Ambien use during sleep study-side effects?

[jeffed18]

I have a sleep study tonight, it has been 15 years since I had my last study. The sleep study center is insisting I take ambien which I am uncomfortable with due to potential side effects.
The last study I participated in I fell asleep just fine, I always fall asleep right away so don't think it is necessary.
Can anyone share their experiences with first time use with ambien during a sleep study?

[Julie]

Many people have trouble sleeping (quickly) in labs so it's recommended to take one (only) Ambien prior to sleeping. It's highly unlikely that you'll have serious side FX but if you're concerned you could always try one pill a few nights prior to testing (not right beforehand) to see if you have problems. Very many of us have done it with no trouble.

[Pugsy]

I took Ambien before both my first sleep study to determine if I had OSA and the second study for the titration.
No ill affects at all.
Glad I took it...sleep was hard enough even with it especially during the titration study from hell.

[D.H.]

It's an individual thing. When I started, the very notion of not being able to fall asleep was alien. I had not even thought of such a thing.

They used to say that one who cannot fall asleep in a sleep lab is one who does not need a sleep test in the first place. However, they know better than this now.

If you take it every night or need it to fall sleep in a sleep lab, take it. If not, you should not take it.

[Okie bipap]

I took ambian on both of my last words sleep studies. It made things go much smoother for me than the previous studies I had.

[djams]

When I went in for both of my sleep studies, there was a 2 page "patient information" brochure that explained what was about to happen. It said that ambien was provided, encouraged me to take it and explained that many studies have been performed- no effects on respiration, heart rate, apneas and so on.

It was two 5mg tablets for me. Took one while they were wiring me up. It did the job. I was really glad to have it, especially for the titration study.

I was under audio and video surveillance for both studies, so if you're concerned about experiencing some of the crazy side effects you read about- don't. If you start sleep walking, they'll put a stop to it in a hurry. Or "having sex while asleep" - still trying to figure out how that one works

[Rob K]

I'm always very skeptical about taking any medications, but have to take ambien for sleep studies. My experience is that I didn't take enough of it. They gave me one and I slept for about one half hour. I had to come back for a do over. The second time they gave me two and that worked. The third test I just went for two right away and that worked also. Zero side affects for me. Just got real tired and slept.

[zoocrewphoto]

I am a severe night owl, and before cpap, I really struggled to sleep when traveling. I would be awake every hour.

So, I took an ambien for the sleep test. They had me to wait until I was ready to bed. I was a little concerned about possible side effects since I had seen stories on the news. But I figured I was being monitored all night, one building way from the hospital. What better place to try a medication that might have weird side affects?