I kinda liked Ambien. Restful sleep & no hung over feeling the next morning. But, then I didn't take it every night.

Ambien is, to put it plainly, evil. There's no way I'd ever do the drug again. It cost me my relationship and a bunch of lost business. The side-effect of irritability (to the point of hostility) probably rivals that of steroids. Nobody really knows the radical extent to which this drug rewires the human brain, but you can be it's doing something heavy-duty when you can wake up, drive a car to the store, carry on a conversation with someone WHILE YOU ARE ASLEEP! Then wake up the next morning and know nothing about it.

Psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Carlat listed Ambien as a medication he would feel comfortable with being sold OTC- over-the-counter.

"trazodone for insomnia, and even Ambien for insomnia. Some would argue that Ambien is too abusable and causes too many strange side effects for OTC, but currently many many of my patients depend on some version of OTC benadryl, which can cause oversedation and memory loss."-Dr. Daniel Carlat " (It's all linked up on my blog if reference is needed)

Jon, the author of Living with a Purple Dog blog, talks about his experience with Ambien which included "sleep sex".

Interesting drug.

My first thought when I read this was don't you know you're not supposed to take this kind of drug every day for 3 weeks? It's a PRN kind of drug not an every day thing. And yes, it did have a rather positive effect on the libido. ; )

I wonder how many readers are aware that Ambien and other so called hypnotics (for once an appropriate name for this class) act very much like benzos in terms of long term effects on overall health, dependence and withdrawal. Ambien has a very short half life making it a killer to withdraw from. A cross over to a longer acting benzo can help get off a hypnotic too. Anyway it's a very dangerous drug. No one should kid themselves.

I'm just not too sympathetic on this one. I think it's common sense to know that you don't take sleeping pills every night and not expect a problem down the line. They are not supposed to be taken every night.

The story didn't pass the smell test for me. He was skeptical about using it because of the stories he had heard. So, he is so concerned yet proceeds to take it every single night for 3 weeks? Where did he get the idea that that's a good plan? Did his physician recommend that?

Actually, Lisa, 3 weeks which I agree with you is too long to be taking it every night, is still well within the recommended guidelines of 2-4 weeks. This is on the label. Many people take Ambien every night for far longer than that. The point is, if 2-4 weeks is recommended, theoretically there should not be an acute rebound if you stop and in this fellow's case there was. In fact I think you can get the rebound after just a very few nights in a row. Ambien is portrayed as a benign, safe drug. It's addictive potential is not emphasized at all by doctors. Certainly few people are told it's just like a benzo. So all in all I think Savage is doing a service here with his remarks.

Interesting. I didn't realize they said nightly for 2-4 weeks was okay. I guess I didn't read the label. I'll have to go back and read up on that. Even my screw ball of a psychiatrist didn't recommend that.

I suppose my NOT reading the fine print was helpful in this case. I was just always under the impression that it's a bad idea to take a sleeping pill every night because of the potential for tolerance and/or addiction.

I knew when I first took Ambien & liked it, that that was a red flag. So, I took it every once in a while & it worked beautifully. The most restful sleep I think I've ever had. I wouldn't hesitate to take it in the future if I were to need it, but I also wouldn't take it on nightly basis. It doesn't surprise me at all that people would build up a tolerance to this drug.

I've taken Ambien myself and I agree it does work"beautifully" and it scared the beejeezus out of me. I admit to sometimes keeping a half tablet by my bed in an egg cup. Just doing that makes me sleep better! ;)

Sara, is that you?! :) ha ha that's too funny!

I knew that would make people laugh! Hard to believe isn't it?!

Yes Sara, if we were in person we'd be laughing for a long time, and I'd accuse you of being in bed with pharma! (I have bad humor) :)

Well, I have been taking Ambien (not Ambien CR) every night for almost 5 years now. I have been following a few simple rules my doctor gave me an it works great. I only take it at night and not for naps during the day. I also don't get any diffent of an effect from taking an entire pill or taking half so I take half a pill. If I wake up in the middle of the night, I take half of the other half of pill. I have never taken any more than that and every night it has worked for me. I know I cannot sleep without it but because I have stuck to the rules I don't think I will have any trouble weeing myself off of the stuff if I needed too. I do get tired at night and the ambien just is just the over the edge thing I need to help me fall asleep.

Should I be disturbed that John McCain is also a regular user (as ABC reports)

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Politics/story?id=4919842

It seems that most of the side effects occur when your sleep is disturbed or interrupted..

My Ambien story is unusual.
I was prescribed Ambien when my pdoc became concerned that my insomnia might trigger a manic episode. I tried a 5mg first, but my insomnia was unfazed. However, I did get a nice little buzz from it. My doc decided to increase the dose to 10mg which caused my creativity to become activated for the first time in a very long time. I began to write poetry and draw really great pictures every night about 15 minutes after I took my Ambien. Also, several times I found myself cleaning the bathroom after brushing my teeth for the night. I felt very productive and creative, and would eventually fall into a sound sleep until morning. I woke up feeling well rested and was clear-headed at work.
However, this "activating" effect concerned my doctor, so she recommended that I stop taking it, which I did. I experienced a couple of wakeful nights, but soon was able to sleep well.
I still have some Ambien left, and occasionally take it when I'm having trouble sleeping, but I do have to take care that I am safe at home with no plans to go out, because I can imagine thinking it might be fun to have a night on the town under its influence!!

I started taking Ambien about a week ago. After my first night, I woke feeling incredibly invigorated - almost manic. I thought maybe this was how a normal nights sleep would make a person feel.

Within a matter of days, the increased energy became unbearable-I developed a couple of facial ticks, had racing thoughts, etc. Last night everything slid into place and I thought I better not take anymore until I did research on the side effects.(This was after 3 consecutive days use) I felt as though I had drank a cup of coffee before I went to bed and couldn't fall asleep until late into the night! I even took a Tylenol PM for some relief, and it didn't even phase me!

I've read that manic behavior has been a side effect for those on SSRI's-but I am not on any other medication. I will definitely stay away from this drug!

Ambien is the only med I have ever taken in my life where there were no side effects. There was nothing. I was given it in the hospital, and the nurses and doc were amazed it didn't make me fall asleep.

Almost every drug I have ever taken makes me sleepy, so I have something to make me sleep. The best thing I have found is a glass of warm milk. Go figure.

JM, that's the weirdest Ambien story I've ever heard -- what dose were you taking? Did you imbibe any alcohol on the nights you were taking it? I have heard there can be paradoxical effects if you mix it with alcohol. Still I don't think I've ever really heard a specific story of Ambien making someone hypomanic, especially in that short of a time.

I have a similiar story to JM. I take ambien cr about 3 times per week, but I have also had this same experience on a regular 10mg pill. Typically I have found that I can take ambien and get an AMAZING amount of work done around the house. I am extremely creative and I would display typical manic symptoms. I have embarassed myself by calling up people to tell them my ideas, so now I remind myself that I CANNOT call anyone regardless of how wonderful my idea seems to be. Anyway, I can be up for several hours on this stuff, go to sleep for 5 hours, and wake up feeling as if I slept for 9 hours, completely rested and ready to tackle the day.

I've taken it for almost a year, and it does wonders for me, but I stopes taking it about 3 weeks ago, it's been tough but I knew I had to quite. It never failed me about 15 mind after I take it I would call peaple that I would never want to talk to in a clean state of mind I would draw make big plans and write em down, it made me feel I guess high/happy/crazy and I never woke up 1 time in a years time in the middle of the nite. But after a while I started feeling bad in the middle of the day, I mean at around noon my head/body would just feel like crap and when I took the pill at nite it all went away, very weird. But now Im slowly but surely feeling better, I guess my body started craveing it

I have been taking ambien for about 2 months - not every night, just when I need it. I have been experiencing a lot of pain in the back of my head behind my ears. I feel like someone has punched me in the back of my head. Often this pain causes a bad headache in the front of my head. Has anyone else experienced these kind of problems? I am not sure if it is the ambien yet, however I think I will see my Dr. again and discuss the issue. I was put on prednison, pain pills, and stopped seeing my chiropractor. I hope someone can understand my concerns

I have been taking ambien pretty regularly for about 4 years. I usually only take half or third of a pill as needed. I've never really had any problems with it except it makes me very sexual if I stay awake after I take it. It's probably not the healthiest choice but it's that or no sleep at all. I like sleeping therefore I like ambien. I'm sure weening myself off of it will be hard but it won't be that big of a deal.

so I have been taking ambien for about a week now. I have trouble sleeping but sense I have taken it I have slept amazing. A couple of days ago I wanted to see if the hallucinations were true. Well they are. I trip out if I stay up 15 minutes after I take it. I don't take it every night I take it when I need it most. But it works great. I don't take much I only take about 5mg. half tablet I think.

Both myself,and my sister have been taking Ambien every night foir some time. For myself, it has been about 8-9 months,my sister (who always had insomnia problems)took some of mine,about 4 months ago, and now takes it everyday.My Dr. tells me taking it every night is just fine. I have to,otherwise what's the point? A good night sleep the nights I take it, and a horrible sleepless night when I don't? I don't think so, not for this girl We both have hilarious stories almost eveyday about our "Ambien nights" and our strange "ambien dreams". I myself am cautios,I live with my husbans and only take it when someone is there to watch me,but I worry bout my sister who lives alone. I have a long term prescription from my doctor. I can get 30 10 mg pills evey 30 days. I now have to take 1.5 pills a night, so I run out early,and when I do, I suppliment with some unisom (which doesn't work as well,and makes me groggy the next day unlike Ambien),and I never have withdrawals or cravings. If I have it, I take it, if not,no biggie. I find this drug to be very interesting. I don't feel "high" while on it, but then again about 15 mins after taking it on a an empty stomach, I don't remember anything. I do eat anything/everything in sight while on it, and wake up on the morning with big bowls and plates,bags of chips etc on the floor beside my bed. I have curiously lost weight though since it's inception into my life. Since the half-life of Ambien is so short,I find once in a while I have to take it again about 3 hours after I take it the first time, but that's only on nights when I really have trouble staying asleep. I have always been the lightest sleeper. So bad that my first husband and myself never slept in the same room while we were married,because even him breathing would wake me up. I use a loud wind machine,and earplugs and nothing works. So, for me ambien is a God send. My husband despises it,and doesn't want me taking it, though there has been some preported sex while I'm stone cold out,and he's in the mood (hell I say go for it. I get credit and don't even have to be "there" for it!)I love my Ambien, but would also be fine when my Dr. takes me off of it soon. But, Unisom will be my staple at that point,and personally, I'll take the Ambien dreams, wierd conversations, sleep sex,night meals, and a sound night sleep feeling refreshed in the morning,over the over-drugged,groggy mornings I'll have with diphemihydramine (Unisom, Tylenol PM etc.., when my perscription is stopped!

" to love is work,to pretend you love on Ambien is a dream" -I'm pitching that as the new slogan to Sanofi-Adventis.

My husband and I have both had strange effects while taking Ambien. I was prescribed the drug 5 years ago (10mg pills) because of night sweats during menopause. It is really a serious problem for many women - me included. I knew ambien could be addicting, so have only been taking it maybe twice a week a half-pill (5mg). Only when I had been waking up and turning my fan on 3-4 times in a night. My husband started taking it because he is a very light sleeper, and sleeping in separate rooms would be intolerable for either of us. After 37 yrs of marriage, we do still enjoy being in the same bed. We both have been taking it just 2-3 times a week. We have occasionally taken a full pill when we knew we hadn't slept well and knew we desperately needed a sound sleep. Anyway, a little over a month ago, my husband told me that he had experienced a strange dream where he felt as though he was numb and possibly having a stroke...couldn't move...couldn't speak. The exact same thing happened to me this morning, when I thought I would go back to sleep. I was just tired for some reason. I had taken 5mg of Ambien last night. My husband was at work. In my half-awake-half-asleep type state, I was trying to call him on the phone. Actually when I finally woke up, the phone was not even in my hand! But in the strange dream state, I was terrified, and though I had to try several times to speed dial him unsuccessfully, I finally reached him and then couldn't speak to tell him to come home. I needed help. Then I awoke, and was fine. No phone in my hand - No numbness or anything. VERY weird. That's why I'm here now typing this. I think I will stop taking Ambien and figure some other way to sleep.

It is not advisable to stop taking most drugs cold turkey. Any doctor will tell you that, Dan, especially a psychotropic drug like Ambien or anti-depressants etc. This is pretty much common knowledge. If you had been taking the drug every night for thee weeks, common sense would tell you your body is expecting it and the smart thing to do would be to cut your dosage in half for a week, than a quarter for a week, then a smooth landing. It's not rocket science, ask the doctor who prescribed it to you, I'm sure he would tell you to taper off. Duh.

Your doctor should have told you to taper off the drug. That's standard procedure for most medications your body has become accustomed to. That means cut the pill in half, Dan. After a week cut in quarters. After two weeks you have a smooth landing. Common procedure, common sense. Who are you mad at? Did you have a prescription for the drug? They usually come with info. It's not rocket science, just common sense.

I just came across this old post by accident and had to weigh in. For me and other family members, Ambien has had some bad effects. I took it one time for insomnia but it had a paradoxical effect. Not only was I still awake, but I also became aggressive and started ranting and threw a lamp across the room. That was the last time for me!

My husband finds it does help him sleep, but we've also noticed that it causes him to become hostile. Some mornings after he's taken it, he's been verbally abusive to me, only to come around later to apologize and say "I don't know what I was thinking!!"

Despite this, I thought maybe it's just us -- we're hyper people anyway and perhaps Ambien aggravates that trait. Well, recently my father in law called my husband and they wound up having such a fight that father in law slammed down the phone after thoroughly verbally abusing my husband, who was shell-shocked by the encounter. The next day, wouldn't you know it, father in law calls back to apologize. "I don't know what came over me!" he said. Turns out the night before, he'd taken Ambien.

Which all convinces me, as with all pysch meds, it's a great big game of Roulette. Might work great, might not work at all, might kill ya.