Ambien and memory

Because of a couple tragedies that ocurred in my life, I was unable to sleep. Ambien was prescribed and with it, I woke up completely rested! BUT there were several dangerous events to share with you.

I drove several times & have no recollection! If it weren't for receipts, checks, etc. I wouldn't know anything about it! I'm a married woman and I took a male acquaintance to a liquor store 1/2 hour away once!
I drove to a city an hour from my home at least once!

Additionally, I've had phone conversations, conducted business meetings, taught a religion class...ALL with no knowledge or memory of these acts.

Yes, I would find dirty dishes in the sink in the morning too! I ate so much food! I didn't gain weight though...probably because the Ambien also removed ALL inhibitions in my life. My husband selfishly took complete advantage of this...if you know what I mean. This was not right! I'm still angry about this. It wasn't until he realized that I was driving in my sleep that he encouraged me not to take the Ambien anymore...I haven't taken it for two years. I do miss it because it really left me rested. Now I only take over-the-counter products and they leave me groggy.

I have been taking ambien for about five years. I have experimented with 5mg, 10mg and ambien CR, and mixing small doses (5mg or less) with one Advil PM. Mixing the two worked very well for a while. All I want is to feel rested and sharp during the day. I have been known to cook elaborate meals and make a MESS in the kitchen only to wake up the next morning with chicken burrito all over my bed with me. I have also sent emails and made calls I don't remember. I also... and this is the worst... did some online shopping and bid on many EBAY items that I had no memory of. When you wake up and your credit card is laying next to your computer on the bed... your in big trouble.

I've beentaking Ambien for several years and haven't had any terrible adverse effects. I've had some amnesia after drinking alcohol and taking Ambien, but my memory usually returns by the next day. I've also had muscle twitches and weakness & went to a neurologist for testing, but they found nothing wrong. I figured it was probably the Ambien. I stopped it for 2 weeks, once, but still had some of the symptoms. I've thought about trying to stop again, but I need to weigh the pros and cons. I actually sleep now, and generally have a lot more energy than in the past. I'm on a regular sleep schedule and can get 6-8 hours of sleep per night. I think I'll just deal with the side effects.

I love taking Ambien because it gives me about 5 to 6 hours of sleep. Prior to taking Ambien, I never slept through the night. The most sleep I ever had was a couple of hours here and there. I'd be up at night trying so hard to fall asleep. Now, I actually look forward to taking my pill and going to bed. It's less stressful knowing I am going to fall asleep. I wish I had started taking it a long time ago. I must admit to waking up in the morning and not remembering phone conversations. Also, on numerous occasions, I have found an empty bag of M & M's on my nightstand when I wake up in the morning! Absolutely no memory of getting out of bed and going into the kitchen and bringing candy up to bed. Maybe it was my dog, Bailey!

I have MS and have been taking Ambien for a few months now to help me sleep. My husband and daughter told me this morning that last night I got up from bed and was completely naked and walked out into the living room. They said I looked very wasted and was looking all around the house for some soda and them went back to bed. I can't remember any of this. It scares me. what if they were not home, would I of drove to the store naked looking for soda? This is a very dangerous side effect. It only happened one othere time when I got up and was surfing the TV channels looking for a TV program. Again, I don't remeber it happening. I also It is making my MS symptoms worse, I am having more stiffness and spasms along with blurred vision.

memory, coordiantion, clumsiness of hand, difficulty in conversation, palpitation, nervousness. before, I always thought this is due to not enough sleep, I just realize it's ambien
I wish I never touched this drug, I feel I am destroyed, I decide to wean off the medication.

It was a beautiful thing to sleep...after a lifetime of insomnia. But then my boyfriend confronted me about my silly behavior at night -making elaborate desserts and leaving a big mess. I would have no memory of this. He told me I looked like I was wasted. I gained ten pounds. One night, I went out in my car to get ice cream! I had no memory of this trip, but I dented my car and knocked a tire out of balance. I have read other postings of people who have tried to drive and been arrested for DUI! Scary.

Still, this didn't worry me nearly as much as my declining health: tremors, fatique, depression, lethargy and worst of all severe all-over muscle pain, sinitus... I was becoming completely debilitated and suicidal because I couldn't work, travel, play...etc. Just suffering all the time. I've been off Ambien for one week and my symptoms have suddenly lifted! (I also increased Zoloft)

I still don't know if it's a coincidence or just a temporary respite. I miss sleeping, but I can't believe I feel so much better! Has anyone else had severe body pain with Ambien?

I HAVE BEEN TAKING AMBIEN REGULARLY FOR THREE YEARS.

AFTER AN INITIAL ADJUSTMENT PERIOD OF FALLING ASLEEP AT MY DESK OR IN THE BATHROOM DUE TO THE UNEXPECTED SUDDEN ONSET OF THE DRUG. THINGS THEN LEVELED OFF
SOMEWHAT.

BUT I QUICKLY DISCOVERED THAT EACH EVENING CONTAINED A SHORT PERIOD BEFORE MY FALLING ASLEEP THAT I WOULD HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO RECALL OF ON THE FOLLOWING MORNING.

DURING THE LAST YEAR I HAVE REDUCED MY DOSAGE TO 5MG BY BREAKING THE PILLS INTO HALVES BUT I STILL NOTICE THAT MY MEMORY OF RECENT EVENTS IS OFTEN QUITE FUZZY.

I ALSO NOTE A FEW TWITCHES IN MY BODY AND I HAVE BEGUN TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LONG TERM EFFECTS ON MY NERVOUS SYSTEM.

I THINK I'VE TAKEN MY LAST AMBIEN.

Ambien is very effective for helping me sleep. My doctor advised me to use it as a tool to "re-train" myself to sleep - not to stay on for over two-weeks at a time.
But I have taken it for over two weeks and hope to stop taking it this weekend. Short-term effects: dizzy, euphoric state if I don't go to bed within 20-minutes. Memory becomes fuzzy after 20-minutes of taking pill (because you're supposed to go to sleep). Long-term effects: sedated/deflated mood during day. Brain feels "heavy".

I have been taking ambien for a month now and I am

having problems with my memory I called my doctor

about this problem and He told me to stop taking the

sleeping pill. my memory is still foggy but it will

take a month to clear. I do not like this drug.

i have taken ambien for about four months i havebeen very moody also i never remember what i have done the night before when i take it. what is the side effects for this happening. i am off the medication now,but my memory is not what it was before. could the medication have caused this?