Does Ambien pose a risk for risky behavior?
Few things are as precious to overall health and wellness than getting a good night’s sleep, but is turning to sleeping pills worth the risk?
Ambien, and its generic counterpart Zolpidem, are linked to a variety of nighttime activities patients have no memory of, including preparing food in the kitchen, making phone calls, driving and even having sex, according to the Federal Drug Administration.
Most patients prescribed drugs like Ambien use them without reporting negative side effects, but there are still concerns, says Dr. Yelena Tumashova, a sleep medicine specialist at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Ill.
Doctors generally are reluctant to prescribe sleeping pills due to risk of addiction and side effects, she says.
For those who are suffering from long-term sleeplessness, consider visiting a sleep specialist, which may require a referral based on individual insurance plans. Some root causes of sleep problems, such as sleep apnea, can be also pre-screened with online questionnaires.
Sleeping medicine is intended for short-term use, meaning less than two weeks, and carries risks of addiction when used longer, she says.
“Although Ambien is newer and safer than older sleeping pills, there are still concerns,” Dr. Tumashova says.
As with all prescription sleep medicine, mixing different prescriptions, adding alcohol or taking more than prescribed will impact how the drug affects your brain, increasing the chances of side effects, she says.
“Our brains are highly complicated organs, and can react in unfamiliar, sometimes bizarre, ways when exposed to cocktails of medication and alcohol added to doctor-prescribed medicine,” Dr. Tumashova says.
Additionally, elderly and female patients prescribed sleep drugs generally require more physician monitoring than males and are prescribed a lower dose due to research indicating that the drug takes longer to wear off, which can lead to accidental impaired driving to work, Dr. Tumashova says.
Those suffering from insomnia should try turning to natural options first, rather than medication.
For the occasional sleepless night, Dr. Tumashova recommends switching off all TVs, computers, phones and tablets, taking a warm shower or drinking herbal tea with chamomile, valerian root or passion flower one hour before the intended bedtime.
Patients who are currently using prescription sleep medicine should talk to their doctor if they have questions, concerns or alarming symptoms, Dr. Tumashova says.
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health enews staff is a group of experienced writers from our Advocate Health Care and Aurora Health Care sites, which also includes freelance or intern writers.
The generic version of Ambien is so much weaker than the original. I’ve spoken to many people who agree. I quit taking it because it does not help me sleep in any way. This article does not explain anything that hasn’t been said countless times before & I think the only reason it has been recycled again. Is because of the recent story about Roseanne claiming Ambien causes her to write inappropriate tweet. All I can see is if that’s probably true , she want taking the generic version!
I was prescribed ambien for rls. It worked! On the evenings as my feet started to crawl, I’d take an ambien. Within 5 minutes of taking it, I’d go to sleep and exactly 8 hrs later I’d wake up. I was free of my restless legs for 3 years, the last 5 years, my doc has decided to put me on Parkinson meds instead. I’m currently on the highest dose of Mirapex and it’s not working. I generally go to bed around 9pm because my alarm goes off at 5 am. My rls has me absolutely exhausted and usually around 1 am I’m still awake. I never had any adverse effects from ambien, at this point I think my doc just doesn’t understand.
Making excuses for one’s behavior seems to be the “in” political comment. Rather than blaming medications or someone else, people need to take respomsibility for their own comments as adults. Tollerence can develop quickly for perscription sleep meds including Ambien whether its generic or not. These meds are also additive and designed to be taken for a short period of time. A genuine sleep problem should be evaluated by a preofssional and treated at the cause. Often antidepressant meds are in order and may correct the chemical imbalance which meds like Ambien do not. In the meantime, herbal meds are a much better temporary solution. There are many herbal meds to choose from at health food stores which are safe and not addicting. Using Benedryl is also a bad choice as it can leave you drowsy the next day.
I walked in my sleep taking Ambien. I saw people in my room at night.I fell and had black and blue arm.I don’t remember falling.I just got out of the Hospital,they told me to never take ambien again. They called ambulance because I was unresponsive
I have really bad insomnia, like every night after having sepsis and my doctor refuses to give me Ambien. I am 77, who cares if I get addicted, sepsis has shorten my life span.