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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by PaulB on June 29, 2001, at 18:55:33
I have read quite a lot around the net and in a magazine article about the problem of memory loss associated with Ambien. It seems to unnerve a lot of people. I take this medicine to help me sleep and I find it unnerving too as I have done things on the drug that I had NO recollection of AT ALL after. Such incidents as waking up in the morning to find something is different, conversations that cannot be recalled and even more worrying cases i.e. a teenage boy who under the influence of ambien ran up a $650 phone bill on sex lines are not uncommon.
For me with Ambien it is difficult to lower the dose and still get the desired effect(20mg works, 10mg+15mg-1+1/2tab) dont, and thats that. What else can you do other than stop taking the drug. Any similar experiences here, tips to tackle these problems would be interesting to here?
Part of the problem lies, I think, with the fact that Ambien has does not bring about sleep naturally like Melatonin therefore you may well get up in the night and do stuff you may not remember later.
The only thing I could think of is to make sure someone you trust is present, your partner probably being the most obvious person, but other ways people deal with this problem I would like to know.
Posted by terra miller on June 29, 2001, at 21:44:47
In reply to Ambien+ memory loss, posted by PaulB on June 29, 2001, at 18:55:33
I'm not sure how helpful this will be. I don't take ambien every night. Initially I was put on it for two straight weeks because I wasn't sleeping and I needed to rework my inner sleep clock (it worked). Since then I take it when I need it.
I notice that the more nights in a row I take it, the more likely the shortterm memory loss is. Also, the higher the dose the more likely as well. I can do fine at 10mg, but I've had to take 15mg a few times.
One suggestion I have, which I follow myself, is to go directly to bed once you take the ambien. Don't go anywhere else! Don't putter around. Go directly to bed. Otherwise, you can end up all over the house, on the computer, on the phone, who knows where and you think you are fine at the time but you are NOT. You wake up in the morning and then you begin to discover "what you did last night." If I go directly to bed, I don't have shortterm memory loss because I've been sleeping.
That's what I recommend anyway. Really. Go straight to bed. -Terra
Posted by Elizabeth on June 29, 2001, at 22:16:03
In reply to Ambien+ memory loss, posted by PaulB on June 29, 2001, at 18:55:33
> I have read quite a lot around the net and in a magazine article about the problem of memory loss associated with Ambien.
Ambien is getting the Halcion Treatment in the popular press? Jeez. What mag, and what did they say?
I need 20 mg too. It's common for the effective dose to cause weird behaviour if you don't go to sleep after taking it (people who take 10 or 5 mg have weird experiences too). Ideally you should take it on an empty stomach (so it will work fast) -- have dinner early, not right before bed -- and then go straight to bed (you should have just enough time to brush your teeth, set your alarm clock, etc.). If you have a conversation with someone, it should be someone you trust and you should let them know you just took a sleeping pill (otherwise you might get yourself into an awkward situation, such as having a sexual encounter you'll regret in the morning!). Don't make any long distance (or, heaven forbid, 1-900) phone calls (going on the internet is probably a bad idea too). Don't try to have a snack -- you might end up spilling something, or even burning yourself if you try to cook. Don't leave your house. DO NOT, under any circumstances, try to drive! Don't take it if you've been drinking or taking other recreational CNS depressants (barbiturates, GHB, etc.).
> Part of the problem lies, I think, with the fact that Ambien has does not bring about sleep naturally like Melatonin therefore you may well get up in the night and do stuff you may not remember later.
If you're taking an effective dose, you shouldn't be waking up until it's worn off. If all it does is get you to sleep, you might need to supplement it (e.g., with trazodone, a sedating tricyclic like doxepin or imipramine, or a longish-acting benzo like Klonopin or Tranxene).
Anyway, I think this "natural sleep" thing is kind of a silly idea. Being "all-natural" is trendy these days, with all the "herbal food supplements" and such. People have all sorts of strange experiences during "natural" sleep -- sleep is just plain weird. (Brain wave measurements have even shown that people often go into what appears to be Stage IV -- "deep" -- sleep while they're driving.) Ambien doesn't alter the architecture and chemistry of sleep to anywhere near the extent that benzos, tricyclics, and especially barbiturates do, nor does it knock you out like a neuroleptic (I tried just 10 mg of Mellaril once when nothing else was working -- that was a mistake!).
(BTW, melatonin didn't bring on "natural" sleep for me at all. The whole time I was taking it, I slept even worse than I had been without it.)
-elizabeth
Posted by Sunnely on June 29, 2001, at 23:16:55
In reply to Ambien+ memory loss, posted by PaulB on June 29, 2001, at 18:55:33
A sort of "morning-after amnesia" cases have been reported in the literature with the use of zolpidem (Ambien).
Aside from the above, there have been several case reports of perceptual disturbances and psychosis with the use of Ambien. A case of Ambien-induced delirium was also reported in the literature.
It appears that women may be at an increased risk for mental status changes related to use of Ambien. This may be explained by the fact that women achieve an almost 50% higher blood level of Ambien compared with men with a given dose.
FYI, Ambien is metabolized by the liver enzyme CYP3A4. Therefore, taking Ambien with another drug that markedly inhibits the action of this liver enzyme (e.g., Serzone, Erythromycin, Tagamet, some of the protease inhibitor for HIV, and even grapefruit juice) could raise the blood level of Ambien, leading to an exaggerated pharmacological effects.
*******************************
> I have read quite a lot around the net and in a magazine article about the problem of memory loss associated with Ambien. It seems to unnerve a lot of people. I take this medicine to help me sleep and I find it unnerving too as I have done things on the drug that I had NO recollection of AT ALL after. Such incidents as waking up in the morning to find something is different, conversations that cannot be recalled and even more worrying cases i.e. a teenage boy who under the influence of ambien ran up a $650 phone bill on sex lines are not uncommon.
>
> For me with Ambien it is difficult to lower the dose and still get the desired effect(20mg works, 10mg+15mg-1+1/2tab) dont, and thats that. What else can you do other than stop taking the drug. Any similar experiences here, tips to tackle these problems would be interesting to here?
>
> Part of the problem lies, I think, with the fact that Ambien has does not bring about sleep naturally like Melatonin therefore you may well get up in the night and do stuff you may not remember later.
>
> The only thing I could think of is to make sure someone you trust is present, your partner probably being the most obvious person, but other ways people deal with this problem I would like to know.
Posted by PaulB on June 30, 2001, at 8:14:25
In reply to Re: Ambien+ memory loss » PaulB, posted by Elizabeth on June 29, 2001, at 22:16:03
> > I have read quite a lot around the net and in a magazine article about the problem of memory loss associated with Ambien.
>
> Ambien is getting the Halcion Treatment in the popular press? Jeez. What mag, and what did they say?
>
> I need 20 mg too. It's common for the effective dose to cause weird behaviour if you don't go to sleep after taking it (people who take 10 or 5 mg have weird experiences too). Ideally you should take it on an empty stomach (so it will work fast) -- have dinner early, not right before bed -- and then go straight to bed (you should have just enough time to brush your teeth, set your alarm clock, etc.). If you have a conversation with someone, it should be someone you trust and you should let them know you just took a sleeping pill (otherwise you might get yourself into an awkward situation, such as having a sexual encounter you'll regret in the morning!). Don't make any long distance (or, heaven forbid, 1-900) phone calls (going on the internet is probably a bad idea too). Don't try to have a snack -- you might end up spilling something, or even burning yourself if you try to cook. Don't leave your house. DO NOT, under any circumstances, try to drive! Don't take it if you've been drinking or taking other recreational CNS depressants (barbiturates, GHB, etc.).
>
> > Part of the problem lies, I think, with the fact that Ambien has does not bring about sleep naturally like Melatonin therefore you may well get up in the night and do stuff you may not remember later.
>
> If you're taking an effective dose, you shouldn't be waking up until it's worn off. If all it does is get you to sleep, you might need to supplement it (e.g., with trazodone, a sedating tricyclic like doxepin or imipramine, or a longish-acting benzo like Klonopin or Tranxene).
>
> Anyway, I think this "natural sleep" thing is kind of a silly idea. Being "all-natural" is trendy these days, with all the "herbal food supplements" and such. People have all sorts of strange experiences during "natural" sleep -- sleep is just plain weird. (Brain wave measurements have even shown that people often go into what appears to be Stage IV -- "deep" -- sleep while they're driving.) Ambien doesn't alter the architecture and chemistry of sleep to anywhere near the extent that benzos, tricyclics, and especially barbiturates do, nor does it knock you out like a neuroleptic (I tried just 10 mg of Mellaril once when nothing else was working -- that was a mistake!).
>
> (BTW, melatonin didn't bring on "natural" sleep for me at all. The whole time I was taking it, I slept even worse than I had been without it.)
>
> -elizabethI cannot remember the name of the magazine with that particular article. Perhaps I could try Zaleplan.
Posted by Autumn Despotis on June 30, 2001, at 15:14:52
In reply to Ambien+ memory loss, posted by PaulB on June 29, 2001, at 18:55:33
Any similar experiences here, tips to tackle these problems would be interesting to here?
>
>I had a horrifying experience with Ambien. Actually it wasn't horrifying for me, I don't remember a damn thing, my husband was certainly distraught, though! I had just started on Ambien, I couldn't get to sleep at all, so I stayed awake all night. Around 7 am I decided to take another pill to try to sleep again. That was my major mistake. After that I apparently forgot that I had taken a pill and took more. I ended up taking about 6 of them within the space of 2 hours. I also took an entire package of dramamine. Don't ask, I don't know why. My husband said I was running around the house looking for more pills to take. If he hadn't been home with me, I wouldn't be typing this right now! He ended up throwing me in the shower to keep me awake. He probably should have called 911 but they would have considered it a suicide attempt and locked me up for a while. That would suck. Either way, I don't have a solution for you, just be careful while taking this drug. I quit taking it, it's not worth the trouble I put my family through.
Posted by PaulB on June 30, 2001, at 15:46:36
In reply to Re: Ambien+ memory loss, posted by Autumn Despotis on June 30, 2001, at 15:14:52
> Any similar experiences here, tips to tackle these problems would be interesting to here?
> >
> >I had a horrifying experience with Ambien. Actually it wasn't horrifying for me, I don't remember a damn thing, my husband was certainly distraught, though! I had just started on Ambien, I couldn't get to sleep at all, so I stayed awake all night. Around 7 am I decided to take another pill to try to sleep again. That was my major mistake. After that I apparently forgot that I had taken a pill and took more. I ended up taking about 6 of them within the space of 2 hours. I also took an entire package of dramamine. Don't ask, I don't know why. My husband said I was running around the house looking for more pills to take. If he hadn't been home with me, I wouldn't be typing this right now! He ended up throwing me in the shower to keep me awake. He probably should have called 911 but they would have considered it a suicide attempt and locked me up for a while. That would suck. Either way, I don't have a solution for you, just be careful while taking this drug. I quit taking it, it's not worth the trouble I put my family through.You prove my point. It can be a dangerous medicine. Not that similar incidents with the benzodiazepines dont occur but when you think about Ambien, one of its clinical advantages is that tolerance to its hypnotic and sedative effect are not supposed to occur. Ambien clinical advantage may well be its clinical disadvantage. I got off lightly, but I bet there are some horror stories out there..........Just imagine, people wont be suing for addiction problems with downers anymore but dangerous behaviour under the influence of sleeping pills Oh lordy
Posted by susan C on June 30, 2001, at 22:24:31
In reply to Re: Ambien+ memory loss, posted by Autumn Despotis on June 30, 2001, at 15:14:52
> My husband said I was running around the house ...
I know this subject is very serious, but, autumn, I have to share your message made me laugh. I guess it struck me as so funny because, I too, take ambien and after I take it I plan on 1. not making any sense at all when I talk, 2. being in bed ASAP. The other morning when my husband got up at 4 (as he usually does) he said I sat up and said, "whose there, whose there???". But, I now sleep at night, which I havent done in a long time. I feel we all make choices with the meds we take between the illness and the side effects. And it seems like every body is different in their reactions and I know I depend on my pdoc for his knowledge and judgement.
Posted by Autumn Despotis on July 1, 2001, at 2:04:07
In reply to Re: Ambien+ memory loss, posted by susan C on June 30, 2001, at 22:24:31
Fear not, it does sound a bit funny to me, as well! It doesn't even seem like it happened to me in the first place! I had taken Ambien a few months before my little escapade, but had forgotten that it didn't really work for me. My husband failed to remind me of this until after I came down from the Ambien carousel in the sky. I cannot believe that 6 of them didn't make me sleep. It's amazing. I know drugs don't work in the same way for everyone, and this is certainly proof. I'm glad it works for you! BTW, the funniest part of the ordeal was this, I had applied for a job at a pharmacy, of all places, and had gotten hired as the assistant manager. The manager called during my Ambien haze, and my husband was stupid enough to hand me the telephone. I actually carried on some sort of conversation with the guy, God only knows what either of us said! Either way, I never called him back, and he did the same. I avoid Walgreen's now, it's too embarrassing, but a bit funny!
Posted by susan C on July 5, 2001, at 19:54:23
In reply to Re: Ambien+ memory loss » susan C, posted by Autumn Despotis on July 1, 2001, at 2:04:07
> Thanks for the response. It is interesting that 6 didn't do anything (other than disconnect you). I will DEFINATELY remember your experience, lol. As a result of your comments I have done some hunting on the net and snagged additional comments of humorous memory lose incidents. This is serious business, this illlness of ours, and at the same time, we need to remember not to be too serious about it.
Fear not, it does sound a bit funny to me, as well! It doesn't even seem like it happened to me in the first place! I had taken Ambien a few months before my little escapade, but had forgotten that it didn't really work for me. My husband failed to remind me of this until after I came down from the Ambien carousel in the sky. I cannot believe that 6 of them didn't make me sleep. It's amazing. I know drugs don't work in the same way for everyone, and this is certainly proof. I'm glad it works for you! BTW, the funniest part of the ordeal was this, I had applied for a job at a pharmacy, of all places, and had gotten hired as the assistant manager. The manager called during my Ambien haze, and my husband was stupid enough to hand me the telephone. I actually carried on some sort of conversation with the guy, God only knows what either of us said! Either way, I never called him back, and he did the same. I avoid Walgreen's now, it's too embarrassing, but a bit funny!
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