ambien amnesia

[Selene-HOuston TX]

Can ambien come out in a urine analysis -when this substance is broken down in the smallest molecule as Propoxphen?

[Jane]

I was prescribed Ambien to help with jet lag on a trip to Africa. I took it to sleep on the long flight and all went well. Months later, forgetting that I had it in my purse, I accidentally took it thinking it was something else. It was 9 a.m. and I had to speak to a very large group at 9:25. I do not remember a thing I said. I've never had that happen to me and I hate it. Fortunately, I was able to see a DVD of the speech and it went well. I just don't remember any of it. I'm throwing the Ambien away!

[wow]

i have said so many things, had relative indifference about serious things, totally lost my inhibitions...mostly WRT shopping online. i started receiving packages in the mail...i remembered looking at them like "window shopping" but not actually purchasing them. i wouldn't do that because i know we couldn't pay for the amazingly ridiculous amounts of things i was receiving. so strange. i am grateful i have never done anything too life-threatening. you REALLY have to go to bed right away! if you're on it and awake, you'll lose all self-control and not even realize it. i wish i trusted another sleep aid, i am a horrible insomniac. i need sleep, but of course i don't want to do something dangerous. i wish i could figure out a healthy choice!

[Trish RN]

I, too, work 12 hour night shift as an ICU/ER nurse. If you have ever worked nights, you know how impossible it is for people to comprehend that day IS your "nighttime" and you need to sleep. I am a light sleeper, having raised three kids, so every noise wakes me. My neighbor loves to mow his lawn, everyday, I think! With lack of quality sleep due to interuptions and noises, even just light in the room, I felt I truly needed to get help. I asked my Dr. about Ambien, and he said he say no reason why I shouldn't be able to take during the day, if using it to go to sleep. I also use it when switching back to a day schedule on a time when I will have more that just a few days off.
So far, I have had no trouble when taking it after coming home from work in the morning. After I take it, I read the funnies and go straight to bed. My "problem" (my husband doesn't call it that) appears when I take a pill to go to sleep at night with my husband. I immediately turn into a "free spirit" in the sex department, so I can concur with a previous writers observation that it makes you lose you inhibitions. The next day, I have fleeting remembrances of this interlude, if you will, but there are many black holes in my memory. My husband is happy to fill in the blanks for me, much to my chagrin. I'd love to think he's making it all up, but I know that is not the case. Does anyone else know of similar effects? Oh, and one other time I took my dose, went out to check on my thoroughbred horse before turning in. My daughter came out of the house, and there I was, sitting on top of this huge beast in my pajamas, riding him around the backyard in his halter. My judgement must have also disappeared, as this horse is green and has never had anyone on his back without a saddle. He tolerated me, but a few more minutes may have found me flying through the air with the greatest of ease. Landing? Not so easy. My family finds all this comical, but not remembering what you have done an hour or a day before can make you nervous. I know: It happened to me in Korea after trying a drink called Soju. I remember having the drink, then walking home from the bar and throwing up in my trash can at the barracks. The next day everyone was laughing about what a great time we'd all had out together. I said I was sorry I had missed it. They informed me that I had missed nothing and had partied and danced all night. The pictures they had taken were what made me believe them. That was scary!! Thankfully I was with friends. Later I found out they make Soju with Foraldehyde. Maybe they make Ambien with it too. HHHMMMMMMM...

[Shannon RN]

[ recently flew back from Zurich to Los Angeles. Right after take-off, I took an ambien.
You should never take Ambiem EVER when you travel. It causes "travelers amnesia" it even specifies this in the directions. This can be very dangerous and even life threatning to you as a patient. Also, do NOT drink anything with it either, this only makes side-effects worse.

[Semi]

Comment to Sondra.

My husband got into a bit of trouble while taking ambien. He is sitting in prison right now. He was taking ambien when the incident happened...He is in prison for 3.5 years for something he did not do. I dont know how this site works really but I am currently collecting information for him. He doesnt remember anything that day/night. If you have any info for me that would be great.

Thanks

[Barbara]

I have just had the same experence. what class action did you find? This is a very bad drug.

Sondra wrote:

I have taken Ambien since 2001, after a weight-loss surgery, a pregnancy 3 months later, and then a hernia (which couldn't be operated on during the pregnancy). I was not sleeping at all due to the hernia and the WL surgery, so the doctor gave me Ambien. I have heard my husband make a few comments about me falling asleep downstairs, but I had no idea of the SEVERE affects it could have on me. I take 1/2 pill at night (due to my WLS, 1 pill is too much). If I wake up extremely early in the morning, I take the other 1/2 and have always woken up at a normal time with the rest of my family. On June 2, I woke up early, took the other 1/2, but my sister-in-law phoned and came over. I forgot that I took the Ambien, and didn't realize I didn't go to sleep. I don't know when she left or anything. After that, I changed into a swim suit and left my home with my 2 small children in the car (something I would never do---leave home in a swimsuit). I don't know the order of things, but I bought 5 passes to a a local community swim pool, I bought another swim pool to bring home (pump, cleaners, everything!), and I also bought wine (I don't drink ordinarily. It is like poison in my body since my WLS). I guess I opened the little bottles and drank as I drove. I think I hit a car somewhere, though no one reported it. I hit something else and finally wrecked my vehicle enough that I was sitting on the side of the road with my two little sons. My best friend came to help me (my husband had called me on the cell phone during my drive and he knew something was wrong, so he called my friend). When my friend got to me, the police were already there. I supposedly had a talk with a detective and assured him that I did not drink. I had been at our church all the day before, praying with my friend for our ministry there, and for our teenagers. I was handcuffed and taken to jail. I don't remember any of it except at one point understanding that a policeman was saying I hadn't cooperated with him, and I cried, because I didn't know I hadn't cooperated. I had to take a breathalizer test (which I failed). I hadn't drank very much, I don't think, but it takes very minimal with WLS; it goes straight to the bloodstream. I was given 3 citations. On June 29, I had to appear in court, and now my driving record shows that I have a OWI. I also had my driving license taken, but was able to apply for an Occupational license. I have huge fees for the citation (two of them were dismissed), and I must go on July 29 to be assessed by a mental health place with regard to my usaged of alcohol (which is 0%!). I have to pay $220 for that visit alone. All of this made me do searches online. A class action law suit against Ambien opened in March, and I joined it immediately. I am going to do everything I can to help myself, but also others. I truly, honestly, wholeheartedly do not remember any of the events of that day, except what was told to me, and what I found in my purse (the swim passes). I made no choice to drink in my right mind; it is against everything within me....especially with my two little guys in my car. Also, my doctor knows how I take the Ambien. I visited him since these events, and he just said "well, it's going to affect everyone differently." My children could be dead and I could be in prison....and I wouldn't even be able to remember any of it in my mind. I will NEVER touch Ambien again, and will save everyone I can from taking it. I am going to try to have a judicial review of my case because there is no mention of what took place on June 2 for me; it only looks like I am a drunk driver, which I can not bear to stand that remaining on my record. Please feel free to comment. Sondra

[barbiegirl]

I can attest to the memory loss. I have been on Ambien for 4 years now. I have gone out in my yard completely nude! Thank goodness it was at night. I have gotten on the computer and said some really scary things to people in a chat room. I don't remember doing it, but they all said that I was threatening them. I went through a spell to where I would take the Ambien and drive to Wal-Mart. My husband didn't realize I was taking it that early and didn't stop me. I woke up one morning to about 20 shopping bags from Wal-Mart. I had no recollection of gettin anything or even going there. I looked at my checkbook and had written a $280 hot check!
I'm really bad about sleep driving. Now that my husband knows I take it early, he'll watch me. It' sad that he has to babysit me when we have 4 kids to take care of. But, if I don't take it, I'll stay up for days at a time. That's not safe either. How do you stop the cycle?

[mama]

Wierd!

I thought I was going crazy wondering why I couldn't remember things I had done at night in the morning...here is my story:

I started to take Ambien a month ago prescribed by my psychologist to deal insomnia along with all of my other problems. I was first on Lunesta and that worked like a charm but my co-pay on it was almost $50 and there is no generic for it. So I asked him to switch me to something else, he said to go on Ambien, actually the generic equivalent. At first I was okay with it, but still waking up around 2 or 3 in the morning wide awake. Sometimes this still happens but other times I do sleep the whole night.

I haven't had any life threatening episodes but after reading the other posts I'm afraid I will eventually.

The other day I went to Target after work and bought stuff that we needed for the house (ie. soap refills, TP, etc.). That night I took Ambien and I usually stay up for another 1/2 hour before I am ready to go to bed. The next morning I got up and went to my car to get the bags out of the trunk and they weren't there, which really threw me for a loop, I thought my car got broken into. I came back inside and started looking around. Somehow the evening before I had brought everything in, refilled all of the soap pumps, changed the sponge on the dish brush, put the diapers and wipes in my son's room, etc. I had no idea how this happened and my husband was at a military school for 2 weeks. A few days later I thought I was having a nervous breakdown, crying at work, crying at night, fighting with everyone, ignoring both of my kids, and just feeling like I wanted to either abandon everyone or commit suicide. I made a frantic call to the Psych. and he never called me back (he still hasn't even though I told his stupid receptionist what was going on).

I got over the breakdown after 3 days. My husband came home yesterday and the shower head had broken off while he was gone. Later lastnight I had taken Ambien and was still up waiting to get tired. Apparently he fixed the shower and told me to check it out. I went into the bathroom with him and turned the water on while he showed me what he did. This morning I asked him if he took a shower lastnight (he was also mowing the grass lastnight) and he said yes. I asked if he noticed the water pressure because it was like taking a shower with a spray bottle...he looked at me all wierd and said he fixed it, showed it to me lastnight and had me turn on the water. I didn't believe him until I went into the bathroom and saw that the shower caddy was on the faucet knob - then it was like a wierd flashback remembering only where the shower caddy was.

ALSO this morning I asked him if he saw the new little picnic table I got while he was gone, he said I showed it to him and asked him the same exact think lastnight. Now he wants me to call my Psych first thing Monday morning and have the prescription changed.

I had surgery at the end of May and after they gave me the anesthesia (sp?) and before I conked out I was talking all kinds of crap to my husband about how much he loves me, how I would die for him, telling him that I love him more than anything in the world, etc.(which I never would have said to him and wouldn't say it now because we are having problems). It was so embarrasing when he told me about it after I was woken up. That's exactly what this medication is like!!

It's just so strange that this medication makes you forget everything you say and do after you take it. I'm just glad I'm not alone in this.

[Wynette]

Ok, reading some of these I'd have to say you people need to read the directions and TAKE AS DIRECTED.. you should never take this medicince "During the Day". that's just plain stupid I've taken it for about a yr but only as needed. Maybe twice a wk. and have taken 1/2 and that helped.

I have called my kids but those were times when i did'nt go right to bed.

it's only dangerous and addictive if you misue it.

so dont

[Marquita]

I just returned from the hospital. I had taken 10 mg of Ambien and laid down on the couch to go to sleep. I woke up in the hospital. Apparently I had gotten in my car and driven somewhere (?). I got into an accident. I've heard different stories about what happened. One,that I hit a bunch of shopping carts, another that I hit a car. I haven't gotten any info from the police yet and am waiting for the fire dept. to call. I don't know where my car is, whether I hurt someone or anything else about it. I simply laid down and then woke up in the hospital. Fortunately I wasn't hurt. My alcohol blood level was perfect as was my tox screen. So I am waiting to find out if my car was towed or where it is. Also what kind of damage I did to it. I never want to feel like that again. I lost hours of time and had no restraints on what I did. It scares the hell out of me and I'm still not sure whether I hurt anyone or not. DON'T take it. I took it for 1 1/2 years and this is the first time it happened.
Oh, and by the way...I took it as directed and I'm not stupid (to Wynette).

[PBH]

WOW. Im so glad Im not going crazy. I had a car accident that I can't even remember. There was a dent in my car that I was complaining about when my Mother informed me that I had "borrowed" $1000. from her to repair the dent.I also woke up one morning to find ALL of the furniture in my house had been re-arringed. I was freaked out. I wanted to call the police because of it. I kept asking family and friends if they knew who was leaving pies in my kitchen. I hate to bake. I still can't beleive the things I did under the "influence of Ambien" The naked cleaning binges amused my neighbors. The eating binges turned into "work out" binges and I lost 15 lbs. and have a better body then when I was 17 years old. Every day I wake up I have a new screen saver. I have always had problems sleeping. This seemed to work like a charm, but now Im scared.

[pam in ft myers]

This is for my husband i too have had amnesia on what i have eaten after taking an ambien,but i have just left the hospital .My husband us in ambien,celexa,and wellbutrin as well as vasotec. He had 2-3 glases of wine and took ambien 2 most likely but i know him after he awakens at 3am he takes 2-3 more, I found him in the morning semi comatose,unable to speak bloode pressure practically gone EMS arrived and he was admitted ,he has no recollection of any of this .I need to know how to join the class action again this bad drug,my husband will never get insurance after this event. HELP

[Justin]

I took ambien and ended up totalling my new car in a damn ditch! Thank god I didn't get a DUI or go to jail I dunno how I avoided that. I love Ambien, but it always makes me do things I do not remember!! Like call people, or go drive to the store in the middle of the night for no reason!! I think its very dangerous so i'm trying to to take it anymore, I can see that its very addicting also.

[Brandon]

I need advice desperately. 2 weeks ago I took 10mg of Ambien as I have for a couple of years now. I have never had a strong reaction, maybe a euphoric feeling before I nod off. This particular night I remember taking the Ambien, then the next recollection was being fingerprinted. I had wandered over to the local grocery store and was apparently eating food off the shelves, and putting random items I didn't even need in my pockets. Not even hiding them I was told, they were protruding from my pockets. I was charged with retail theft and intoxication. No alcohol involved. What are my options here, does anybody have advice. I do not have the money for a lawyer, and I have no recollection of the incident. Luckily I did not drive, I walked. Could somebody point me in the right direction as how to handle this, I am very scared right now. My court date is not for 6 weeks, 6 weeks of fear of the unknown.

[Sandie]

barbiegirl wrote:

I can attest to the memory loss. I have been on Ambien for 4 years now. I have gone out in my yard completely nude! Thank goodness it was at night. I have gotten on the computer and said some really scary things to people in a chat room. I don't remember doing it, but they all said that I was threatening them. I went through a spell to where I would take the Ambien and drive to Wal-Mart. My husband didn't realize I was taking it that early and didn't stop me. I woke up one morning to about 20 shopping bags from Wal-Mart. I had no recollection of gettin anything or even going there. I looked at my checkbook and had written a $280 hot check!
I'm really bad about sleep driving. Now that my husband knows I take it early, he'll watch me. It' sad that he has to babysit me when we have 4 kids to take care of. But, if I don't take it, I'll stay up for days at a time. That's not safe either. How do you stop the cycle?

I would love to know the same thing. I can go days without sleeping if I don't take anything. The other night at work I reached for a bottle of pain reliever and accidently took an ambien. I woke up the next morning with no recollection of even driving home. My boss thought I was "high" and I was fired.

[Carol]

I've been taking Ambien CR nightly for about two years. On various occasions I woke up the next morning to evidence of eating cookies, popcorn, ice cream, etc., with no memory of doing so. I've received a confirmation email of ordering $80 worth of books online that I don't remember. I've sent emails I have no recollection of. This morning I woke up to a very angry husband. It seems my family smelled something burning in the oven. For some reason after taking the Ambien CR, I drank a rum and coke and baked muffins, setting the oven bake time for seven hours (I guess it was supposed to be seven minutes). I would never drink when taking medication!! Luckily he woke up before the muffins burst into flames. I was passed out. I could have burned the house down and killed all of us. I feel horrible. Needless to say, he's extremely upset and I don't remember any of it.

[Sleepless in Seattle]

My Ambien stories! They're scary no doubt, I still remember how freaked out I was the first time I had a sleep eating incident. I had recently moved into 100+ year old loft. Love the place but it was noisy (street noise, trains, etc.) I always have had sleeping issues and my doc gave me 12.5mg CR. to help. I had just returned from the grocery store and thought oh...while I'm unpacking the groceries I should take the pill so I'm ready to sleep after I unpack. Well I remember unpacking the milk but that's it. The next morning I woke up saw the mess of what looked like a dinner party the day after and immediately called a friend and proceeded in telling him my new historic old loft must have ghosts. I was hysterical, my heart racing. My friend having a medical background and some experience calmed me down and explained what was my first ever Ambien episode. I have been taking the medication for 2 years now and while I am still amazed by some of the things I do I'm less freaked out. Just this morning I awoke to a half-packed suitcase sitting out. Bathing suit, camera, even passport that I must have gone through some effort to pull out. When I saw the bag it stopped me in my tracks since I had smiled just seconds before remembering I had a wonderful dream of being on a beach vacation! Guess I must have got up and decided to make it happen! I have countless others, mostly harmless but some bad email, internet stuff too. I think if I had any advice for people taking it it would be to hide your computer, car keys and put a lock on the fridge...and with that you should be safe and able to get a laugh after a good night's sleep :) Goodnight :)

[Freddie]

"I think if I had any advice for people taking it it would be to hide your computer, car keys and put a lock on the fridge...and with that you should be safe and able to get "....

I second that, eating binges, ordering items off ebay, infomercials, making phone calls and having conversations are on my list on Ambiem stories. I have found that it's better not to take it until I'm actually ready to get in the bed also. I took one before getting in the shower with the intentions of getting in the bed when I got out. I remember getting out and starting to dry off with my towel and that's it. I'm told I put on my pajamas and went into the great room and had a long conversation with my son-in-law who had arrived while I was in the shower. My daughter actually thought we were bonding, but I have no knowledge of ever leaving the bathroom let alone putting on pj's.

[Dusty]

I awoke this morning after taking 10mg of Ambien last night to help me sleep to find this webpage pulled up on my MacBook with a text file opened. In the text file I proceeded to type quite possibly the dumbest stuff I'd ever read, let alone anything I'd ever written. I take Ambien on and off when I really feel like I need it (only 3 times a month usually). I'd like to share the crazy things this website inspired me to write last night:

"i would like to tell you guys that ambien is like one of those machines in movies that let you slow down the film. sure everything is normal speed around you but you see it as awaawwawawawawaaaahhhhhh i don't know how you talk it but it is smooth and slick. there are no crazy movements . right now a man is giving lolly pops to a boy at walmart. my shirt feels cold on my face. and i hear the tang tangs in the background. one is isying "the one that I love" i think i hear the airplanes from the redbull race occurring right over my head. its not minotaur so there's no shitty truck to look at. but i'd reckon it might be useful to climb up on it to see that shit in action. that's what they do in nsacar, they climb up on their trailers and have good time there.. ow! dale junior, son of a legend. we need some charlie daniels girls say woo woo, bass player play booooom boom boom booooom and that was how our evening went down… that was the progress of events"