Side Effects of Ambien

It seems that Ambien has become the sleeping pill of choice for people looking to relieve insomnia. It could be because they were one of the first to the marketplace, it could be due to all those clever advertisements and it could be because you even hear the name used in movies. For whatever reason, Ambien has been crowned the go-to prescription sleep aid. Since its presence is so pervasive, there is good reason to take some time and look at the side effects.

Typical Side Effects

The fact that the FDA lists any of the following as “typical” risks involved in taking a drug makes me a little worried. I know there are inherent risks with any medication but sometimes I wonder if the benefits really outweigh dealing with diarrhea, tiredness, headache, sore throat or nose, general weakness and dry mouth. These kinds of side effects happen often with Zolpidem (the generic form of Ambien) and a lot of other hypnotic drugs used to treat insomnia.

You Might Want to Have A Phone Handy

Along with the typical side effects, there are also side effects that, when encountered, should be treated immediately by your doctor. The first is any kind of allergic reaction. Allergies are hard to predict since every person reacts so differently to foreign substances. If you develop a rash, or have trouble breathing, you could be experiencing an allergic reaction and should seek immediate medical help. In addition to the risk of allergic reaction, some patients have experienced severe depression, mood changes and poor coordination. Those symptoms should also be treated immediately by a medical professional.

Memory Loss

Temporary memory loss of the events occurring immediately after taking a dose of Zolpidem is pretty common. The memory loss is permanent but it seems to wear off as soon as the effects of the drug do. I wouldn’t recommend engaging in any activity that would require you to be held accountable for your actions or what you say immediately after taking a dose. You might also consider turning your phone off after you take a dose and before you go to sleep, just in case mom calls. Also, if you are woken up while on a dose of Zolpidem you will likely experience memory loss of the events that take place after you are awoken. Of course you won’t remember being woken up so good luck with that one.

Amnesia

Although amnesia is characterized by memory loss, this side effect is different than the common brief period of memory loss experienced immediately after taking Ambien. Amnesia, as described by Drugs.com, is an extended period of time when you are lucid but have “trouble learning new information and forming new memories.” A small percentage of users experienced prolonged amnesia the day after taking Zolpidem.

Hallucinations

Any time you take something that messes with the brain you are going to run the risk of having hallucinations. They are an altered perception of reality and may lead to an altered memory. Many patients believed what they had dreamed while taking Ambien was in fact reality while others saw or heard things that were not there and formed memories to explain the event.

Final Thought

Side effects are the unintended consequences of taking a medication. Although not intended to have the undesirable effects listed here, Ambien use will likely lead to one or many of the problems in this article. If your doctor decides you need a prescription sleep aid, I’m not going to disagree with them, but make sure you know what you are getting yourself into.