What happened to you while taking Ambien?

Question

Ok in the first stages of the drug coming out I was put on it, while on it I did some crazy things..Ran around the house thinking the walls were talking to me..Got up in the middle of the night and would eat, call people, get online and talk and would not remember doing it..I one night fell out of bed and laughed so hard cause I fell out of bed that I woke my husband.. drove my car to the gas station in my underwear and long tshirt (good thing they were closed) on the way home wrecked in my own yard...(dont remember much of that night)...I felt like I was going to get sick one night when I woke up,and my husband found me in the kitchen on the floor eating bread out of the bag, and I had mixed Tequilla (sp) and milk and was drinking it..The last thing is I would go to fall asleep some nights and my husband would have to hold me down cause I believed the bed was tring to eat me...he did make me stop taking them (he didnt want to babysit all night) I do have problems sleeping tho

was wondering if anyone else has done anything like this on this pill... and if the CR changed it, or is there something else I can look into... thanks

Answer 1

I both prescribe and take Ambien, so I can tell you from experience, both personal and vicarious.
Your experience is not uncommon...which (hate to sound flaky) doesn't mean it is common. But I have had many patients describe very similar events. I think there are two factors here: everyone responds to different medications differently. For example, if I take Ambien, it is an absolute knock-out pill for me: no wandering around, no euphoria (nor should there be...it is neither narcotic nor benzodiazepine, such as Xanax or Ativan), no hallucinations...I just get knocked out and get sleep that is far superior than without it. Then again, I have a shift-work job, thus the need for a sleeping aid. The other factor, I believe, is that some people take it when they aren't "ready for bed". That is, for various reasons, such as feeling anxious or depressed, someone takes it when they wouldn't/shouldn't be tired and going to sleep anyway. I think these people suffer from these problems the most, because the medication is a form of a "hypnotic"...it helps you sleep, but won't just put you down if your body isn't ready for sleep.
In the end, it sounds very, very clear to me that you should never take this medication again. This is the type of story that ends with you getting into a car while your brain is switched off as you drive into another vehicle with two kids in the back seat.
There are a few other options out there. Ask your doctor about Lunesta or Rozerem. Personally, I found Lunesta to be much milder and less effective, but that might mean less side effects for you. Also, I found Rozerem to be terribly ineffective, with intolerable daytime side effects. However, that's just me. The advantage to Rozerem it is the only prescription sleep Rx that is FDA approved for long-term use (you know the ads...with Lincoln and the beaver telling you they've missed you?) It works on a melatonin-adjustment level, but it simply didn't work for me. Lastly, there's always benzodiazepines such as Ativan. The disadvantage to these is that they are addictive: if a person has the strength to strictly adhere to taking them only once per night, then it may be a good option. However, most people end up abusing them.

Answer 2

I had issues with Ambien. Couldn't remember what happened the night before. Hallucination. I also discovered that drink a few beers and then taking ambien is a big no no. Kind of a given I guess. One morning after waking up, my wife told me I had been watching TV the night before, while it was off. I had been making comments about what I was watching. Important thing is, everyone is different. One person can take a med and have no effect while other can die from taking it. I take melatonin now. I think that is how it is spelled. It's an over the counter, herb. It works great for me. It's even cheap. I take it about 30 to 45 mins before I want to go to sleep. I have not had any side effects from it yet and I have been taking it for 4 years.

Answer 3

Ask your doctor about other medications. You obviously don't react well to Ambien. Sonata works well for me, and now there is also Lunesta. Good luck.

Answer 4

I've never taken it but my friend uses it. She says she has wild sex (with her BF) but she never remembers it. And she occasionally sends confusing emails right before bedtime.