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Ambien is worse than alcohol
posted by Susan S. Miller on 20 Mar 2006 at 2:33 amMy husband takes ambien and has done so for many years. I have complained about his bizarre behavior, but he is in a state of total denial. He is so dependent on the drug that I don't think it would matter anyway if he saw himself acting so foolishly. I have even complained to the doctor, but he continues to prescribe the drug.
My husband has experienced the eating (we describe it like don't feed the gremlin "dad" after ambien), also sleepwalking, making phone calls, talking foolishly after ambien, wrecking the truck in the garage while moving it inside prior to a storm when the ambien suddenly kicked in, also acting like an idiot when the alarm went off at our store and I drove him (at his insistance) to the location while he babbled on to the Sheriff.
I had to explain he was on Ambien and did not know what he was saying. We have gone on trips when there is a time difference and he has wandered through stores in a semi sleepwalking state. It is my nightmare! I truly believe that Ambien is going to be uncovered as a serious risk with many people having these severe problems. If only they had someone to watch them act so foolishly. I am having nightmares of my own and they are not caused by my taking ambien, but having to live with someone who does.
Read the news article that this opinion was posted about:
How Many Ambien Patients Get Up At Night And Remember Nothing?
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| Driving under the influence of Ambien |
| posted by jeanette ladner on 24 Mar 2006 at 3:02 am |
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My son was prescribed Ambien, Sonata, Xanax, and Effexor. He took his medication as prescribed went to bed and the next thing he knows is being in the back of a police car arrested.
He remembers nothing after taking the medication and going to bed. The police report states that he backed into another auto in a parking lot. He was combatable and was tzared and arrested for dui. He remembers nothing of this, not getting up driving or being combatable with the police. This medication needs to be taken off the market, doctors need to do a lot more research before prescribing this to patients. If anyone else has been arrested after taking this medication I would like to hear from them. |
| Xanax - I have |
| posted by nick reaves on 27 Mar 2006 at 7:54 am |
| Keep him away from xanax. I am a 19 year old college student and I tried it one night because a few friends said I would feel good. 4 months later I was taking 20 a day and ended up in detox and rehab. I'm not a junkie...far from... I was 2nd in my class in high school and I'm pulling a 4.0 with 18 hours this semester. Xanax is a dangerous drug...it's addictive...powerful...and I've seen it ruin people's lives. |
| Bizzare Eating Pattern At Night After Taking Ambien |
| posted by peggy on 20 Nov 2006 at 1:34 pm |
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I have been told by my family that I must stop taking Ambien or I will not be allowed to take care of my granddaughter!!'
I take ambien to sleep, Ambien CR sometimes 1 or 2 to go to sleep are required. I am told that I got up sometime at 4 am and poured ranch dressing, milk, a whole tub of butter, shreds of ham and cheese, a full jar of mayonaise into a bowl, smeared butter over the cupboards and countertops and left food in chunks on the floor. Went out into the garage twice for cans of pepsi, which I poured into the cup holders of recliners in the basement. I remember nothing of the entire event. Not one moment do I recall. My son and daughter in law were furious and called my physician. The medication was stopped and all night feeding frenzies stopped. The medication has a serious side effect... SLEEPWALKING...!!!!! beware...... |
| Too Intense For Regular Peolpe With Small Problems! |
| posted by snake from NY on 23 Nov 2006 at 11:18 pm |
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I have tried ambien on many occasions and it really is a powerful drug. I dont think many doctors realize this, however. I have also tried xanax, which is like ambien in the fact that they both cause memory loss... severely.
I had taken I believe 1.5 or 2mg of xanax one night, fell asleep at my friends house watching TV, and was woken up by that same friend saying that my other friends had woken me up and obtained my keys, and that they crashed my car. I had no memory of waking up and giving them keys at all though they all say they remember it clearly. I dont feel that xanax or ambien should be prescribed to anyone, for any reason. they just seem way too high powered for light antidepression and sleep aid. people should learn more deeply about their body anatomy and work from there.. in my opinion... |
| Ambien Nightmares |
| posted by Anon on 26 Nov 2006 at 9:21 am |
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When I first started to take Ambien, I had nightmares a a few times. Then peace & contentment set in - nights of deep sleep, no hangovers.
Followed by addicton...I couldn't stop taking even 1/2 a pill without getting horrible nightmares. In my opinion Ambien is a dangerous drug that doctors shouldnt be quick to prescribe. I've been carefully monitored yet my Dr. sayd "It's safe, etc." I say it's not! |
| Ambien Helped Me |
| posted by NN on 27 Dec 2006 at 10:11 am |
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Ambien allowed me to get to sleep when I really needed it. It is possible to abuse any drug. A person who takes an Ambien and gets behind the wheel is just as culpable as someone who has drunk too much and does the same.
People need to be aware of the side effects and plan for them. Doctors cannot control what we choose to do at home, ultimately we are the ones who are responsible for our choices and behavior. |
| Ambien - It's Not So Bad |
| posted by Kristin on 26 Jan 2007 at 10:43 pm |
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I've suffered from severe insomnia for years. NOTHING has helped me until Ambien. The problem is that it is not for everyone, but doctors are so quick to prescribe that people don't realize how intense it's effects are and it's not really a "casual" sleep aid.
Xanax is the same way. It's not a recreational drug. If people realized that it's for people with diagnosed anxiety/panic attacks, not a Tuesday evening when you are bored with your friends, it wouldn't have such a bad rep. |
| Ambien And Alcohol |
| posted by Leonna on 15 Feb 2007 at 4:08 pm |
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I am the first one to take a pill to relieve symptoms that are negatively affecting my life. However, I have a very good friend that I am extremely worried about. Apparently, doctors are perscribing these meds like they are candy: In order to correct the effects of an anti depressent that was recently perscribed, my friend was given Ambien to help him sleep.
Perhaps what the doctors don't know is that he is also an alcoholic. Ambien is no longer a sleep aid, and he is addicted. The person whom I used to share fun times and laughter with is now a drooling, falling, messy fool. He takes the pills after drinking heavily and repeatedly falls all over the place. Thank God he does not have a car. He knows this is a problem, yet cannot overcome the addiction. After countless promises to stop, I find him fallen over a table or on the floor, cold, shaking and confused. I am watching him destroy his career, his friends, and his entire life in an extremely short period of time. I just wish that doctors would do their research, because now I worry about my best friend overdosing, falling in the snow and freezing to death, having seizures, falling into a coma, or at the very least getting arrested for his messy demeanor. He has absolutely no idea what he is doing or where he is when he takes this medication. He is more disoriented than people I have seen on acid or crack, and after the fact, he has absolutely no recollection of what has happened. I am not only afraid that he will hurt himself, I am positive of it. I think that he will be lucky if he is alive next year. It doesn't matter if I take the pills away, he still has refills from his doctor. I have begged, pleaded, and cried for him to stop. It is only a matter of time before I am going to a twenty two year old's funeral. Let this be a lesson to recreational pill takers out there. It is all too easy to lose control, and you will not only hurt yourself, but those who love you dearly. |
| Ambien: Worse Than Alcohol? |
| posted by lamar on 09 Mar 2007 at 11:48 am |
| Ive been drinking beer and hard alcohol for over two years now, and i can truly say that ambien is worse than both of the above. The different highs that I get off of the two, are nothing compared to the ambien high that i had. I got arrested for a dui my first time taking ambien. The second time I saw my mother who has been dead for about three years and about thirty other people sitting on my bed. There was no third time nor will there ever be because I am terrifed of what might happen next. Beware of this drug just as you would any other drug...it is dangerous. If you're going to take a pill for sleep take lunesta or seroquel; they work way better and come side-effect free. |
| I Thought My Mom Was Crazy... |
| posted by Tammy on 14 Mar 2007 at 10:35 am |
| My mom has been taking ambien for a few years but last year after she had a heart attack is when we noticed the "change" She gets up at night and models clothing ....eats crazy stuff all night long,.sees people on her bed ...her procelain dolls beome neighbors that live near us and are in our house at night...CRAZY,I dont know if I should call her doctor.....she says she wont stop taking it because she cant get to sleep and she wont try anything else..... |
| Extremely Dangerous |
| posted by Blake on 26 Mar 2007 at 7:04 pm |
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My father (41 years) has been an Ambien addict for 6 years. He is in complete denial of his addiction despite the more than obvious side effects including worsened insomnia, depression, weight loss, seizures (from withdrawl), terrifying hallucinations, and memory loss.
Under the influence of Ambien he has attempted everything from driving, physically attacking members of the family, and suicide. We've tried interventions and rehabs but nothing can beat his denial. When Ambien isn't available it is soon replaced with massive quantities of alcohol and other prescription drugs. Ambien is dangerous, do not start. It has torn apart my family and dragged us through six years of hell. |
| Date Rape |
| posted by Paul on 12 Apr 2007 at 12:52 pm |
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Be careful, Ambien CR makes me sleep like a baby but it comes at a price. If I take even a portion over my prescribed 12.5 (such as chip off a piece from one) I become a different person. Especially if I have had a drink less than two hours before.
I am a big guy, 6'3", 230lbs. and it usually takes 2-3x of anything to have an impact. I drink too much at times - half a botlle to a bottle of wine over 5 hours or 4 beers over the same period. I won't drive but my wife remembers me drunk only 1x in 16 years. I have never ever blanked out. But Ambien kicks my butt. I don't remember anything I do and my wife has to guide me back to bed. I act like a complete drunk and my children have seen it. Worse yet I will go see them, ask them to fold laundry etc. I am really afraid of this stuff but I need to sleep through the night. My wife was prescribed it and she took .75mg. She'd get hyperactive and not go to sleep. She'll stay up in bed eating chocolates and cookies like crazy doing all sorts of things like arranging phot albums, Tv, all at 2 a.m. If she take a fraction over this amount she looses all inhabitions. She wants sex (good), will do anything (hmmm) and does not remember any bit of it in the morning. But, iIf you slipped this to a woman who was drinking it should be considered a crime. Have people been using this in this fashion? Bad news stuff. |
| Making Things Blow Up.. |
| posted by Frances Miles on 23 Apr 2007 at 11:38 pm |
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I have been on Ambien CR for about 5 or so months. This past Saturday (4/21/07) I apparently woke up around 1am, came upstairs to the kitchen, grabbed a glass ware container out of the fridge and placed the casserole dish into the microwave. Next thing I know my mother is running downstairs to me yelling for me to wake up and come upstairs.
The house smelled of what I can only describe as "burnt popcorn." Apparently I had OVER microwaved the casserole and the heat of the microwave broke the dish, and carbonized the food. It was coal black and there was glass everywhere in the microwave. I remember nothing of this event. I could have gotten my family killed due to me being hungry at night. I also had an experience where I would go out on the balcony at my college and talk with my friends, smoking cigarettes and not recalling I even saw them the next morning. I have also run into things, banged my head on my desk and woken up with bruises and what I can only call a burn on my stomach. I think I "sleep drove" one night and went to the grocery store near my school, bought cookies and soup and suddenly came back to campus, I woke up the next morning with food i didn't know I bought. I've purchased things online and the onl proof I had of me doing so was an email receipt. My mother took my Ambien on Saturday after the burning. She flushed it down the toilet today and made me watch. |
| Weight Gain And Increased Depression With Ambien CR |
| posted by Missy R on 01 May 2007 at 3:21 pm |
| Has anyone experienced weight gain and increased depression with taking Ambien CR. I have been taking this drug for about 2 months and have gained almost 20 pounds! I also seem more depressed since taking this. I HAVE had the temporary amnesia too..making phone calls and not remembering it...doing strange things and not remembering it the next day...One good thing it has done is helped me to sleep and feel rested...as long as I take it right before bed. I just hate these side effects. I am going back to my doctor and will ask for something else! |
| Now I Know |
| posted by Lee on 07 May 2007 at 10:06 pm |
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And I thought it was just me. I've been taking ambien for about 6 years now. It's difficult for me to sleep without it. I do, however, have the problem of waking up before morning (around 4 or so). I've made many weird phone calls, of which I could not explain. I called my hairdresser once (according to her and my phone record) at 3:30 a.m. to request an appointment. This is highly embarrassing. I'll be honest, I don't know what else to do in order to get some sleep. Lunesta's taste is disgusting and it lasts for days. I've tried many other sleep aids. None of them give me a good night's sleep.
Oh well... |
| "Mrs. Cleaver Gets Busted!" |
| posted by Linda on 11 May 2007 at 2:56 am |
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Oblivious of the Ambien horror stories, my Doctor prescribed Ambien after 36 hours of no sleep due to a 4 day stint in the hospital for asthma. I took it for the next 2 nights with great success. The morning after the 3rd night, I awake to find a bagel and cream cheese on my nightstand. I immediately start questioning my children to see which of the 6 had violated the "no-leaving- food -out" rule.
To my astonishment, my husband said, "YOU did...don't you remember?" At that moment I was in the "Twilight Zone". The only thing missing was Rod Serling. Even more bizarre, the next day I get a DUI for hitting a fire hydrant with my car. The spewing geyser was spectacular, so they tell me. I had no recollection of the event. Looking as if I was drunk, the police handcuffed me and took me to jail, as the curious neighbors peered out their streak free windows thinking...who knows what? I am assuming the charge will be dropped when they find no illegal drugs or alcohol in my system, but the damage is done. "Cool-aid Mom "of 6 having a little too much cool-aid, as perceived by the neighborhood. Ambien - Be afraid! Be VERY afraid! |
| Ambien/Sleepwalking |
| posted by Joanie on 14 May 2007 at 12:40 pm |
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Try not to be too hard on your husband; I have sleepwalked countless times while on Ambien, but it is the only medication that will help me sleep through the pain I have associated with Lupus. Just keep an eye on him (it sounds like you do anyway) and take the truck keys or any other means of his leaving the home. Have you ever thought about videotaping his bizarre behavior? If you do, just don't share it with anyone; it is very embarrassing to be the one doing all of these things. Good luck(:
Joan Emery |
| Ambien A Lifesaver |
| posted by Kent on 03 Jun 2007 at 10:37 am |
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I have been taking ambien almost nightly for about the past month or so, and I must say, it's done me a lot of good. I have really bad insomnia and I am prone to panic attacks which also keep me up at night, so it's nice to have that sense of control over my sleep patterns. I don't take more than prescribed, I don't take it with alcohol, and I certainly don't take it unless I know I want to fall asleep within the next hour.
Granted, I do experience some of the negative side effects, such as euphoria and memory loss, but these have been bearable so far. I may forget having had a conversation or written an email, but I remember as soon as something jogs my memory. As for all you guys' sleepwalking/driving stories . . . I don't know. I've never done anything like that (that I'm aware of), but my side effects will have to get pretty bad before I stop taking it. |
| Ambien Funny Events |
| posted by Angel on 14 Jun 2007 at 12:35 pm |
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My cases have been humorous. Here some funny stories of my bizarre behaviors just to lighten up the subject.
I personally have been taking Ambien for only a week now, and immediately I started sleep walking. The first night, my fiancé was able to witness my wandering. He said I was obsessing over the bathroom and how it needed cleaning. He was able to nudge me back to bed. The next night, he told me that I kept bothering him to help trim my hair. He declined and fell asleep. In the morning, I had this fear come over me as if I had a nightmare. I sat straight up and had this strange feeling that I have done something horrible. I looked into the bathroom, and there lay my scissors that I have not been able to find to save my life, but there it was on my sink with evidence of hair on the floor. I cut 4 inches of my own hair in the middle of the night! It turned out ok so no harm done. The other day while my fiancé is out of town had sent me a text early in the morning telling me he loved my text and that he will do everything in his power to come through with my wishes. I had no idea what he was talking about and it was too early to communicate my confusion. When I finally awoke, I looked back on his text and sent him a response. He referred me to go into my 'saved sent text' on my cell phone. To my surprise I have sent him a late night sexual message with a lot of spelling errors, however made sense. I was quite disgusted with myself. This morning I found a notepad with my writing and it's apparently a journal of my day, almost like a "Dear Diary". My handwriting was quite messy but was clear and understanding. It made me feel as if I was reading someone else’s journal. I also woke up to different sleeping attire after realizing my dresser was ransacked! Although it's funny with these last episodes, I have been reading more into the side effects and came across some studies and law suits, I am now fearful of the drug. Some says that it may also be an Underlying Disorder. On a serious level, I have decided not take the Ambien while I am home alone. I do believe my sleep walking in a sense is getting worst. It just might not be so funny anymore |
| 3 Years On Ambien And Vodka |
| posted by eddier88 on 19 Jun 2007 at 9:06 pm |
| I've read all the stories of eating, driving, calling, buying online...done them all. I've been taking this combination for over 3 years now. I tried to stop 4-5 times during this period. Only lasted a week or 2. I know that I need to stop. But i can't. I know I need to see a doctor, but I don't have health insurance. There are side effects involving my brain, ears, roots of my teeth, breathe, heart rate, etc....they all need to be addressed. Any recommendations? I live in New England; 47; weight has become a problem. Help. |
| Alcohol And Ambien |
| posted by Nadir on 17 July 2007 at 3:00 pm |
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I have been taking Ambien CR for a few months now. It is a wonderful drug that has guaranteed my sleep when all of the stresses of the outside world would rather me not. I do believe that Ambien is habit forming and also VERY dangerous when mixed with alcohol. I have made the mistake of drinking a couple of glasses of wine then taking an Ambien. I have virtually no recollection of the evening; only the account from one of my friends. I acted completely insane. I was told I acted like someone on acid, I was in a complete alternate reality.
That happened about two months ago, and to this day if I choose to drink, even one drink, I will not take an Ambien. I am terrified what could happen. |
| DUI |
| posted by Wm Manske on 20 July 2007 at 11:08 am |
| Took Ambien as prescribed. Woke up to red lights in mirror. Sleepwalked to car and drive wrong way down the road. DUI charge. |
| Ambien |
| posted by Randy on 23 July 2007 at 1:18 pm |
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I'm a extremely happily married Father of one, with another baby on the way. I own my own business, and usually feel extremely over stressed, which I felt led to many sleepless nights. My Doctor prescribed Ambien, which seemed to work wonders.
However, if I ever had a few beers with dinner, then came home and took an Ambien, I felt like was in some kind of "Dreamy" state. We had some friends in from out of town this weekend, and went out to dinner. My friend had earlier told me how he'd like to take Ambien to help his sleep issues. When we came home from dinner, I remembered this and gave him one. I took one myself, as it was late and I knew I'd go to bed soon. I did have several beers at dinner, and several more when we arrived home. The next morning we were talking after breakfast and he asked if I felt OK. Then he asked if I remembered the mailboxes and our car. I had no recollection of the events he unfolded to me. Apparently, as I said I was off to bed I decided to go for a drive through our neighborhood. Instead of stopping me, which I could should kill him over, he went along for the ride. He said I drove fine, until we approached a neighbor's mailboxes. I hit them, destroying them, and damaging our vehicle slightly. I could have killed us both. God, I have cold chills just thinking about it. How embarassing for my family. What would my kids have said, "My Dad killed himself and his best friend in a DWI accident." I can't even keep from tearing up as I tell you this, but I know that I have to. Again, I have absolutely NO MEMORY of this. I did replace the mailboxes the next morning, telling the neighbors I took my eyes off the road to grab something in the floor board. They were happy for my taking responsibility and not leaving the damage. But my gosh, what an idiot. I went home and flushed down the remainder of my Ambien. I will NEVER take another one. I know that I violated the Warnings, but I've never had Drug Issues, and never any issues with drinking alcohol. But the time that I mixed the 2 almost cost me my life. I know that I am extremely lucky, and I will never take Ambien again. I may still drinks a few beers at Dinner with friends, but this will never happen again. To my friend, I'm sorry, but to my family I can never apologize enough. I'm so fortunate to have a wonderful, beautiful wife, the best son in the world, and a little princess on the way. I almost lost spending my life with them, and I'm sick in my gut over it. I know this is a rambling post, but it feels better to tell somebody. (My friend swore secrecy.) I just pray that my family does not find out. Anyway, if you're currently taking Ambien, I would say STOP. Even if you don't drink, it's just too powerful, making you powerless. |
| Amazing!! |
| posted by Dr. Barry Goldamin on 23 July 2007 at 9:12 pm |
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Randy's logic reminds me of a cartoon comedy I once watched in which a guy is given twenty bottles of whisky for his birthday, drinks one, goes out driving and crashes through a neighbor's fence.
The next day he gets rid of his car, not his nineteen other bottles of whisky. He ends by saying "That is a really dangerous car", and takes a gulp of whisky. |
| Logic |
| posted by Randy on 24 July 2007 at 7:22 am |
| Dr. Goldamin's logic reminds me that he makes a profit off of prescribing medications, not prescribing beer. |
