Ambien Amnesia

[think.reciprocity]

Originally Posted by dianaon

If you have had episodes where you drove etc. w/o remembering- I would rec. NEVER taking it again- that is so dangerous. YOU are in the 1% who experience this amnesia effect should not take it- HELLO!

Are you a physician?

Otherwise perhaps the wisest suggestion for a person experiencing these symptoms is to immediately speak with his / her own physician to determine how to proceed? HELLO!

My physician & I came up with a plan to be certain I was safe & everyone else was too - that way the benefits of the med again outweighed the apparent/known risks.

Wisdom is a good thing to combine with advice... IMHO

[think.reciprocity]

Originally Posted by tasmtairy

The original poster talked about amnesia from taking ambien. I have been on ambien for a very long time with no consequences. I take 10 mg generic at night. I do not have insurance so the generic is what I can afford. With ins. I took Lunesta and Ambien CR, not at the same time, of course with no consequences.

Where is Think? I miss her.

HERE I AM!!!

How are you? I have rather missed being around here & the connections I made!

Ambien / Sleep (or Sleeplessness) Update:

Since 2002, after two car accidents, I have almost continually taken one sleep med or another - Ambien (5mg, 10mg, then what is it 12mg CR?, then back to 10mg generic) being the most successful & the one I have taken the longest.

In April I began acupuncture (have had it before but could not afford to continue it - I now have a special healthcare grant sorta thing that allows me to pay for it outta these funds - a real blessing!) again ---> for now, three times per week.

*** I must note that all acupuncture is NOT the same. Some traditional healthcare insurance will pay for it through a regular western medicine doctor - these physicians have (usually) 10 hours of training at most & are only trained to do some simple basic points that are a catch-all for everything & everyone. If you are going to do acupuncture for whatever ails you - be certain you research & only go to someone who is extensively trained in Oriental/Chinese Medicine - traditional training. The practioner should be doing an extensive history on you, checking your pulse, & looking at your tongue - all key basic elements to authentic Chinese medicine. You go to someone not properly trained & you will likely see little to no results. ***

I have not taken Ambien or any sleep med NOT EVEN ONCE since my first acupunture treatment. I do still struggle with laying down to go to sleep - I seem to have some deep rooted issue with just allowing myself to lay down.

But, once I lay down the racing thoughts & anxiety are no longer there & I am able to fall asleep relatively soon.

I used to struggle with being a light sleeper & having anything wake me up - therefore I would not have "restful" sleep. For a little while I was still struggling with needing a large amount of sleep. My "Zen Healer" (which is what I call him) has worked on this & adapted treatment. I have now gone almost 2 weeks with a huge reduction in the amount of sleep I need each day.

Lack of "wakefulness" in the a.m. was my struggle. I now seem to be at about 6 -7 hours of sleep - rather than my life long 10 - 12 hours of sleep needed.

The acupuncture has worked rather quickly on some things & is still very much a "work in progress" on other areas.

I suffer from chronic severe pain - including sever migraines & have a ready supply of Oxycodone & Valium on hand. Other than for this sever spasm/knot in my one shoulder that will lead to a killer migraine - I have not taken any pain meds since starting acupuncture treatement either. Although I will confess that I have never been someone who takes pain meds frequently or regularly.

My desire is to eventually reduce my acupuncture treatments & at some point only use it to sorta reboost the foundation that we've layed for my healing.

I have had lifelong sleep issues that just became out of control after my car accidents. I do not ever recall a time in my life when I was able to lay down for sleep (even though there's still the struggle to actually lay down) without my head racing or "ruminating" (as the doc says) obsessively. There may still be ups & downs but this is clearly a breakthrough & I would suggest to any of you who is open & receptive & able to find a practioner in your area to give acupuncture a try!!

Love & Light...

The Thinky Think.R

[tasmtairy]

OMG I am so glad to see you. I am trying alternative therapies for insomnia or inability to fall asleep. I am using essential oils and other things! Best to you thinky think, I think about you often.
Still on Ambien 10mg and xanax if needed. No amnesia though. Gotta stick to the original post.

[think.reciprocity]

Originally Posted by tasmtairy

OMG I am so glad to see you. I am trying alternative therapies for insomnia or inability to fall asleep. I am using essential oils and other things! Best to you thinky think, I think about you often.
Still on Ambien 10mg and xanax if needed. No amnesia though. Gotta stick to the original post.

I still have Valium (for migraine and/or pain), Oxycodone (migraine and/or pain), & Xanax (for anxiety/panick) - but virtually never use the pain meds & find myself needing the Xanax less & less - but anxiety is also clearly still "there" - and almost certainly the root of my inability to lay my butt down to sleep for HOURS - even when I am exhausted!

I am also taking a Bach Flower Remedy concoction for some related issues. I always have severe side effects from western meds so alternative medicine was a "no-brainer" for me.

What's this "thread ender thread" you spoke of? Send me a link!

Be well... thinky

[Aptor hours]

Originally Posted by yauna

It is documented that about 1% of ambien users experience some sort of amnesia. Unfortunately, I am one of them. I take a high dose of 20mg a night. I cannot sleep without it. I do not recall any events after it has taken effect which occurs within about 20 minutes of taking it. I have done everything from taking my kids for walks to going car shopping without any memory of actually doing it. It's scary. If this happens to you, I would suggest not taking it unless there is someone who can stay with you and make sure you do not do anything dangerous.

I know this is old but 20mg is twice what you should be taking so this is a huge problem. Anybody taking this much needs to speak with their doctor and adjust their dose you are probably going to see side effects at this dosage.

[Aptor hours]

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...

Could this person be thinking of Lunesta that comes in 3mg. I am not sure how how can really get 3mg by cutting up a 5mg or a 10mg tablet. On a side not the controlled release comes in 6.5mg (I think) and 12.5mg these should never ever be cut!