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3.8 Overall Rating

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Most voted positive review

40 People found this comment helpful

I've been taking Ambien for about 5 yrs. for chronic insomnia and night terror/nightmares. It has been a lifesaver for me but it IS a tricky drug. Take it when you are actually ready to go to sleep and you are already IN BED. Don't get back up!!! or you will be walking around the house eating, having weird conversations with your significant other about things that you would probably not be talkin...

Most voted negative review

10 People found this comment helpful

Although it helps you fall asleep, it often stays in your system for greater than 8 hours. Per 60 minutes, it can impair cognition equivalent to being legally drunk. It was not safe to take on days that I was working.

Shared reviews and ratings

Contributor | 55-64 | Male | On medication for 10 years or more | Patient
12/15/2023
Condition: Difficulty Falling Asleep
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I’ve used Ambien off and on for many years as a sleep aid and it has always been very effective. I’ve never had any of the side effects described in the press media, social media or expressed by medical professionals, specifically, the infamous “sleep walking.” I’ve been married for the spans of using Ambien and my spouse would certainly be aware should any irrational behavior have occurred. Fast acting and results in a proper 7-8 hours of sleep. One personal significant advantage of the drug compared to a routine disadvantage of other sleep aids, prescribed or OTC, is no “hangover.” Follow the prescriptions instructions and certainly, only take the medication when going to bed. Read More Read Less

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Juanita | 55-64 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
11/10/2023
Condition: Insomnia with Middle of the Night Awakening and 4 Hours Sleep Time Remaining
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I sleep good and relax me .

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Anonymous | 13-18 | Male | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Caregiver
10/9/2023
Condition: Chronic Trouble Sleeping
Overall rating 3.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

If you are sensitive to medications steer clear of Ambien. While on it my son caused significant harm to his baby girl, permanently lost custody and served jail time. He had no memory of what occurred. I spoke with a police officer who said he had taken it before and for 2 hours had no recollection of what he did that morning on patrol. I have taken it and it just makes me sleepy. Depending on your sensitivity to Ambien, it could cause traumatic effects in your life.

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Anonymous | 65-74 | Male | On medication for less than 1 month | Caregiver
8/20/2023
Condition: Chronic Trouble Sleeping
Overall rating 1.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

My brother was prescribed this medication because he was having difficulty sleeping. Five days later he committed suicide by shooting himself. He had no history of depression and had never been suicidal in his life. He had a good life and a lot to live for. He was 68 years old.

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Anonymous | 65-74 | Female | On medication for 6 months to less than 1 year | Patient
6/28/2023
Condition: Chronic Trouble Sleeping
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Puts me to sleep

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Wendy | Female | On medication for 10 years or more |
4/23/2023
Condition: Difficulty Falling Asleep
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I have been on Ambien for 15 years, all of a sudden my doctor wants to stop taking this drug and try other forms of sleep aids. Ambien works like a charm. I have never ever had any side effects. I simply do not understand my provider, why try to fix what isn't broken.

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Kira | 45-54 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
4/19/2023
Condition: Difficulty Falling Asleep
Overall rating 1.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Ambien is on my DO NOT PRESCRIBE list and this why: I had gone to the grocery store and purchased a half gallon of ice cream, a blueberry pie and bag of teriyaki flavored rice cakes. The first I night I took just one dose (10 mg.) of what my M.D. had prescribed, when I woke up the next morning I found all the wrappings of these desserts in my trash bag. I have no recollection whatsoever of eating all of this. A week later, a UPS driver delivered a huge box. When I opened it I discovered it contained a full length velvet expensive black evening gown. I contacted the company and reported that it had been sent to me in error. The customer service rep told me someone in my household must have ordered it for me as a gift. I said, "My service dog is highly intelligent and trained as a scent dog. She could have scented out my credit card, but it is most improbable that she would have been able to use my phone." She checked their records and the order was placed at 2:33 a.m. I had no memory of making this call. I had to return the evening gown. In addition, the morning after taking just one dose of Ambien, when I checked my laptop I had received an email from my credit card company that my card had been shut down due to 'suspicious activity'. I had ordered nearly $4,000 worth of corgi merchandise from England including a corgi figurine with 14K gold and precious stones. I was mortified to contact my credit card company and have the charges removed. Thank goodness I did not get into my car and drive across the country. At least I do not own any weapons. Who knows what would have happened. Read More Read Less

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SusieQ | 55-64 | Female | On medication for 10 years or more | Patient
3/15/2023
Condition: Difficulty Falling Asleep
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I had a complete hysterectomy in 1999. Within a week not able to go to sleep, given restoril but it didnt help. Given Xanax, doxepin, antipsychotics, didnt put me to sleep but I did want to die. No sleep, i became almost psychotic and agoraphobic. 39 yrs old and i looked 80. I didnt care, I just wanted to sleep. A psychiatrist gave me ambien and thank God it worked. Used it for a year and then able to go to Tylenol pm. In 2004 a hurricane was coming to FL and my spouse walked out. Being an anxious person with no relatives, couldn’t sleep. Within a week of that back on ambien, took a while for it to help, along with counseling. I’ve been on it every night, 5mg, ever since 2004. I’m able to work, drive, socialize, appropriately. Ive never had any side effects. I stay in bed. I use lavender scents. Now my insurance BCBS, Caremark pharmacy, is refusing to pay for it. I’m trying to cut the 5mg in half (its a small tab) and use melatonin time release 10mg. On vacation this week, trying to reduce it on my own before its taken away completely (AMA) My prescriber says he will always write it for me, but I’m a nurse; I dont believe everything I’m told. I need to work to support myself, this situation is upping my anxiety. Read More Read Less

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Thomas Parker | 19-24 | Male | On medication for 6 months to less than 1 year |
2/25/2023
Condition: Other
Overall rating 4.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I have been taking ambien/zolpidem about 15 yrs with no problems. I cut a 10mg pill in half, sleep for 4 hrs, then take the other half. I’m at the age where you get up once in the night to go to the bathroom so this works out great

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610256 | 25-34 | Male | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years | Patient
2/21/2023
Condition: Chronic Trouble Sleeping
Overall rating 3.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I've been dealing with insomnia since I was a kid. I started Ambien the first time when I was 17, the 5mg dose. It was like a miracle after about 9 years of trying tons of different things, it was the only thing that made me sleep, I didn't have to overdose on, and didn't make me feel like crap the next day. But for me, having to take it every single night made me build a tolerance to it and it stopped working. I got upped to the 10mg and all hell broke loose. I was having full blown conversations with my mom that I could only vaguely remember. One time I woke up with candy wrappers all around me and again only vaguely remember eating all of them. I'm 100% sure if I didn't live with my parents, I would have tried to sleep-drive. I got taken off of it and tried a few things for a couple years but then just kinda suffered for a while before asking my doctor to put me back on it. Now almost 10 years after first starting Ambien, the 5mg dose does nothing for me. It makes my eyes feel tired and I feel like I'm in a fog but that's it. I'm too afraid to go up to 10mg (if my doc would even let me) because there's nothing stopping me from sleep-driving. Literally my worst fear is sleep-driving and end up killing someone. So yeah, it can either be a miracle sent from the heavens or not do a darn thing.Read More Read Less

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Aryka | 35-44 | Female | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years | Patient
1/31/2023
Condition: Chronic Trouble Sleeping
Overall rating 4.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I was prescribed ambien a number of years ago, I do start to feel really relaxed and tired and I can fall asleep but then I’m up during the night, I just have trouble staying asleep, which is so frustrating. I also get hungry and I snack while I’m half asleep. This medicine definitely makes you hungry. I just wish this medication was a little stronger so that I would be able to stay asleep during the night. I also have severe anxiety and depression that keeps me awake and keeps my mind racing. I’m currently working on that. Maybe when I get my other issues under control that would help my sleep situation. One awful thing about this medication is that If I am without it for one night, I will be awake all night, I have actually been awake for 4 or 5 days at a time with terrible insomnia. I won’t even be tired, it is brutal, so I am careful not to ever let me prescription run out. I wish I would have never started on this medicine, now I am totally dependent on it and it really doesn’t even work that well for me. Read More Read Less

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Michael | 55-64 | Male | On medication for 10 years or more | Patient
12/14/2022
Condition: Difficulty Falling Asleep
Overall rating 4.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I am a shift worker that needs to get good sleep. The first time I tried Ambien was in 2002 and it worked like a charm. That was for a medical reason. Then I became a shift worker and requested Ambien in 2013 and I have been using it since. 12/20222 now to date. I don’t take it as an every day sleep aid, just when I need to work and need to sleep. Back to back 12 hour shifts I need it between and it’s a needed sleep aid. It’s not giving me 8 hours of sleep now but it works for me as I have been depending on it. Read More Read Less

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Gail | 55-64 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
12/12/2022
Condition: Chronic Trouble Sleeping
Overall rating 4.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I have taken one 10mg it took hours like four hours before I went to sleep, I expected it to take 30-60 min. For me to feel sleepy, I will ask my doctor if I can take 10mg and half of one.

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Anonymous | 75 or over | Female | On medication for 10 years or more | Patient
10/5/2022
Condition: Chronic Trouble Sleeping
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I have been taking ambien/zolpidem about 15 yrs with no problems. I cut a 10mg pill in half, sleep for 4 hrs, then take the other half. I’m at the age where you get up once in the night to go to the bathroom so this works out great.

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Lee | 35-44 | Female | On medication for 5 to less than 10 years | Patient
9/12/2022
Condition: Difficulty Falling Asleep
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

This is the only drug I have found that makes me sleep long and fall asleep fast. It also works to calm me and my overly anxious brain better than any antidepressant or benzodiazepine on the market. I have been on Ambien for around 8 years. I take time release 12mg. I take it for 2-3 weeks then take a 2-3 week break so I get some non-drugged REM sleep. The REM sleep always gives me the most awful night terrors and I wake up feeling tired but I know its important to get some sleep off Ambien. I would definitely say its addictive in the way that the best night of sleep of your life is addictive!Read More Read Less

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Anonymous | 35-44 | Female | On medication for 10 years or more | Patient
9/9/2022
Condition: Chronic Trouble Sleeping
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Best sleep aid EVER! I fell asleep and stayed asleep all night! After several years of taking it my doc all of a sudden wanted to try other “safer” options for me and so far everything else sucks!

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Anonymous |
5/8/2022
Condition: Chronic Trouble Sleeping
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Stress free, It was a good ride

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Yay Ambien | 55-64 | Male | On medication for 5 to less than 10 years | Patient
5/2/2022
Condition: Difficulty Falling Asleep
Overall rating 2.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

AMBEIN rocks until you get hooked, takes about 3mos, then you have to have them. As with any other benzo. Harder & more dangerous than cold-turkey herion detox bcauase.......it stays so long in your liver , oancreas, etc. Let alone your entire nervous system. Remember Tiger Woods? Well, remember my friend Val Agee, who was on the benzoes....she ran out couldne get any, called 911. They said its ok, just get some more from your Dr tommorow. Tommorow never can for sweet Val. She died late that night. Seizure. She had no alcohol which helps for a bit, BUT AMBIEN is a HIGH RISK drug . Temporary fix or permenant damage to the brain.STOP taking it!! But taper off. Otherwise youll be hooked the rest of your life,,,,,,LIKE ME! I drove my car but didnt rember wher it was. I got up to a rampaged kitchen, food all over. Who me U did this? Ended up in the hospital & almost died from granMall myself. I HATE IT IT.!!!!! Get off while you still have time. Read More Read Less

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Charlotte | 55-64 | Female | On medication for 5 to less than 10 years | Patient
4/9/2022
Condition: Other
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I have had high pitch noises in my ears since 2007 when I had to move to another city to keep my job and after visiting a dentist there. Fans do not drown out the high pitch noises. Ear phones are good but make my head hurt and sore to use every night. Five milligrams of Ambien works well for four hours of sleep for me. I have been taking it for about 10 years. I wish I had thought to get it for my dad who had Alzheimer’s and had war dreams during his last days and I am sure for all of his life.Read More Read Less

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Anonymous | 13-18 | Female | On medication for 6 months to less than 1 year | Patient
4/6/2022
Condition: Chronic Trouble Sleeping
Overall rating 4.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Has helped me fall asleep every night

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