#778521 - 10/04/08 01:14 PM
Ambien - VERY strange side-effects
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excdep
Member
Registered: 11/28/07
Posts: 155
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Hello,
I wanted to post one of the strangest experiences with side-effects I ever had.
I was prescribed Ambien for my sleeping disorders, not for the first time. I was not really happy with this prescription from my shrink, as Ambien hasnīt helped very well with going to sleep.
The problem I have with this drug, is that I always need 20 mg so that I am able to sleep. I have taken it a few times before and never experienced any side-effects.
The last time I took it I experienced something really strange: I got hallucinations! I saw and felt things which werenīt actually there (although I was able to realize that itīs just a hallucination). I remember that I had similar side-effects with zopiclone, but these small optical illusions I had under zopiclone were nothing against the "Ambien-Trip".
Just two last things: Firstly, I know from Ambien side-effects like sleepwalking. But has anyone of you heard or read of such side-effects???
Secondly, I really canīt understand my psychiatrist. He donīt want to prescribe me benzos, for reasons you might know. But I just have to say I donīt sleep well, and I get an Ambien-RX. Although it can be addictive as well and although of such horrible side-effects. Anyway, Iīll keep my hands off of this med.
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#778523 - 10/04/08 01:16 PM
Re: Ambien - VERY strange side-effects
[Re: excdep]
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tigersmom
GRAND Pooh-Bah
Registered: 07/20/05
Posts: 5189
Loc: Witchville
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You need to talk to eluded about the "strange side effects" of ambien, he is an expert.
_________________________
I am neither Liberal, nor Conservative...I am RATIONAL
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#778542 - 10/04/08 01:38 PM
Re: Ambien - VERY strange side-effects
[Re: sarahte]
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Sio
Member
Registered: 08/11/04
Posts: 137
Loc: Atlanta, GA
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20 mg is a very high dose - I think that may be why. The only person I ever knew who did that high of a dose was very ill and dying and as a result he ended up really abusing street drugs. He was so high from other things that 20mg was the only thing to bring him down but he was also so sick no one could blame him for the things he was doing. It was hard to watch - but long story short try to take 10mg - if after a half hour tske another 5mg and if you are still awake 1/2 hour later then take the last 5mg.
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#778590 - 10/04/08 02:53 PM
Re: Ambien - VERY strange side-effects
[Re: dawn147]
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jpbp
Threadhead
Registered: 09/23/07
Posts: 867
Loc: okie
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I can't believe I am going to tell this story, but here goes:
About six years ago I was given ambien while I was in the hospital. Now, I have a very small bladder and I get up every night to go pee. For as long as I can remember, I have always had to get up in the middle of the night. Still do. Anyway, on this night, on my first dose of ambien, I never woke up. The next morning the nurse came in to check on me and she said, "boy, you must really sweat a lot at night, the sheets are soaked!"
I had to confess and say, no-not sweat. I actually peed the bed. Humiliating. I have not taken it since. I have a bottle in my shelf. Probably expired by now. However, I will never take anything again that knocks me out that bad.
I'm glad I shared, hope you enjoyed it!
_________________________
All you have to do is smile, smile, smile!!!
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#778600 - 10/04/08 03:04 PM
Re: Ambien - VERY strange side-effects
[Re: jpbp]
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bh321
Member
Registered: 09/21/08
Posts: 121
Loc: USA
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Thank goodness I'm not the only one jpbp! I had this happen to me with ambien and I NEVER got near it again! At least I was by myself.
With that said, I didn't have any other side-effects, but that was it for me. 
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#778616 - 10/04/08 03:20 PM
Re: Ambien - VERY strange side-effects
[Re: dawn147]
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Sio
Member
Registered: 08/11/04
Posts: 137
Loc: Atlanta, GA
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I think Ambien is great - I took it for many years but if I were to do it all over again I would try 5mg first and I would never go higher than 10mg. In the beginning Ambien knocks you out fast - it's almost freaky. I will never forget my first time but what is the best part is you wake up fresh and alert. So if it were me I would try half (5mg) the first time and take it when you are ready to actually go to sleep. So much better in my opinion than other sleep meds - over the counter make me so cranky the next day and Lunesta just plain doesn't work fo me. There is a reason so many take Ambien - it really works great.
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#778618 - 10/04/08 03:23 PM
Re: Ambien - VERY strange side-effects
[Re: Sio]
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Sio
Member
Registered: 08/11/04
Posts: 137
Loc: Atlanta, GA
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ps - I never ever had any accidents (lol!). My worst side effects were the Ambien binge where I have pigged out on Ambien - and nothing freaky - just like a bagel or chips or cake or something right before sleep - not really a binge but just wierd to get hungry right before sleep. And it didn't happen often, just rarely. Worth the good night's sleep!
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#779079 - 10/05/08 12:22 PM
Re: Ambien - VERY strange side-effects
[Re: sarahte]
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levo1057
Journeyman
Registered: 07/21/08
Posts: 81
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On college campuses here in "intellectual" Southern California, Ambien ER is known as A-. I guess it turns them into sub-geniuses at parties.
This medicine is real dangerous, and guess who the experiment is being tested on ?
_________________________
I didn't do it, it was somebody else--->
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#779576 - 10/06/08 10:07 AM
Re: Ambien - VERY strange side-effects
[Re: levo1057]
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excdep
Member
Registered: 11/28/07
Posts: 155
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Referring to the posts, which recommend not to take 20mg:
My problem is, I still canīt sleep, when I take "just" 10mg. My doc knows that and he said, if thereīs no hangover the next day (which I also never experienced with Ambien) I could take it - but not often, of course.
So I kept taking it, up to a maximum of 2 nights per week (mostly I take stuff like this just one time per week, as I am afraid of getting addicted if Iīd taken them more often).
Iīve often read, in the db boards, that many are getting knocked out by 10mg (or also 5mg). Seems to me that this drug reacts really bad in my body - although I have no tolerance to benzos (i.e. I need only 0.5mg of Xanax to get a full night of sleep)
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#780857 - 10/08/08 05:30 AM
Re: Ambien - VERY strange side-effects
[Re: nephro]
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Lynx4
Veteran
Registered: 08/08/07
Posts: 588
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I, too, take Ambien CR and have no problems. I started with the 10mg dose until it went generic. The generics did nothing and the doctor switched me to the CR version.
I've taken it for 3 years straight every single night and the only strange things I do are have conversations I don't remember the next day until someone reminds me. Then I remember it completely. I also have a tendency to eat some ice cream when I take it. I don't really care since I need the calcium (I'm not a milk drinker). I've never tried to drive, never peed in the bed, never shopped, but I have occasionally washed clothes, which is a pleasant surprise the next morning.
Everyone reacts differently and it also might have something to do with other medicines. I know that I have the worse times when I take Ambien with Soma/carisoprodol (on nights that I hurt really bad). Usually if I do that my husband will wake me up from the couch and send me to bed but I don't remember any of it. I had a case where I was taking Ambien with my Soma/carisoprodol and fell down. My husband demanded that I stay on the couch. I obviously kept whining that I wanted a cigarette, which I usually do outside and he said "smoke it right there". I was shocked he would say to smoke in the house so I did remember that the next day.
So sometimes it's just a mixture of medicine that will cause the problems and sometimes it's when someone is first taking the medicine (which, by the way, knocked me out every night for a year).
I still think it's a good medicine for me to take before bed. I don't actually go to bed as I don't like sleeping by myself so I lay down on the couch and fall asleep.
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Moderator: Melody, Heidi
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I never took it again after that happened.
I just know it works, but I would never tell Nephro how much I take, because I would be in for a "talking too" J/k nephro, but on the other hand it would be nice to know what the harm is, as I am sure there is some.
