Ambien and short term memory

I am not one to post my opinion on the web, but it is imperative that others taking ambien are aware of its potential risks. Ambien is extremely addictive. If taken properly (go straight to bed and don't take more than prescribed) it can work for a short period of time (just like the commercials say, 7 - 10 days). However, it appears that many dr's are prescribing it for years at a time. I have had a script for this drug for over 10 years. Ambien put me into a state of euphoria -- I'd take it and life suddenly appeared altered, for the better. I felt more confident and motivated while intoxicated on this drug. Although it makes you "high," it also wipes out your short-term memory, while you're on it and otherwise. You will not remember what you did after taking it -- whether it's raiding the refrigerator, drinking alcohol, having sex, manically cleaning/organizing your house, or calling friends. I could go on about the dizziness, lack of STM during the day (the hangover effect), or how difficult it can be to stop taking it. Ambien is now one of the drugs of choice by adolescents -- it's powerful high is appealing, but the "blacking out" is no different than a date rape drug. I have actually known adolescents that have been raped while using their drug of choice, ambien. If you have an addictive personality, ambien can be fatal and can effect your relationships -- especially with those that you interact with while on the drug (spouses, roommates, etc.). Your tolerance for ambien will also increase. Over the years, I went from taking 5 mg to 20 mg (always prescribed by my dr) -- in short, it stops working. Recently I switched to 25 mg of seroquel. It works like a charm. I was apprehensive to take it, as it's an antipsychotic drug (I just have dysthymia), but at such a lose dose, it puts my worries aside and I am able to fall asleep w/o getting high. I am certain that ambien is the next "oxycotin" due to it's addictive components, as well as the fact that it's so readily accessible. For all of you that rely on this drug to help you sleep to function, please find a new drug that won't enable you to make poor choices (most of which you won't remember). Perhaps you think you aren't addicted, but I insist that you will be. Because of abusing ambien, I have come close to divorce and have definitley lost or shall we say, "effected" many of my close relationships. I implore anyone that's investigating, taking or abusing ambien to explore alternative sleep aids. If you think you have control over this drug, you're wrong. It'll control you before you know it.

I HAVE BEEN ON AMBIEN FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS NOW, ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO I STARTED HAVE SIDE EFETS FROM SOMETHING WAS'NT SURE WHAT IT WAS,I TAKE OTHER MED'S FOR OTHER THINGS SO ONE BY ONE I STOPED TAKING MY MED'S, LIKE CELERBEX, AND FOLTMAX AND I CUT MY SYNTHROID IN HALF AND CUT MY PREMARIN IN HALF AND I STILL HAVE SOME SIDE EFFECTS, THAT IS I FEEL SO WIERED IN THE DAY BUT MY BODY FEEL SO RUN DOWN AND
SHAKY AND MY SHORT TERM MEMORY IS SHOT I HAVE A VERY DRY MOUTH AND MY MOUTH HURT ALL THE TIME ANDI TRYED TAKING ALL MY OTHER PILLS AWAY AND CUTTING BACK ON OTHERS AND I STILL HAVE ALL THOSE WEIRED THINGS GOING ON MY NEXT STEP IS TO STOP THE AMBIEN TONIGHT, HAS ANY ELES HAD THE FEELING AND DRY MOUTH AS I HAVE? HELP

I HAVE BEEN TAKING AMBIEN FOR FIVE YEARS. I WAS A SMART, INTELLIGENT AND SUDDENLY I WAS DIAGNOISED WITH BIPOLER DISORDER SO DUE TO SLEEP DEPREVATION I WAS PUT ON THIS DRUG. IT IS VERY ADDICTIVE!!! I CANNOT GET OFF IT AND MY SHORT TERM MEMORY IS SHOT. I HAVE TROUBLE WHEN TRYING TO GET OFF IT DUE TO GETTING A FLU-LIKE SICK FEELING, NO SLEEP, HEART PRESSURE AND PAIN ALONG WITH A SICK FEELING IN GENERAL SO I CONTINUE ON TAKING IT. I AM ADDICTED TO IT AND I HATE IT BUT WHO CAN GO WITHOUT SLEEP.

HAS AMBIEN GIVEN ANYONE ANT MEMORY PROBLEMS? I HAVE BEEN TAKING IT FOR 3-4 YEARS AND IT SEEMS LIKE MY SHORT TERM MEMORY HAS GOTTEN REALLY BAD. I WANT TO KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE IS THE SAME.