Ambien problems

I have numerous experiences of finding evidence of what I call sleep walking/eating when taking Ambien. I find candy wrappers, even squashed chocolates in my bed. This morning there was the empty can from peanuts. I have no recollection of getting up and going downstairs to find food. My husband has begun hiding snack foods but now worries that I might go out, or drive the car. I have gained weight and have not understood why until realizing that the Ambien is the cause. I have recently tried LUnesta and although it does not work for me, I do not sleep walk/eat. It is definitely connected to Ambien use.

Further to my own experiences with Ambien, I have another close friend who also sleep walks/eats when on Ambien. She also has eaten whole boxes of chocolates with no memory of having done so. She has also fallen down the stairs, been bruised badly, continued to the kitchen and eaten with no memory of it. She was switched to Lunesta and now has no problem. Today, I heard of yet another person who has had the same experience with Ambien, - who was gaining weight and didn't know why. She has deduced it is only when taking Ambien, - she too is sleep walking/eating.

My boyfriend has been taking Ambien and he too has the midnight raids in the kitchen. Worse is his AGRESSIVE behavior that he doesn't remember the next day. He has threated to kill my cat and has pinched me. I am starting to fear for my life due to this drug. HELP.

I have taken Ambien since 2001, after a weight-loss surgery, a pregnancy 3 months later, and then a hernia (which couldn't be operated on during the pregnancy). I was not sleeping at all due to the hernia and the WL surgery, so the doctor gave me Ambien. I have heard my husband make a few comments about me falling asleep downstairs, but I had no idea of the SEVERE affects it could have on me. I take 1/2 pill at night (due to my WLS, 1 pill is too much). If I wake up extremely early in the morning, I take the other 1/2 and have always woken up at a normal time with the rest of my family. On June 2, I woke up early, took the other 1/2, but my sister-in-law phoned and came over. I forgot that I took the Ambien, and didn't realize I didn't go to sleep. I don't know when she left or anything. After that, I changed into a swim suit and left my home with my 2 small children in the car (something I would never do---leave home in a swimsuit). I don't know the order of things, but I bought 5 passes to a a local community swim pool, I bought another swim pool to bring home (pump, cleaners, everything!), and I also bought wine (I don't drink ordinarily. It is like poison in my body since my WLS). I guess I opened the little bottles and drank as I drove. I think I hit a car somewhere, though no one reported it. I hit something else and finally wrecked my vehicle enough that I was sitting on the side of the road with my two little sons. My best friend came to help me (my husband had called me on the cell phone during my drive and he knew something was wrong, so he called my friend). When my friend got to me, the police were already there. I supposedly had a talk with a detective and assured him that I did not drink. I had been at our church all the day before, praying with my friend for our ministry there, and for our teenagers. I was handcuffed and taken to jail. I don't remember any of it except at one point understanding that a policeman was saying I hadn't cooperated with him, and I cried, because I didn't know I hadn't cooperated. I had to take a breathalizer test (which I failed). I hadn't drank very much, I don't think, but it takes very minimal with WLS; it goes straight to the bloodstream. I was given 3 citations. On June 29, I had to appear in court, and now my driving record shows that I have a OWI. I also had my driving license taken, but was able to apply for an Occupational license. I have huge fees for the citation (two of them were dismissed), and I must go on July 29 to be assessed by a mental health place with regard to my usaged of alcohol (which is 0%!). I have to pay $220 for that visit alone. All of this made me do searches online. A class action law suit against Ambien opened in March, and I joined it immediately. I am going to do everything I can to help myself, but also others. I truly, honestly, wholeheartedly do not remember any of the events of that day, except what was told to me, and what I found in my purse (the swim passes). I made no choice to drink in my right mind; it is against everything within me....especially with my two little guys in my car. Also, my doctor knows how I take the Ambien. I visited him since these events, and he just said "well, it's going to affect everyone differently." My children could be dead and I could be in prison....and I wouldn't even be able to remember any of it in my mind. I will NEVER touch Ambien again, and will save everyone I can from taking it. I am going to try to have a judicial review of my case because there is no mention of what took place on June 2 for me; it only looks like I am a drunk driver, which I can not bear to stand that remaining on my record. Please feel free to comment. Sondra

Sondra,
Iwas wondering about the lawsuit. My husband is in rehab right now trying to get off of ambien. He was arrested three days ago for being three blocks away from our home at 6:00 in the morning with only his boxer shorts on trying to get into a car. I woke up to not even knowing what was going on with the police in my home, standing over my bed. The had told me my husband was in jail in protective custody. The asked me what kind of illegal drugs he was on, I explianed to them about the ambien, and that he gets up drinks sometimes doesn't remember he has taken one the takes several more. We have had several bouts with the ambien, in my opion it is very addictive and harmfull. My husband has done alot of bazair things will taking it but most of all i'm afraid he'll end up dead. Luckily no charges were pressed and he was able to come home. He was still out of it when he got home said that I had drug him and tried to kill him when that didn't work he thought I gave hime too many pills and poured alchol over his body and called the police on him. My husband after all was said and done he went and check himself into rehab, because he is scared to death of what this drug is doing to him and how he can't just quit taking it without some help. He has now found out after being there for only one day that all the things I have told him were true and the counsler there told him the have seen alot of people for ambien addiction and over usage here lately. They called ambien the drug of choice right now. That alone should tell you something?

Hi, Cassie,
So sorry to hear about your husband. I will be happy to tell you anything I know and learn. Yesterday, I faxed over a request to the court for a judicial review of my case, because I will be on record as having a OWI, and that is not who I am, or what I do, in my right mind. That's the problem with Ambien.....you have no clue of anything. The drug is classified as a hynotic....which makes me remember the times on TV I saw the entertainers in Vegas say "when you wake up, you won't remember anything". That's what hypnosis is, and that's what happens. You already know that.

I do not have the addiction like that for some reason. After this happened to me, I was so angry I went to see my doctor. He seemed to care less. I think he was afraid of being dragged into a law suit.

Here's the website link to join the lawsuit, and I would definitely recommend you do. I just heard they are going to begin testing Ambien on children:

http://www.appellate-brief.com/ambien.html

This attorney, Susan Lask, actually phoned me at my home after I placed a call to her. You can read all about what's going on with the suit at this website. Joining is easy...you print out 2 forms, fill them out, and mail them in. That's it. There is no fee involved.

I feel passionate to get this drug off the market. What if a mommy of little children wakes up and gets in her car with her babies and wrecks? A few stories I've read about online include:

1. A 62 year old woman being found (by her son) outside frozen to death
2. A man on an airplane took 1, then drank, then announced he was going to kill everyone on the plane including himself. His case was dismissed in court because he took the Ambien.
3. A woman waking up with online skates on, and having no idea why.
4. A woman waking up with bruises on her body and learning she had been sexually abused, but not remembering anything except her neighbor asking for help

There are 100s of cases already. I wish you well, and will help you any way I can.

Take care,
Sondra

Woops! That was inline skates, not online (ha!) I'm on the computer too much.

sondra,
i'm glad to hear that there is a law suit out there and i'm going to join in i think. ambien has destroyed a lot of my life. i've been out for four years and can't stop taking it, but i'm afraid to got to rehab. i don't have the money or the time. my doctor never warned me and has kept me on an over dosage for three years now with no questions. it angers me and this is the first site i've found with any real feed back about the drug. i've been experience bad health problems because of the drug and so i've researching it a lot lately and i haven't been able to find anything on it that is helpful on any of the medical sites. it's rediculous. just wanted to say thankyou for helping with the awareness which i'm trying to do the same.

My Dad is in some serious trouble ffrom taking this Drug Ambien. Yes he is one of those that drives and Gets violent from Ambien and something more serious Has happened from ambien and he needs anyones help who has had an awful experience from this. Anyone can IM me my screen name is Kristen23936 and me E-mail address is this same thing Kristen23936@aol.com please try to contact me ASAP!

I have been eating at night and have gained so much weight. I too find empty snack wrappers, leftover food etc. in my bed. I have tried to go off ambien but I feel drugged and out of it for days if I don't take it, also I have pains across my head and eyes. My doctor said it is"pyschological" with me and not the drug. It isn't addictive and I should not have problems going off of it. I don't take other drugs or drink. I need help from those of you who have gone off it as to how to taper down. I take only 1/2 tablet and I really don't feel rested .
Thanks again.

Wow, I can't believe this. I'm so glad I found this website today. I have been taking ambien for the last few months because I haven't been able to sleep since my mother died in March. I didn't even know that I have been getting up in the middle of the night and eating food all the time. I knew I did it occasionally, but my daughter and her bf just told me last night that i do it all the time. NO wonder I have gained weight! I couldn't understand why because I've been exercising! This is a very scary drug...I can't believe I have not remembered any of this. I will not ever take this again. I can't imagine if something had happened in the middle of the night and I had to drive somewhere!

Has anyone started to forget things in the everyday life world. speech sometimes gets twisted, Ive been on ambien now for 5 years since my back surgury. If I dont take it I dont sleep. Doctor says dont eat before or drink anything but that doesnt work.. Just really scared on the slur talk al of a sudden.

from dallas, tx

I do the same thing and I am pregnant and very scared that I am not supposed to be taking it, but I can't get a straight answer from anyone on whether it is ok to take it or not. I am so scared that it will hurt my baby. I get sick after taking it too and do not remember much. I have even taken it during the work day and taken too much not knowing that I had. I am so scared that I will never get off of it, but I cannot sleep without a sleeping aid. Will I hurt my baby???

Every one need to try this stuff..
http://www.theroadback.org/index.htm please check it out...

ambien makes me spacey and forgetful during the day.wonder ifthere is some kind of residule build-up in the system after prolonged use???

I've only been taking Ambien for a month.(Was having trouble with menopausal-related sleep problems.) Decided to stop taking it last night and had a sleepless night, headache today. Anyone had problems when they stop the drug?

I was prescribed ambien by a doctor when i went in to see them about taking to much hydrocodine for my RLS. They prescribed ambien to me and said to try this for sleep and at least my pain would go away. Well yes my pain went away but didn't like the effects of it but become addicted to it and couldn't go to sleep without it. One of the problems I had with it was that I had sex with my husband and remember it just a little bit. I was coming and going during it. The next morning I awoke to asking myself if I actually had sex with my husband. I called him and asked him and let me know that yes i did. That was scarey to me that I felt like i didn't have an control with my body. Since then, I still took it because it allowed me to sleep and not think about the pain in my legs from Severe Restless Leg Syndrome. I stopped taking the medicine at one point because i ran out of it for taking it so much throughout the nights. I could tell a difference; my mind was there after the first two days of trying to get off it, I felt normal and i had control of my body/emotions for the first time again. When I received my prescription in again for the ambien I started taking it again for the pain and the sleep. The symptoms have started again and now I am coming off of it. I did not take it last night and I am wide awake at 5:00 a.m. and have to go to work. I am scared to go to work because i am afraid of what i will do from the daytime drowisness or from getting off of this medicine. Last night i felt so drugged while I was coming home from the store. I had my wallet in my hand and keys and when i got up to the register i couldn't figure out what I needed to pay for. As i was driving home, I was scared of driving and felt so dizzy that i didn't think i was going to make it. I was trying to park in a spot at my home and didn't know how close i was to hitting another vehicle. I was stuck between two vehicles and didn't know how to get out. Luckily, my mind came back just enough that i could get out of the spot and i just parked somewhere else.
I would not advise this medicine to anyone at all. This is a scarey medicine to take...i felt/still feeling like i have no control over my body/mind and I am hating myself for this. How long does it take for it to get out of your system?

I worked 23 as a hospital administrator with a record of exceptional performance. I had a wonderful career. I also was blessed with a women who worked at the same facility who loved me unconditionally for 8 years. My heart doctor prescribed ambien to help me sleep. I would wake up in the morning and head to work and my girlfriend would show me these ridiculous negative emails I was sending her in the middle of the night. At first I just did not believe it.I decided to get in bed and take the ambien thnking that would eliminate any crazy email rantings. It did not. I even cut the dose to 1/2 thinking that would eliminate the problem. She became extremely bitter and actually stopped talking to me. I began to think her problems with me was a result of her pre-menopausal symptoms rather than my continued idotic e-mails.

My boss called me into her office with the many inappropriate emails and fired me. To my company it was inappropriate behavior and drug use. I have not been able to get a decent job sense due to the stigma this has put on my work experience.

While I lost a wonderful job and life I also lost the most precious human being I have ever met. Absolutely incredible!

a few nights ago I took 11 pills of 5mg ambien. 3 conscious and 8 subconciously...it's crazy...I had to actually hide the pills from myself! Ambien makes me too crazy and violent and the next morning I remember nothing! After taking 11 ambien I appararently knocked on my friends dorm door for a straight 30 minutes and then cut myself with scissors...ambien is indeed a crazy drug, so take precaution when using it, it messes with your mind and subconscious.

I am so sorry about the problems Ambien has given you. I suppose it's different for everyone's body though because I have tried it before and it does NOTHING for me. I doesn't help me sleep or anything. I've also tried xanax and everything they sell over the counter but I just can't get to sleep at night. If you want to keep intouch use my email smiedke@houston.rr.com Talk to you later. Let me know how things are going.