out. I am frightened to death of being forced to continue living without my fiance here. I am not afraid of my fiance, I am afraid of Ambien and the FDA for allowing something so obviously dangerous and life altering to be prescribed by doctors, who are simply given “incentives” to push certain medications. The doctors don’t know what harm they may be causing. So, who is really at fault? The mentally ill man who took his meds as prescribed, and still had a reaction? The doctor who had his records that showed his history and gave him Ambien anyway? Or are we, The American People at fault? For turning a blind eye and allowing OUR government to continue allowing pharmaceutical companies to push drugs at us, that they know can, have and will continue to harm us? Where does the buck stop? And how many more citizens, and their loved ones, have to have their lives turned upside down or even destroyed? I read every comment posted here. I am sorry for all everyone has gone through. I am fighting a system that allows me little, if any, say in what will happen to my fiance. I am working as hard as I can. The wheels of “justice” turn slowly, very slowly, so finding out what will happen may still take weeks or even months. We have court in 2 days, all I can do is pray. I am afraid of how sick I will get if he doesn’t come home to take care of me or how much worse his mental state will get if he continues to remain improperly medicated, in jail. Ambien needs to be taken off the market. After reading all I have read today, I am writing a letter to my congressman. I suggest everyone else do the same. Let’s show these corporations that they do not control us. Change can happen if we all do our part. It starts with a letter, a phone call or an email to our elected representatives. If we don’t try to change this, who will? It isn’t happening to them, or if it is, perhaps the amnesiac properties of this drug are worse than we fear…