Ambien Overdose Safety
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pat Says:

Is it possible to overdose on ambien? My brother takes this med and is depressed.

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I know this message is nearly 3 years late ... but I do hope you got help for your family and spouse. Ambien will ruin lives, relationships, families, jobs, homes, you name it. I can't believe our FDA is constantly concerned with freaking out over pain meds and not even noticing this one. The person on ambien is no longer that person, the brain chemistry is altered to a state that they are unrecognizable.

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Hello,
My spouse has been taking Ambien for over 4 years and it has grown into a massive problem in our home.
We have children, two, and I'm beyond concerned.
I have been the person to give out the nightly medication (after uncontrollable over-using) and I'm at the end of the rope. The prescribing doctor does not know the abuse that has taken place. It's safe to say our marriage is almost gone for the fact lies have taken precedence over the truth. Money goes missing and spending is completely out of line. I've been in therapy in hopes of rectifying the pain I have over this. There has been alcoholism in the family history as well as major physical childhood abuse to my spouse. Respect has been lost by seeing so many lies and untruths. I have considered hiring a detective to help this situation. Addictive behavior is present and our family is just a mess because of this out of control white pill with the number 74 on it. I know it is considered an opioid for two attempts with Suboxone have been attempted. My spouse's permanent residence is in the state of denial to put it kindly.

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Like I said, as part of my job description, my friend who owns this site and does most of the admin work here, has asked me to very honest and picky when providing information and I think that is only fair to the consumers to do so.

I do not like people who gloss over side effects or possible problems caused from various meds, I believe you have the right to know as much information as you wish about the stuff your doctor is expecting you to take and put in your body.

So, if you would like even more information, please feel free to ask. I have many professional resources that I can use for research to find what you need.

You can always reach me here by responding again to this post, or creating a new one, or you can email me at [email protected]

If you have concerns, problems, or issues that you wish to keep private and don't want to post on a public blog, send me an email. My policy is to always maintain someone's privacy ad provide any information, help, or advice that I can.

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Yes, it would be possible to OD on this, as with any med, even Tylenol.

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As to the side effects, well many places will not list them all, and of course your doc or pharmacist will not tell you all of them, as legally, they are not supposed to, unless you specifically ask. The reasoning for this is because so many people are afraid to take prescription drugs and use them as prescribed, even for life threatening conditions, so they just aren't supposed to tell you more than the basics, like I said, unless you specifically ask. That is why, when anyone in my family starts taking something new, I look it up and research it myself. I also do not believe in glossing stuff over for you, so you came to the right place, I am employed by neither the medical or the pharmaceuitcal industry, my job that I am paid to do, is simply to help people who post on this site, to find the information they are seeking, be it straight forward honesty about side effects or pill ids.

Did you catch the news reports about a month ago, where a Congressman was caught driving under the influence late at night in Washington DC? The police thought he was drunk and it was all over the media? Well it turns out he had been taking a sleep med, I can't remember if it was Ambien or just one in the same class, but it made him hallucinate. He began to think there was a late night meeting and vote on an important issue at the capitol meeting hall that he couldn't miss, so that is why he was in his car and headed there when he was pulled over. He had taken two of the pills to help him sleep, as prescribed by his doctor.

Anyway, I am to look for the physicians prescribing info, that will list all the side effects, including what they don't tell you.

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Common Ambien Side Effects
Headache, strange dreams, diarrhea, stomach upset, dizziness, or drowsiness. Contact your doctor if you've experienced any of the above side effects for a prolonged period of time (anything more than 3 days).

Less Common Ambien Side Effects
Slurred speech, changes in vision, depression, confusion, lightheadedness, hallucinations, fainting, restlessness, or agitation. Contact your doctor right away if you've experienced any of the above Less Common side effects.

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Ambien Manufacturer Prescribing Info

A variety of abnormal thinking and behavior changes have been reported to occur in association with the use of sedative/ hypnotics. Some of these changes may be characterized by decreased inhibition (eg, aggressiveness and extroversion that seemed out of character), similar to effects produced by alcohol and other CNS depressants. Other reported behavioral changes have included bizarre behavior, agitation, hallucinations, and depersonalization. Amnesia and other neuropsychiatric symptoms may occur unpredictably. In primarily depressed patients, worsening of depression, including suicidal thinking, has been reported in association with the use of sedative/hypnotics.

It can rarely be determined with certainty whether a particular instance of the abnormal behaviors listed above is drug induced, spontaneous in origin, or a result of an underlying psychiatric or physical disorder. Nonetheless, the emergence of any new behavioral sign or symptom of concern requires careful and immediate evaluation.

Following the rapid dose decrease or abrupt discontinuation of sedative/hypnotics, there have been reports of signs and symptoms similar to those associated with withdrawal from other CNS-depressant drugs

Ambien, like other sedative/hypnotic drugs, has CNS-depressant effects. Due to the rapid onset of action, Ambien should only be ingested immediately prior to going to bed. Patients should be cautioned against engaging in hazardous occupations requiring complete mental alertness or motor coordination such as operating machinery or driving a motor vehicle after ingesting the drug, including potential impairment of the performance of such activities that may occur the day following ingestion of Ambien. Ambien showed additive effects when combined with alcohol and should not be taken with alcohol. Patients should also be cautioned about possible combined effects with other CNS-depressant drugs. Dosage adjustments may be necessary when Ambien is administered with such agents because of the potentially additive effects.

Most common side effects: All medicines have side effects. Most common side effects of sleep medicines include:
• drowsiness
• dizziness
• lightheadedness
• difficulty with coordination

You may find that these medicines make you sleepy during the day. How drowsy you feel depends upon how your body reacts to the medicine, which sleep medicine you are taking, and how large a dose your doctor has prescribed. Daytime drowsiness is best avoided by taking the lowest dose possible that will still help you sleep at night. Your doctor will work with you to find the dose of Ambien that is best for you.

SPECIAL CONCERNS

There are some special problems that may occur while taking sleep medicines.

Memory problems: Sleep medicines may cause a special type of memory loss or “amnesia.” When this occurs, a person may not remember what has happened for several hours after taking the medicine. This is usually not a problem since most people fall asleep after taking the medicine.

Memory loss can be a problem, however, when sleep medicines are taken while traveling, such as during an airplane flight and the person wakes up before the effect of the medicine is gone. This has been called “traveler's amnesia.”

Memory problems are not common while taking Ambien. In most instances memory problems can be avoided if you take Ambien only when you are able to get a full night's sleep (7 to 8 hours) before you need to be active again. Be sure to talk to your doctor if you think you are having memory problems.

Tolerance: When sleep medicines are used every night for more than a few weeks, they may lose their effectiveness to help you sleep. This is known as “tolerance.'' Sleep medicines should, in most cases, be used only for short periods of time, such as 1 or 2 days and generally no longer than 1 or 2 weeks. If your sleep problems continue, consult your doctor, who will determine whether other measures are needed to overcome your sleep problems.

Dependence: Sleep medicines can cause dependence, especially when these medicines are used regularly for longer than a few weeks or at high doses. Some people develop a need to continue taking their medicines. This is known as dependence or “addiction.”

When people develop dependence, they may have difficulty stopping the sleep medicine. If the medicine is suddenly stopped, the body is not able to function normally and unpleasant symptoms (see Withdrawal) may occur. They may find they have to keep taking the medicine either at the prescribed dose or at increasing doses just to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

All people taking sleep medicines have some risk of becoming dependent on the medicine. However, people who have been dependent on alcohol or other drugs in the past may have a higher chance of becoming addicted to sleep medicines. This possibility must be considered before using these medicines for more than a few weeks.

If you have been addicted to alcohol or drugs in the past, it is important to tell your doctor before starting Ambien or any sleep medicine.

Withdrawal: Withdrawal symptoms may occur when sleep medicines are stopped suddenly after being used daily for a long time. In some cases, these symptoms can occur even if the medicine has been used for only a week or two.

In mild cases, withdrawal symptoms may include unpleasant feelings. In more severe cases, abdominal and muscle cramps, vomiting, sweating, shakiness, and rarely, seizures may occur. These more severe withdrawal symptoms are very uncommon.

Another problem that may occur when sleep medicines are stopped is known as “rebound insomnia.” This means that a person may have more trouble sleeping the first few nights after the medicine is stopped than before starting the medicine. If you should experience rebound insomnia, do not get discouraged. This problem usually goes away on its own after 1 or 2 nights.

If you have been taking Ambien or any other sleep medicine for more than 1 or 2 weeks, do not stop taking it on your own. Always follow your doctor's directions.

Changes in behavior and thinking: Some people using sleep medicines have experienced unusual changes in their thinking and/or behavior. These effects are not common. However, they have included:
• more outgoing or aggressive behavior than normal
• loss of personal identity
• confusion
• strange behavior
• agitation
• hallucinations
• worsening of depression
• suicidal thoughts

How often these effects occur depends on several factors, such as a person's general health, the use of other medicines, and which sleep medicine is being used. Clinical experience with Ambien suggests that it is uncommonly associated with these behavior changes.

It is also important to realize that it is rarely clear whether these behavior changes are caused by the medicine, an illness, or occur on their own. In fact, sleep problems that do not improve may be due to illnesses that were present before the medicine was used. If you or your family notice any changes in your behavior, or if you have any unusual or disturbing thoughts, call your doctor immediately.

Pregnancy: Sleep medicines may cause sedation of the unborn baby when used during the last weeks of pregnancy.

Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant, if you are planning to become pregnant, or if you become pregnant while taking Ambien.

SAFE USE OF SLEEPING MEDICINES

To ensure the safe and effective use of Ambien or any other sleep medicine, you should observe the following cautions:

1. Ambien is a prescription medicine and should be used ONLY as directed by your doctor. Follow your doctor's instructions about how to take, when to take, and how long to take Ambien.
2. Never use Ambien or any other sleep medicine for longer than directed by your doctor.
3. If you notice any unusual and/or disturbing thoughts or behavior during treatment with Ambien or any other sleep medicine, contact your doctor.
4. Tell your doctor about any medicines you may be taking, including medicines you may buy without a prescription. You should also tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. DO NOT use alcohol while taking Ambien or any other sleep medicine.
5. Do not take Ambien unless you are able to get a full night's sleep before you must be active again. For example, Ambien should not be taken on an overnight airplane flight of less than 7 to 8 hours since “traveler's amnesia” may occur.
6. Do not increase the prescribed dose of Ambien or any other sleep medicine unless instructed by your doctor.
7. When you first start taking Ambien or any other sleep medicine until you know whether the medicine will still have some carryover effect in you the next day, use extreme care while doing anything that requires complete alertness, such as driving a car, operating machinery, or piloting an aircraft.
8. Be aware that you may have more sleeping problems the first night or two after stopping Ambien or any other sleep medicine.
9. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant, if you are planning to become pregnant, or if you become pregnant while taking Ambien.
10. As with all prescription medicines, never share Ambien or any other sleep medicine with anyone else. Always store Ambien or any other sleep medicine in the original container out of reach of children.
11. Ambien works very quickly. You should only take Ambien right before going to bed and are ready to go to sleep.

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This link has some more information as well, what I pasted in for you is the actual info from the physicians and pharmacy prescribing info, not the little paper they give you with your prescription or what the pharmacist is trained to tell you.

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I WANT THE TRUE SIDE EFFECTS OF AMBIEN. I'M TIRED OF UNINFORMED WEBSITES

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