Ambien side effects

Panic attacks, ER visit, blood work, shakiness, nervousness, sweating, nausea, agitation. Do not take this drug. I was only on it for about a month. I have heard it has bad side effects. I am hoping to feel better soon since I am off of it. It will drive you crazy.

M.

Panic attacks, er visit, racing heart, blood work, sweating and feeling sick to your stomach, shaking, nervousness. Do not take this drug. I have heard it has bad side effects. Only on it for 1 month and hoping to feel better soon.

By M.

I think Ambien blows it works for squats ,lots of side effects, nasal problems, bad headaches afterwards, you got it, i wouldn't take this crap again for nothing,. I opt for my anxiety meds xxnax, and my lyrica, i sleep great now. My pain is much better and my sex drive has increased. Everyone is different with different elements, it might work for some but its not for me.

I have been Ambien for about 3 years. I finally get a good nights sleep. I look forward to the little white pill which gives me rest. Recently, much to my dismay I have been experiencing something that really troubles me. I have to assume it is Ambien because nothing else has changed with me. I have become very paranoid with my friends. I don;t know how else to explain it. Other than that and that is huge, because I am constantly looking over my shoulder for something I have done, I am beginning to trust no one. Is anyone else experiencing any of this? I am typically a friendly easy going person with a lot of friends but in the past year things have changed. I've accused friends of things and have lost a lot of their friendships. I can't afford to lose anymore no matter how nice I might be,(or I think I am) I am beginning to question myself. Am I going nuts or is it possibly the little pill that gets me through the night. Can anyone help me with this dilemma, I can't afford to lose any more friends or loved ones. Help! I'm going to try to go off my little pill that brings peace to my life but I have to know if I'm going crazy or is it the medication. This is my last night to use it I think.
Worried

I took ambien about 5 years. I noticed I would wake up with food in my bed or candy wrappers all over the bed. I mentioned it to my doctor, and he shrugged his shoulders and laughed. Later, when my dad died I went crazy and would get up at night and talk delusional with outrage. They told me I had became bi-polar at 48. It freaked me out, and I have faithfully stayed on bi-polar meds because I never want to do that again. Now, I am wondering because I heard on the news a few years ago that this man drove his car to get something to eat in his sleep with ambien. I quit ambien immediately, and found I didn't eat in my sleep. Now, I am wondering if I am bi-polar? Several of my friends have never understood how I could be normal and then completely go crazy. They had never seen me angry or disturbed before that incidence. I am now wondering if it was an ambien side affect.

I have been taking Ambien for 5 years my experience with it was. One time I left my husband and stayed at a hotel don't know why I left. I accused him of sleep with his ex-wife also I told my kid what me and their dad did sexually. I drove my car and hit another car I did not know that I had hit it until the cops came. I was cooking and going out shopping and buying thing I had no need for.

About 3 months ago after taking Ambien because of not being able to sleep due to insomnia and at that time sever sciatica, I got a call from a long time friend of 20 years, he told me i proposed married to him while crying and told him how much i loved him and also told him i took a bunch of pain pills. I guess that same night i called a man i'd brokened up with, as well, because he had too much drama in his life (i was also very in love with this man when i broke up with him). Apparently i only got his answering service and left a message asking him to call me back. I'd been trying not to call him for days, then this happened. When he got a hold of me, by then i knew now what i'd said to my old buddy while on Ambien. I was terrified of what i'd said to my ex, he said i only asked him to call me back, NOT! It gets crazier, for i ended up at a strip club that same night buying a kinda sorta friend lapdances with my money!! I'm a woman buying a guy i didn't like very much dances?! My ex and i eventually got back together only to end up arguing, then he tells me what i said that night. I told him i have a friend with a 10 inches!! And some other shit i don't recall saying. My ex (again) is not a 10incher (which i do not want anyway) but i LOVE him more than any John Holmes but thats what i did. I belittled him while under that shit! Now my 24yo child told me she visited me last week, I DON'T RECALL THIS AT ALL. She said my eyes looked weird and i was trying to show her photos of my ex while nude and drinking wine!! She also told me i didnt have much on, asked her to try on 1 of my bathing suits then proceeded to remove my top while the door was wide open?? And some other shit again?! All i wanted was to sleep more than 3 hours a night. Not this, not this at all! maybe i'll go back to Xanax?? that one only makes me eat in my sleep.

I was prescribed this for insomnia and it worked for short term very well and it completely rid me of bad heartburn too, better than acid reducers I was buying to bad it wouldn't work longer than four hours . I tried the cr ambien as well no difference in beneficial result.

I took AMBIEN CR passed out and woke up in a mental hospital... apparently I did not wake up for 3-4 days yet managed to mass text everyone in my cell phone contact list a bunch of garbled hate messages containing many F words.

I took a 10mg tablet every day for thirty days, making no connection between the dizziness and unsteadiness I was experiencing (all day) and the medication. When I finally figured it out three days ago, I stopped. I continue to have some dizziness. Does it take time to get this drug out of your blood stream? If yes, how long?

Thanks for any feedback!

I took Ambien for 2 years. I had all of the common side effects: hallucinations, memory problems, loopiness, nightmares, etc. However, I eventually started smelling smoke all of the time. Since Ambien was the only drug I was on, I stopped taking it. After a couple of weeks, the smoke smell faded. Life went on as usual, and I became pregnant and gave birth to a beautiful boy. That night I couldn't fall asleep even though I was exhausted. I tossed and turned all night, and the nurse started showing concern for me. She asked if I wanted to try a sleeping pill, and contacted my doctor. They ended up giving me an Ambien that night, and that night, the smoke smell returned for a few days. Fast forward several months after giving up Ambien completely. I developed a nasty head cold that gave my sinuses a pounding. That was when the smell returned. I began to piece things together, and went to the doctor. I asked him if he thought the Ambien damaged my sense of smell and if sinus conditions like congestion, allergies, and sickness exacerbated the problem. He did first check me for a brain tumor, but agreed with my assessment. He has seen thing like this happen to people, although not specifically with Ambien since it was a newer drug. He thinks a combination of the drug and sinus problems permanently damaged my olfactory nerves. He told me to try Flonase, and within a week of smelling smoke, it goes away. seven years later, the smoke smell still comes and goes, but actually cues me to what is going on in my sinuses at the time. I know when my sinuses are congested or irritated, and I take Flonase for relief within a few days to a week. Not saying everyone will have this problem, but it is something to be aware of...

I have been taking half an Ambien (5mg) each night for roughly 3 months. The other day I woke up, and I just felt out of it. Like I was dreaming or something. I started to think I was getting sick, and I think I had a panic or anxiety attack. I'm not sure those words describe what I felt correctly though.

It was like I was in a nightmare. My fingertips and limbs started to get cold, and I couldn't feel anything. I started to sweat really bad. My chest felt really tight. I started to hallucinate a little, and this caused me to freak out even more. It was like I completely lost my mind for a few hours. I just remember thinking that something snapped in my head, and I was never going to be the same.

I called my husband and told him I went crazy, and I was afraid I would never be the same. I told him about the hallucinations, and he thought I might have a really high fever. I tried to take my temp, but I couldn't get my mind to slow down enough to do it. I would start, and then I would think I need to take a cold bath to lower my temp. I would then think of something else and get sidetracked.

My mind was freaking out so fast that I could not keep up. I was talking to myself to try to tell myself there was nothing wrong. I was trying to over-power my thoughts, but this made me think that I was in fact insane. So I would tell myself to shut up. It felt like I was battling myself or my own thoughts at least. My husband came home, and I went to sleep. I woke up feeling just fine a few hours later.

I have been so scared to tell even my Doctor. I am no longer taking the Ambien, and I feel fine. I am just embarrassed by the whole thing, and I don't want to tell anyone about it.

I have been taken ambien for aprox five years, now due to back problems I also wear a fentanyl patch, at bedtime I take the ambien and heart medicine, if I stay in bed I am ok, but If I have to get up to use the bathroom its all over, my husband keeps an eye on me and I get goofy, write on nothing, talk to people he never heard of. although its been less, I am still doing it the next am my husband asks me if I remember and I do not, I do go to the refrig and eat ice cream but thats it. I ALSO now am on lyrica for back pain and I believe the two are not intermingling ok, as soon as I started the lyrica I started to gain weight, all my life my highest weight has been 145 last pm I weighed in at 166.8 pounds, something has to give, I cant breath good so don't walk much, its your damed if you do and damed if you don't!

ive noticed that 90 percent of whats going on with all these problems is more a problem of using the drug wrong. as i understand its for short term use...not years and months in a row..also..when a person has taken ambien that person should get in the bed and prepare to go to sleep..not go driving or perform any other tasks..a lot of people will take ambien and then try to cook, eat, drive etc...thats when they run into problems and don't remember it..90 percent of these problems can be cleared up if it is taken with the recommended dosage,,not with alcohol..not double the dosage..etc..another words ..don't over do it and then head for the car keys. ive used ambien maybe a couple times in a week..and had no problems.

has anyone ever had sudden case of Hives on their face? from taking 10mg. of Ambien for 4 weeks. Sometimes, I even just took half that. I have never had Hives from Anything before in my life......not lotions, foods, soaps, sunbathing, pools, hot tubs, medicines, back patches, prescriptions, vitamins, etc. never. I'm in my 50's. Had this four days now and after a shower seems worse. Active Ingredient in Benadryl/Sominex seems to make it a little better, but can't take that and be sleepy all day/all evening. Taking Ambien is one of only 2 new things I have done differently in the last month.

My father was prescribed Ambien due to some sleeping issues. It was prescribed to take "as needed". He was also prescribed flexorall which is a muslce relaxor. After taking the Ambien for awhile he started becoming more agitated than usual and was having nightmares. Then one Sunday morning he got up and was in his usual routine of drinking coffee & reading the paper. He got the hiccups and got up to get a glass of water but when he went into the kitchen he poured more coffee into a glass. He then was stumbling around and twice almost fell. His behavior became stranger and so my mother took him to the ER. They thought he possible had a stroke. He doesn't remember any of that morning until he was at the hospital. After several test it turns out, it was all a side effect of taking the Ambien, Flexorall & drinking a beer the night before. After looking at the side effects on the computer, he had most of them and should not have been taking the muscle relaxer & sleep aid together.

My wife who is 49 years old was prescribed Ambien to help her sleep she has Phybromyalgia so she is in a lot of pain and so sleep has been a fleeting thing. on Feb 12, 2009 she took it for the first time I work 11-7 and woke her at 8:30 am and didn't notice anything out of the ordinary until she came into the living room around 1:00 pm and appeared to stumble slightly this in it's self wasn't a big deal people trip all the time. It was the fact that she caught herself on the end table grabbing it and hesitated for a few seconds then turned around and carefully shuffled backed to the kitchen holding onto the hutch for balance. I asked her if she was ok she said yes but I could hear in her voice she was scared. I went to the kitchen and asked her again then she told me that her whole left side was numb and tingled. I asked her when it started she said it was that way when she got out of bed at 8:30 am. I told her she should have said something right away but she said "I thought it would just go away". I told her get your coat I'm taking her to the hospital. After spending a night in the hospital an MRI revealed that she had suffered a very mild STROKE. The taking of Ambien the night before for the first time to me was more than a coincidence. Her attending Neurologist said that there should be no lasting effects and the numbness and tingling would go away in time. Although even after telling them about taking Ambien for the first time the night before none of them thought much about Ambien being a possible cause for STROKE. I suppose I should consider her lucky as it could have been devastating. I would not recommend anyone taking this drug even with their doctor’s supervision.

Because of a couple tragedies that ocurred in my life, I was unable to sleep. Ambien was prescribed and with it, I woke up completely rested! BUT there were several dangerous events to share with you.

I drove several times & have no recollection! If it weren't for receipts, checks, etc. I wouldn't know anything about it! I'm a married woman and I took a male acquaintance to a liquor store 1/2 hour away once!
I drove to a city an hour from my home at least once!

Additionally, I've had phone conversations, conducted business meetings, taught a religion class...ALL with no knowledge or memory of these acts.

Yes, I would find dirty dishes in the sink in the morning too! I ate so much food! I didn't gain weight though...probably because the Ambien also removed ALL inhibitions in my life. My husband selfishly took complete advantage of this...if you know what I mean. This was not right! I'm still angry about this. It wasn't until he realized that I was driving in my sleep that he encouraged me not to take the Ambien anymore...I haven't taken it for two years. I do miss it because it really left me rested. Now I only take over-the-counter products and they leave me groggy.

Extreme weight gain during the past three years on ambien and ambien cr. Unfortunately this is the only medication that helps with my insomnia; I've tried a bunch of different prescriptions and over the counter sleep meds...

I have been taking Ambien off and on for 10 years, I first used it after the death of my father, went to it again years later during my divorce and again when my sister was told she had breast cancer, now again while I am out of a job. My doc gives me 10 mg which I split in half, it seems to be enough for me. We did try the Ambien CR...omg my hubby found me walking around the house naked after setting off the alarm system. So now I stick with the regular Ambien. For those of you who have problems, find what med works for you, "one size" does not fit all!

I used Ambien 2-3 days per week for the past few months. I just woke up after having several vivid/complicated nightmares. Each nightmare was worse than the one before. The last nightmare woke me up. I was being framed for murder of a white woman after a minor traffic accident (I'm a black man). I'm very bothered by this and don't want to sleep now, fearing more nightmares. This has happened after I slept without taking Ambien.

I have had one episode of sleep-walking, where I ate the meal that I had prepared for lunch the next day.

I took Zolpidem (Ambien) last night for the first time. It was prescribed to me by my oncologist as I have been having trouble sleeping ever since I have started chemotherapy for breast cancer one week ago. I fell asleep quickly and slept well for 5 hours, but awoke at 2am with a headache. I took 1 gram of Tylenol at 2am but was unable to go back to sleep because the headache became increasingly worse and did not go away until I drank some coffee at 5am. It was the worse headache I have ever had. The caffeine made it go away finally.

After just one dose of Ambien I experienced my 1st panic attack. I was 38 weeks pregnant and my physician prescribed it since I was not sleeping for more than 30 min at a time because of the urge to urinate as the baby was compressing my bladder.
I took it again thinking that maybe it wasn't the Ambien and I began having daily panic attacks. These episodes didn't last minutes as do regular panic attacks they lasted 4 and 5 hours. My husband, a physician, noticed that my heart was not beating rapidly as it usually would during a regular panic attack, I was actually having bradycardia (low heart rate). He still didn't put the side effects I was having and the Ambien together. After being seen by multiple physicians I was admitted to the hospital for these severe attacks and after having an echocardiogram, a CT of my brain, and multiple lab draws a psychiatrist finally examined me and took my history realizing these panic attacks had never happen prior to my taking the Ambien. He took me off the drug and within 48 hrs this awful hell started to lift. It took me a year to get over the post traumatic shock from this horrible 4 weeks of my life. I gave birth to my newborn and was unable to care for her or even myself while experiencing the side effects caused by this hellish drug.
Meg in Sugar Land

I have been taking ambien for about five years. I have experimented with 5mg, 10mg and ambien CR, and mixing small doses (5mg or less) with one Advil PM. Mixing the two worked very well for a while. All I want is to feel rested and sharp during the day. I have been known to cook elaborate meals and make a MESS in the kitchen only to wake up the next morning with chicken burrito all over my bed with me. I have also sent emails and made calls I don't remember. I also... and this is the worst... did some online shopping and bid on many EBAY items that I had no memory of. When you wake up and your credit card is laying next to your computer on the bed... your in big trouble.

I was taking Ambien for a year. I ended up with a sever sore throat that lasted for months and trouble breathing. After going to nine doctors, and missing work for a month I was diagnosed with esophogitis and acid reflux. I even went to the emergency room by ambulance because I was having trouble breathing. I was aspirating stomach acid. I was talking with my gastrologist about surgery. I decided to make a list of what was different in my life that might be causing these symptoms. Ambien was on the list. I have been off Ambien for two months now and all my digestive problems, sore throat, breathing problems and acid reflux have ended.

I have taken ambien for about 6mos not on a regular just on weekend, when i can devote the time to sleep...and feel tired in the moring...but when i take it i get sexual arouse and if my wife tells it...can get a little rough sexually..she likes it when it take it..but i don't remeber what happen the next day..but later on it comes to me....and she looks satisfied when i look puzzled...is this a common side effect and if so can i remeber it the next day or same night...

ALTHOUGH AMBIENT HAS HELPED ME WITH MY SLEEP CYCLE, I HAVE GAINED AN EXCESS AMOUNT OF APPROX. 10 LBS. IN THREE MONTHS, MY DIET AND EXERCISE HABITS HAVEN'T CHANGED AND I WAS WONDERING HOW COULD I HAVE POSSIBLY GAINED SO MUCH WEIGHT IN SUCH LITTLE LIME. MY CONCLUSION.... AMBIENT! I'VE SINCE BEEN OFF AMBIENT BECAUSE IT HAS MIRACULOUSLY RESET MY SLEEP CYCLE, I AM GRATEFUL. VERY DISTURBED BY THE WEIGHT GAIN.

I've beentaking Ambien for several years and haven't had any terrible adverse effects. I've had some amnesia after drinking alcohol and taking Ambien, but my memory usually returns by the next day. I've also had muscle twitches and weakness & went to a neurologist for testing, but they found nothing wrong. I figured it was probably the Ambien. I stopped it for 2 weeks, once, but still had some of the symptoms. I've thought about trying to stop again, but I need to weigh the pros and cons. I actually sleep now, and generally have a lot more energy than in the past. I'm on a regular sleep schedule and can get 6-8 hours of sleep per night. I think I'll just deal with the side effects.

I'm not allergic to it but when i take it about a half and hour later..I'm sneezing my head off for a good 2 to 3 minutes..is this common??? It's only with this med that I take. I just think its funny,,and my husband knows when i take it b/c I'm sneezing about 30 minutes later.

I was really relieved to read another posting from a woman who is also experiencing sexual side effects from Ambien. My husband told me I become sexually aggressive and kind of wild and I don't remember any of it the next morning. My husband loves it when I take Ambien and the unusual side effect has become a private joke between us. And I guess I prefer to have this side effect instead if eating in the middle of the night and not remembering it. I just think women who are not in a monogamous relationship should be careful and know that this is a potential side effect and be careful who they are around when they take Ambien.

I have to take 25 mg of Ambien and 6 mg of Ativan just to get to sleep for the last 9 months. My only side effect so far is eating a lot right before I go to bed as this drug makes me hungry. And I fainted three seperate times when i drank alcohol before taking my pills (I fainted on my way to get food in the middle of the night) I sleep fine for 8 hours, but am worried about any long term effects this amount of ambien will have on my brain. I've heard chronic derealization is a side effect. What is that? What other negative side effects are there? Are there any better sleep aid medications? I have taken Lunesta and have to take a lot of that too and have the same experience in terms of being hungry. Basically they're the same to me so far.

I have been taking Ambien on and off now for about 1 year and at first I started having bad headaches, dizziness, loss of thoughts, dry mouth, etc, but mostly my headaches became very bad until my blood pressure went up and I was put on B/P medication, so I stop taking the Ambien and I really feel like I am just lost and very irritable, and I feel like I am in a dream and I can not stand a lot of noise or any little sound just bothers me, my eyes stay red and burning and what I feel like is a really bad head cold or allergies.

I love taking Ambien because it gives me about 5 to 6 hours of sleep. Prior to taking Ambien, I never slept through the night. The most sleep I ever had was a couple of hours here and there. I'd be up at night trying so hard to fall asleep. Now, I actually look forward to taking my pill and going to bed. It's less stressful knowing I am going to fall asleep. I wish I had started taking it a long time ago. I must admit to waking up in the morning and not remembering phone conversations. Also, on numerous occasions, I have found an empty bag of M & M's on my nightstand when I wake up in the morning! Absolutely no memory of getting out of bed and going into the kitchen and bringing candy up to bed. Maybe it was my dog, Bailey!

Was put on Cymbalta after taking Prozac because I just did not feel "myself". While on the Cymbalta, I could not sleep at all and my psych tried Rozarem first, then Lunesta and then Ambien CR instead of taking me off the Cymbalta! Still did not keep me asleep. Within two weeks of using this drug (with the Cymbalta) I had a "medicinal black-out" - one of the side effects. I apparently thought my husband was walking the dogs and went out garage where I fell down steps, cracking two ribs. I walked in and told my husband I think I fell. He thought I was drunk and just put me to bed. I have absolutely no memory of any of this. Also had three pychotic breaks while taking the Cymbalta and finally took myself off of it. This is day 17 of withdrawal. I don't hate anyone enough to wish this on them. You have brain zaps (like a cattle prod), vertigo, pain in your joints and muscles that make you scream. I would not let anyone go on either of these drugs, ever! I just went to a specialist yesterday in St. Louis that told me all my symptoms were related to my Mitral Valve Prolapse and that I have MVP Syndrome and I'm not crazy at all. For all of you suffering from panic attacks, depression, eating disorders, heart pain, insomnia, etc., have yourself tested for MVP. I have known I've had this heart defect since my late teens and I'm now 48. No one has ever told me that these symptoms are related to my prolapse just psychological issues!!

dizziness, light headed, double vision,not with it next day

light headiness, dizzy, double vision

I dream constantly every night, the curtian moving in the room could wake me and I have fibromyalgia. Ambien (regular) works wonders for me for about 4 hours. I'm out. Sleep wake rested...just don't know what to do with the rest of my night. Puts my fibromyalgia into remission. I tried CR to see if I could get 8 hours of sleep. OMG, the 4 days I took it around 10pm..up at 7a but I don't remember anything until about 10a and parts of my day after were missing. Drowsy all day, irritable. NO MORE CR.

I love this little pill I took ambien 10mg for quite some time and it really worked for me the only reason I stopped is because my ins. doesnt want to pay. I will say this, that if I did something after taking ambien like puting things away the next morning I had a tough time remembering where I put them ( like my keys, books ect.) and my family thought that after taking it that I was an actual pleasure to be around they would often ask me to go take my pill

I have MS and have been taking Ambien for a few months now to help me sleep. My husband and daughter told me this morning that last night I got up from bed and was completely naked and walked out into the living room. They said I looked very wasted and was looking all around the house for some soda and them went back to bed. I can't remember any of this. It scares me. what if they were not home, would I of drove to the store naked looking for soda? This is a very dangerous side effect. It only happened one othere time when I got up and was surfing the TV channels looking for a TV program. Again, I don't remeber it happening. I also It is making my MS symptoms worse, I am having more stiffness and spasms along with blurred vision.

Developed sleep walking, eating, talking, running machinery and watching TV while I was supposedly asleep. This was witnessed by my niece who was very scared. It lasted for about an hour. This is not the first time but this is the first time someone witnessed it. I had suspected all along because I saw used dishes and empty containers in the kitchen in the morning. Have been off it for 3 days now and thank God. Never will I take it again although it seemed to work well for 2 years. I have gained so much weight from the night eating. That guy on the news who says he drove his car after taking Ambien, I now believe him!

Ambien 4 yrs Ambien CR 1yr memory loss, I don't sleep very long. Sometimes I will close my eyes and I can't move or speak, headache. I don't know how long it last. I can hear whats is going on around me, but I can't call out for help. depression.

i've been on ambein for5 yrs and i have no side affects it really helped me noe i can sleep and when i ake i feel very refreshed

I first got immediate good sleep from Ambien. However, I began to develop a kind of nervousness, almost like jet lag. When arriving at work I was nearly shaking in my hands. I thoght it might be some mild alcohol consumption to I stoped that. Then I went to good meals 3 times a day. Still nothing. I just stopped Ambien and feel like a new person. I don't sleep well at night but at least I'm back to what I think it normal. I was at a point where I thought I was having a nervous breakdown. As soon as I got off Ambien I am normal again. Jim

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I TAKE ZOLPIDEM (AMBIEN) - THE SIDE EFFECT IS TINGLING IN MY LEGS

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Ambien worked well for sleep but I could not take the side effects. I took it for 3 months. I had increased sweating, prickly burning sensation in chest, legs and feet. Also got an upper respiratory infection which I believe may have been caused by this as I have not had so much as a cold in years. I am now back to restoril. It does not work as well but the side effects are less.

I have been on ambien CR for 3 months and although it helps me to sleep I cannot stand the side effects. I can actually feel my sweat glands working overtime and I have a prickly on fire feeling under my arms. Seems like it affects the nere endings.