Possible side-effects of Ambien

As with all prescription drugs, Ambien may cause you to experience side-effects. It should be said, however, that Ambien would not have become and remained one of the world’s top selling drugs if many people did suffer serious adverse side-effects. Nevertheless, as a precaution, you should always tell your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms at a worrying level:

• a general feeling of drowsiness that does not clear quickly. It may be accompanied by headaches, some dizziness and a slight lack of coordination when you are moving around;
• any weakness that is not transient, perhaps accompanied by a slight trembling in your limbs;
• changes to your appetite or problems with your digestive system. You may find yourself getting heartburn or your stomach may be tender to the touch. You may get more gas than usual or suffer from either constipation or diarrhoea;
• any sensations of burning or tingling, muscular aches or pain in your neck and back;
• any unusual dreams; or
• heavy menstrual bleeding.

In rare cases, you may experience more serious symptoms of swelling, difficulty in breathing and chest pains. In all such cases, call a doctor immediately.

All the main sleep medications may cause you to forget what has happened after taking the medicine. Under normal circumstances, this is not a problem because almost all users fall asleep after taking Ambien. But if you wake up while the drug is still active in your body, you may "sleep walk" and not remember what you did. If your family warn you that this is happening, you should consult a doctor.

Similarly, all sleep medicines can produce dependence. If you take Ambien regularly over a period of weeks and months, or you take a higher than recommended dosage, you may find yourself addicted. If this happens, you will find it difficult to stop taking the drug. Should you decide to stop suddenly, you are likely to experience withdrawal symptoms which will "push" you to continue taking Ambien. This is most likely to happen if you have previously been dependent on alcohol or other recreational drugs. It is most important that you tell your doctor if you have a history of dependence because you may find yourself "hooked" after just a few weeks.

If you stop taking Ambien before you are completely dependent, the withdrawal symptoms are likely to be merely unpleasant. Once you are addicted, however, it is possible that you may experience cramp in your muscles, vomiting, sweating, shakiness and, in very rare cases, you may suffer seizures.

Finally, remember that if you go for day surgery or to the dentist and propose to have treatment involving the use of anaesthetics, you must disclose the fact that you are taking Ambien.

How does cognitive behavioural therapy help? One of the best alternatives to simple reliance on a drug like Ambien is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT teaches you a new set of behaviours around the "activity" of sleep. You have to "relearn" the association between going to bed and falling sleep.

The habit of sleep Before you start taking Ambien or alongside a course of Ambien, you should change your habit patterns and practise relaxation techniques to help you get to sleep.