ambien amnesia

i have typically had good experiences with ambien. it helps me sleep and i have struggled with falling asleep most of my life. i took one at about 9pm and it seems that i drank 3 or 4 cans of beer out of our refridge. after my girlfriend fell asleep, i went in to the living room and started calling friends, co-workers, and family members. because it was late in the evening, i left mostly messages. i have heard some of them played back for me. they are disturbing. i did get one person to answer the phone that night, and wouldn't you know it? it was my boss. the conversation lasted nearly an hour and the things that i said to my boss nearly got me fired the next day. he told me that i was saying very rude things to him, about his wife, about how i should have his job. and that i threatened to come over there and kick his ass in front of his wife and kids. my boss weighs about 220lbs verses my 165lbs soaking wet. i like my boss. he actually is the guy that got me in to the company. it has been to my benefit that all of this media coverage is getting out there about how ambien is a dangerous drug at best. good luck. it helps a little to see this board. thank you for posting

I've taken ambien cr for about a year and love it so far. My quality of life has improved greatly. So far so good.

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

Hey there, I think it is dangerous also. I dont like memory loss for any reason. If a pill can even cause temporary memory loss, what if, a person just totally got permanent amnesia from it. It is scary.

You are very lucky. Some of my co-workers havent had any problems with it either. Either that or they like the fact they cant remember things. I am glad to hear someone has something good to say about it though.

Sondra, My fiance had the exact same experience as you had with taking ambien, having no recollection getting up in the middle of the night driving and hitting a car less then 1000 ft from his house, he was also charged with a DUI. We are currently going to court to fight the case, and we are looking for anyone that could serve as an expert / witness in relation to the side effect of sleep driving while taking ambien. I have been looking all over the web for any expertise I can find on this subject that could help his case. Can you provide me with any information on how you delt with your legal issue, as it might help his up coming court case.
Thanks so much for any response you can provide !

I took ambien for the first time yesterday. When I woke up I was a half hour late for work already (it did help me sleep great) when I went to call my work and let them know I noticed that I had made few phone calls that I had no memory of. One to a good friend I work with one to a girl I use to see and one number that I didnt recognize. Being curiouse I Googled the number and found it was a local pizza place. between the time I took the 10mg pill and the last call there is about an hour of time where I do not remember. Im not sure if I will use it again but I will deffinatly talk to my doc about it.

I too had a run in with ambien and blue lights. Does anyone know if it shows up in a toxicology report?

No, it doesn't unless they are looking for it. Which they DO now in many states.

What sort of tox screen did you get? Because most P.D.'s and most E.R.'s DO NOT screen for it. It's not a narcotic or a benzo and it's half life is only about 10 hours.

If you were "blue lighted" as you refer to it and on Ambien and it showed up on a tox screen, trust me... you'd be writing a lawyer and not writing here!

They'd let you know!!

I am so glad I came here. I thought I was losing my mind, had a stroke or a brain tumor, or Alzheimers. I have driven, had a slight accident with my grandchild in the car and made phone calls that I either don't remember or have a very foggy distant memory of. Sort of like a dream that you recall the next day but only have flashes of the scenes. I have taken Ambien for over a year and never had any problem as long as I took it 1/2 hour before bed and then slept 7-8 hours. But, I have severe anxiety and a doctor once asked me if I ever thought of taking Ambien during the day to help calm my mind. I didn't do that for a long time but finally because my anxiety was so bad a few times, I took it. Looking back, all the times I have had memory loss only have the common denominator of Ambien. I don't care if I don't sleep for the rest of my life, I will never take this again and put anyone in jeopardy.

Pam wrote:

I am so glad I came here. I thought I was losing my mind, had a stroke or a brain tumor, or Alzheimers. I have driven, had a slight accident with my grandchild in the car and made phone calls that I either don't remember or have a very foggy distant memory of. Sort of like a dream that you recall the next day but only have flashes of the scenes. I have taken Ambien for over a year and never had any problem as long as I took it 1/2 hour before bed and then slept 7-8 hours. But, I have severe anxiety and a doctor once asked me if I ever thought of taking Ambien during the day to help calm my mind. I didn't do that for a long time but finally because my anxiety was so bad a few times, I took it. Looking back, all the times I have had memory loss only have the common denominator of Ambien. I don't care if I don't sleep for the rest of my life, I will never take this again and put anyone in jeopardy.

I agree with you. I had taken Ambien during the day for my panic/anxiety attacks and then the ability to remember what I did next day and/or things I did and said/or committments I made???? Normal living during the day..it was not possible to being on Ambien. Sure, the anxiety went away.....I love the drug....but it has to be taken for what it is written for - to help you fall asleep 1/2 hour before you go to bed at night!

Hi,

I am so glad I found this forum. Saturday night I took my usual dosage and on Sunday morning I apparently got into my car around 3a.m. and wrecked into another car a few blocks from my house. I have very little recollection of the accident, and fortunately the police did not give me a DUI. I can hardly remember the accident, and I had to call a friend to take me home as my car is potentially totaled. I am so distressed over this entire incident, and I'm not sure if I am going crazy and have no memory of the incident or I was "sleep driving" as a result of Ambien? Can someone please offer further insight? Also, how do I join the class action suit against Ambien?

I've taken a steady dose of 10mg for over a year and the side affects have been worsening. I've experienced everything from muscle soreness to irritability and a feelings of sedation during the day time. And after my car accident Sunday morning, I never want to touch this drug again. I could have killed someone and not even remembered, I just cant find peace with myself over this entire situation.

Wow.. Sorry to hear such unfortunate situations with ambien...

I am like the first poster, I have had trouble sleeping for as long as I can remember.. I have been taking Ambien off and on for about ten years. When I first started taking it, I slept great, but had terrible nightmares, so I stopped taking it. About five years later, it was prescribed to me again, but no nightmares. I took it for about a year and a half, every single night. I didn't have any problems, except I did have conversations that I don't remember having, and did have an "out there" feeling (sometimes). When I stopped taking it, I didn't have any withdrawal symptoms -(I just couldn't sleep).

My current doctor (because of the side effects of Ambien) wanted me to try something called "Rozerem" (sp?). It works really well. It made me sleepy just like Ambien, but without any of
The "Ambien" effects. The only problem is I took it every night and after about four months, it stopped working.. So I am back on Ambien. I sure wish I could just go to sleep without anything.

Susie wrote:

I too had a run in with ambien and blue lights. Does anyone know if it shows up in a toxicology report?

Zes it shows up in a toxicology report (for about three months). Zou can try and take an anaymous drug test to see the results

I have been taking abmien for about 6 months...i sleep great..i have alwaya had trouble sleeping since i started having kids. I do sleep really well on ambien but am always a little nervous if kids or babies wake up...so far I have awaken with middle of the night feedings and no problems really. I take a low dose 6mg...because i dont want to worry about not being able to take care of my family...if my husband is home i take the higher dose and definitely experience some amnesia...its mostly just not being able to wake up when something happens...the sleep amnesia is scary, it freaks me out to read stuff on here more than anything that has happened to me. Your best bet is to just go to bed after taking it. I love ambien...the only meds that help me sleep, stay asleep and not feel groggy the next day.

I recently flew back from Zurich to Los Angeles. Right after take-off, I took an ambien. I also had wine with dinner. A few hours later, awake, I asked the flight attendant if I could have my dinner, which I thought I had missed due to being asleep. But she told me that I had eaten my dinner. So did the fellow sitting next to me. I have abslutely no recollection of it. According to the guy next to me, I never slept. I ate my dinner and conversed with him. I dont remember any of that.

Hi
Im from Australia, and the drug ambien goes under the brandname stilnox. In my view, this drug is a very bad one! My personal use escalated thouroughly it caused me to almost lose my life in an accident, not remembering a thing by the way, it has also caused me to do bizzare things such as smoking, cqalling people at weird hours, not remembering anything I have done, driving, going for runs in the middle of the night and many more.

As a proffesional athlete, these instances are a worry, I know I am not the only one to experience these things as there is a lot of recent negative press coverag about the drug in Australia. I originally took it to relieve insomnia, and found it did the opposite. I also found it highly addictive, and started substituting it as a form of alcohol on a night out. My mother also had a problem with it for years.
Im not saying it won't help certain people fall asleep, and produce better quality of life, and it does make you fell great. I just think it will be banned over here soon. ANd thats probably a goods thing, because it can produce bizarre an ddangerous behaviour

I have been taking Ambien for nearly 4 years now. I have always been an insomniac. As a child I remember being in bed at night and worrying that everyone was asleep but me. As an adult things only got worse and with my hours as a nurse I once went nearly 40 hours without sleep. Anyway, along comes Ambien and life is livable now. I sleep every night and yes... I have occationally done some pretty strange things if I don't go directly to bed. I actually ordered stuff online as the laptop was on my bed. The next couple of weeks were like Christmas at my house as the mail carrier brought something that I didn't remember buying everyday! I'll say one thing. I have never said or done anything that I wouldn't say or do at a normal hour.. it is just that I guess the Ambien "loosens" your inhibitions kind of like alcohol and you might say something you would have worded differently without Ambien.
My kids call them "Ambien Moments" and I do remember all of them after I have been reminded of the incident. My boyfriend has gotten many heart felt calls at 3AM =)
My family and friends have gotten use to the occational "moments" because they all know how miserable I was before Ambien. I can live with the little moments.

I was prescribed ambien by my doctor starting in 2003. When he first prescribed it to me either he didn't know how addictive it could be or just failed to tell me about this. I built up a huge tolerance and started ordering it online and sometimes not even rememebering that I did order it and would just receive a package in the mail. I fell alot, had severe amnesia and went on weird eating binges. This is a very DANGEROUS ADDICTIVE drug. I checked myself into detox and was an inpatient for ten days. When I got out I relapsed and must have went online and ordered more ambien. On June 20th I got a call from my job that I had received a package containing ambien (I don't remember ordering this) it was opened by a colleague and since they knew about my addiction, when I came into work to explain what happened I was grabbed by my boss and escorted out. I was always very successful in my job and made alot of $ last year and then received a letter stating that I was terminated from my position. I am going broke and my life is out of control. This is what it can do to you. So be careful with this stuff and don't let it ruin your life like it did mine.

A while back I had my four young children in my suburban with me after taking an ambien. I pulled into the oncoming lane and drove down the center of all the oncoming traffic, my children were terrified! I have absolutely no recollection of what happened to me other than somehow I ended up at a friends house with the kids and my 10 year old told me what I had done. She was truly traumatized. I thought I had a seizure and saw my dr. he did not equate what happened with Ambien and told me I needed to seek Psychiatric help. I was devastated. I began to do more investigating and here I am. This stuff is bad news. I refuse to ever ever touch it again. What if I had hurt my babies and didn't know why and then was told I was psychotic....that is crap and scary as hell. Do not take this medication! It is not worth it.