Ambien Amnesia (blurred vision, cold, blood, tooth)

[Icehearted]

All I have is bad insomnia, had it for years. I've tried a lot of drugs, diaphenhydramine (common), amitryptolene, Zyprexa in small doses (5mg), Lunesta, Ambien, and currently Ambien CR 12.5mg with Provigil in the daytime. At my age, that's kinda sad, but if I don't take these things I'll end up staying awake for days at a time (my record is 7) and it's not pleasant.

My other problem, which is how I found this thread, is that I've got a high susceptibility to side effects. Lunesta was great, but I kept tasting aspiring all day. Ambien was good, but I'd get calls in the morning from people I didn't know asking me if I was alright. They'd tell me that I'd called them earlier, sometimes around 4am, babbling and crying. I'd done things I couldn't remember, find things in my fridge I'd apparently bought the night before, like lottery tickets and soda. Food would be eaten, even my computer tinkered with. I live alone, so I have to assume I did this while on Ambien.

Someone stayed with me a few times, and she told me that I was crying a lot and that I was being paranoid and seeing things that weren't there. I don't remember that either. Worst thing though is the cutting. I'm not a cutter, I can't stress that enough, but on a couple of occasions I'd wake up on the bathroom floor next to my dremel and a knife, I'd find cuts on my neck and bicep (nothing very deep, btw).

This tends to happen far less on the CR than it did on the old stuff, but it still does happen from time to time. Strangely, btw, if I take the Ambien CR too early, nothing happens, too late and I go on "Ambien Trips".

[PinkString]

Originally Posted by Icehearted

All I have is bad insomnia, had it for years. I've tried a lot of drugs, diaphenhydramine (common), amitryptolene, Zyprexa in small doses (5mg), Lunesta, Ambien, and currently Ambien CR 12.5mg with Provigil in the daytime. At my age, that's kinda sad, but if I don't take these things I'll end up staying awake for days at a time (my record is 7) and it's not pleasant.

My other problem, which is how I found this thread, is that I've got a high susceptibility to side effects. Lunesta was great, but I kept tasting aspiring all day. Ambien was good, but I'd get calls in the morning from people I didn't know asking me if I was alright. They'd tell me that I'd called them earlier, sometimes around 4am, babbling and crying. I'd done things I couldn't remember, find things in my fridge I'd apparently bought the night before, like lottery tickets and soda. Food would be eaten, even my computer tinkered with. I live alone, so I have to assume I did this while on Ambien.

Someone stayed with me a few times, and she told me that I was crying a lot and that I was being paranoid and seeing things that weren't there. I don't remember that either. Worst thing though is the cutting. I'm not a cutter, I can't stress that enough, but on a couple of occasions I'd wake up on the bathroom floor next to my dremel and a knife, I'd find cuts on my neck and bicep (nothing very deep, btw).

This tends to happen far less on the CR than it did on the old stuff, but it still does happen from time to time. Strangely, btw, if I take the Ambien CR too early, nothing happens, too late and I go on "Ambien Trips".

That is just freaky! Another great reason to avoid all prescription drugs! yikes.

[yhwhshalomjr]

Originally Posted by think.reciprocity

Okay, smartie pants, I use a pill cutter too! But, to get precisely 3mg when the pills offered are 5 or 10mg is where the "wonder" about how to get "3" comes from... I take the generic now & they do NOT easily split from 10 to 5 - I'd NEVER get them smaller without destroying them...

Even with a pill cutter and a knife, there's no guarantee of how much you are actually getting, I do the same thing when i take ambien, even though it's seldom, I still have a bottle of ambien #30, at 10 mgs. my daughter is a pharmacists and she rails on me about taking quarter doses, I bite off what I feel I need sometimes. Bad habit............................................. ..........

[Icehearted]

Originally Posted by PinkString

That is just freaky! Another great reason to avoid all prescription drugs! yikes.

Normally, I'd agree, but like I'd said, it's that or no sleep for days at a time, which can actually be a lot worse (if you can believe it). Only other thing I've found that helps me sleep is drinking, but that comes with a slew of even bigger problems. I used to go out and do that once or twice a week, but I've been off the sauce for almost two years. Still, I slept like a baby back then.

[cassy1]

What about tylenol pm? Seems like it would be safer than the prescription stuff.

[Mattie Jo]

well, tylenol pm i believe is made with benadryl. i have used that to help me sleep sometimes. i can't stand some of the side affects, but when I cut it in half they are not as bad. probably better than what icehearted is going through. I wish you could find a solution that is safe icehearted.

[I LOVE NORTH CAROLINA]

Originally Posted by cassy1

What about tylenol pm? Seems like it would be safer than the prescription stuff.

I tried it and was awake all night! Those things that say may cause drowsiness make me even more hyper and awake

[Icehearted]

Tylenol PM and Benadryl both contain diaphenhydramine, which is pretty much the only over the counter sleep med you'll find. Unisom, Nytol, Advil PM all use them. I've tried them all and they pretty much all affected me the same despite the other ingredients in each.

I'd taken that stuff for years, and unfortunately have built up a good immunity, which means I either overdose and hope I don't end up sick, or I do as I have and tackle the harder meds.

[spudrunner]

I have had a couple experiences with amnesia after taking Ambien (10 mg). The bad thing is, YOU NEVER REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED.

I remember planning to go to bed, and then nothing. I end up staying awake until 4 AM doing things like calling all people at 2 AM and leaving incoherent messages, binge eating, printing out 110 pages on how to commit suicide (I'm NOT even suicidal) and then stapling it all together with about 50 staples. In the morning I wonder who printed all that stuff out??

I had no idea any of this was going on until I told my husband one day when I was at work how tired I was. He said, "I wonder why, you didn't go to bed until 4 AM" and I thought I went to bed at 11:00 when he did. I was scared to go home and see what the hell I'd done all night. I'm sure the amnesia has happened several times, but I wouldn't know. It happened again last night so I'll never take it again. I thought I'd be okay since he was home to "babysit" if I did anything weird. Apparently I was talking non-stop, then I disappeared in the garage for a long time. Doing what? I have no clue. You could literally kill someone and have no idea whatsoever that you did it.

[elfyum]

Originally Posted by saralee

The Lunesta is horrible. The taste it left in my mouth for days!

Take Ambien, 20mg, have experienced confusion or completely forgotten things that have occurred after taking.

Sleep study next week, hoping for answers as opposed to band-aid. Too long on sleep aids as it is but my insomnia is horrible.

Don't know any doctor who would prescribe Xanax long-term.

Sara

NOTHING I repeat NOTHING tastes as bad as Xanax!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And actually, if I ever take it more than twice in a week, I start to forget stuff - like, oh, how to turn on my headlights!!!
I can always get xanax but there's never a refill. But a 30 day supply (of 2mg) lasts me like 6 months!!!