witchywoman Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 My pdoc gave me some Ambien samples because I've been having some trouble sleeping. I'm afraid to take it though, because of reading about people hallucinating, and with my anxiety, I can't do that. I feel I will need something to help me sleep tonight, and would like to hear some positive experiences with Ambien. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revlow Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 I haven't had problems with it. Sometimes vivid dreams, but nothing unpleasant. I may not have had as much experience as others here; I've only taken it on rare occasions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
checkerboards Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 The worst experience I've had with Ambien is simply not getting to sleep (which is fixed by taking some more). I've never had problems with hallucinations or anything, though like revlow I've had some really vivid dreams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clumsycrawling Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 Ambien has been good for me. I've been taking it prn for about 5 years now, maybe a couple times a week. I've been known to say some weird things when I hang around for too long after I've taken it, but if I got to bed within 45 minutes of taking it, I'm fine. I haven't noticed any effect on my dreams. And if I get 7 or 8 hours of sleep after taking it, no grogginess. Good luck with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igloo Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 It worked great for me for a while - some vivid dreams but nothing wierd. I went to bed within 1/2 hour of taking it after reading some posts. I was never groggy after 7-8 hours in bed. It quit working so well after I became less sleep deprived. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revlow Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 Ah, what clumsycrawling just said reminded me of something. I found that if I didn't take advantage of the window of time when I was groggy enough to go to sleep (usually about 15-20 mins. after I'd taken it), well then forget it...I wasn't able to go to sleep. Might just be me. But I would suggest taking it when you know you're ready to go to sleep, and don't do what I did in thinking, oh gee...I'll just watch a little more of Craig Ferguson, and so forth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clumsycrawling Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 Holy crap, revlow, if you're up late enough to watch Craig Ferguson, how much sleep were you planning to get -- 4-5 hours?! Ya crazy biscuit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revlow Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 LOL. Well, not having a job helps? (Not really...I find poverty is really quite disturbing to one's sleep pattern.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loon-A-TiK Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 I've taken Ambien as an inpatient (along with all the other crap they gave me, like other benzos), and I slept like a baby. I woke up in the AM full of energy and not at all tired or groggy. It is a benzo- just think of it that way. I've had vivid dreams with it, but I also have vivid dreams from Seroquel. I'd give it a go! Great med! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witchywoman Posted December 7, 2005 Author Share Posted December 7, 2005 Thank you everyone for the reassurances. Im getting ready to lay down now (I've been up since 2am, couldn't sleep), so when Im done looking here, Im going to pop an Ambien and lay down. Hopefully, I'll feel good in the morning. Thanks again everyone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine Posted December 7, 2005 Share Posted December 7, 2005 First off, it's not a benzo. It's a non-benzo hypnotic. The stories you've heard about people hallucinating are mostly due to abuse - as in taking more than the recommended dose or forcing yourself to stay awake. The stuff will hit fast (for me it's 15-20 minutes). You've got a small window of opportunity to fall asleep once it takes effect (half hour or so). If after you take it you go directly to bed (no passing go), you should be fine. I've been on it for almost three years and have only mildly hallucinated once and that's because I accidently took it with Xanax. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerj1 Posted December 26, 2005 Share Posted December 26, 2005 My only issue with Ambien, as is the case with other sleep aids, is the rebound insomnia. If you take it for any period of time going to sleep without it is difficult. This can be avoided by tapering off Ambien to the point where you take a fraction of a pill. I'm currently taking half of a 25mg Seroquel to get to sleep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florida Posted January 5, 2006 Share Posted January 5, 2006 I haven't read the whole thread, so I hope I'm not repeating anything already said. I've taken Ambien off and on for 3 years. The very first night I took it, I freaked out a bit because my roomie suddenly looked "different", and things looked like they were moving. I never experienced that again, although if I took it when I wasn't in bed and ready to sleep, I did feel slightly drunk sometimes. Bottom line: take it when you're in your jammies and tucked into bed, and you shouldn't have memory problems or behave oddly. BTW, it's been a great med for me. Never any grogginess, and it helped me stay asleep all night. I only take it 2-3 nights a week, and have never had any dependency issues with it. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dweii Posted January 13, 2006 Share Posted January 13, 2006 As long as you go to bed right after taking Ambien you should be fine. The real problems come when you stay up talking on the phone for hours and can't remember it the next day. (Yep, that would be me). Other than that I have very good experiences with Ambien. Knocks me out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GroovyGwen Posted January 13, 2006 Share Posted January 13, 2006 Yeah, I took it for sleep, but also to get all wonky. Like Helena said, if you stay up you can get all trippy and forget stuff. So go to bed after you take it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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