OT: Ambien side effects!!!

[ka-ann]

My pulmonologist gave me 5 mg Ambien last week to try to help my insomnia and help me get adjusted to the mask/cpap. Well, last night was the 3rd night I took it. When I woke VERY groggy this morning my cpap was turned off and my mask was completely taken apart and laying around by my pillow. I had also taken the velcro straps completely off and some were tangled in my hair!!! The read out on the machine showed I wore it for only 3 hours. I don't remember ANYTHING! I read about side effects today and it can cause some people to do things they don't remember doing! My first thought was Oh my what else might I have done I also thought this must be a sign of what my subconscious feels about my mask!! I wondered if anyone else has an Ambien story! It kind of "freaked" me out as my teenagers say!! I guess it is a good thing I didn't take 10 mgs.

Karen

[jules]

you can cook, order things online, call your ex and speak badly to them, drive a car, run over people and all kinds of things and not know you have done it - it is not a nice drug

[eljorgito]

Yep, there are some interesting side effects possible. It seems they hit some people more than others... I've used Ambien on and off for several years for insomnia and pushing through jet lag, and only have had one bizarro incident after falling asleep (made a snack and sent a few emails on my phone that were thankfully not damage-causing, no recollection of any of the above and didn't believe my wife until i saw the emails in the sent folder). One thing to watch out for: I've had to institute a "no work after taking an ambien" rule after trying to squeeze in a few more emails after taking an ambien... and finding that at some point when the ambien kicks in, the emails turn to gibberish. (literally: a coherent sentence or two is written and then jdalk ur ajdoi jalkslkdjd suieu.)

It's been a real boon for me overall, though.

-george

[bearded_two]

Although Ambien can cause people to do very unusual and potentially dangerous things while sleeping, it may not be the Ambien that is causing you to do this. Many people who are new to CPAP take their mask off in their sleep and do unusual things with it even when not taking sleeping pills. That behavior usually goes away in a couple of weeks or so.

[SleepingUgly]

I've posted things on this site while under the influence of Ambien. Then later I see the posts and think, "Well, that was very disclosive of me".

[GumbyCT]

Remember Tiger Woods....first thing I thought was Ambien. Not that I've ever taken it but I know those who have. I think the label says that you should not plan on doing anything else except going directly to bed. Or something to that effect. I think Ambien gets addictive too.

Either cut them in half or use Melatonin which has NO side effects and is OTC.

Good Luck

[jules]

Contrary to what your doctor will tell you, ambien is highly addictive - got that t-shirt and hated withdrawal that came with going off it


I have also posted here under the influence a few times myself.


and ambien CR should not be cut in half - if you need to taper off it pm me and I can give you ideas on what to do

[GumbyCT]

I have also posted here under the influence a few times myself.

I think many, many here who appear to continuously post while highly medicated and likely stronger than Ambien.

[SleepingUgly]

if you need to taper off it pm me and I can give you ideas on what to do

Oh, too late... I cold turkeyed it last night. See you here at 3am!

[jules]

if you need to taper off it pm me and I can give you ideas on what to do

Oh, too late... I cold turkeyed it last night. See you here at 3am!

not me at 3 am --- sleep hygiene you know

I hope your trip through withdrawal is smooth and peaceful - mine wasn't

[unadog]

I'll crib this from another site without attribution or a link, because some of the posts there can be a little risque.

This is not from me - it sounds like a teenage girl, reporting on her experience with sleeping- pill-induced behavior:

Today, I woke up to the most awkward breakfast of my life. Apparently, last night after taking my sleeping pill, I went into my mom's room and started spilling secrets left and right. Secrets about my current crush, the people I've hooked up with, and how when I say I'm going over to my friend Beth's house, I'm really seeing a guy. FML

AND a second one:

Today, I woke up after taking a sleep pill for the first time. I started in on a number of chores including paying bills when I noticed a new charge on my online credit card bill from 1am. I bought $120 worth of meat from an infomercial. It's non-refundable. I'm vegetarian. FML

[Trinity101]

FYI- Melatonin is not without its own side-effects, so should not be used by everyone. If you have a history of stroke, diabetes, epilepsy, kidney disease or depression, you should not use it. Just because something is "natural" does not mean it can be used freely by all without a problem. Always read the info carefully first before going to the pharmacy or vitamin/supplement place.
~joan

[kteague]

You're in good company regarding taking the mask off and not remembering anything about it. It may or may not have been related to the Ambien. But sleepwalking can be such a serious thing, I'd suggest you take steps to stay safe. Tell your kids and have them in tune to you at night. If you don't have an alarm system in the house, consider picking up an inexpensive pack of alarms that have sticky backs to put on the door frames and doors. They alarm when their contact is broken, and the ones I had were loud. Also, put all sets of the car keys somewhere inaccessible, like maybe lock them in a drawer and leave the drawer key with a family member. Hopefully once you adjust to the new sensations and sounds you'll sleep better and not even need the Ambien.

[garyland]

IMHO you should NEVER take a sleeping pill while on CPAP. If, for example, your nose gets stuffy, and you can't breathe but you are so out of it I personally think you could suffacate! Gary

[bearded_two]

I don't think that there are any safe sleeping pills, and some, like Ambien, can cause bizarre problems. Many people who can't sleep because of anxiety can frequently be helped with a short course of a benzodiazapine. Benzodiazapines can also cause problems, but they are much better understood drugs and the effects are much less bizarre.