Anyone else take this and have no idea what happened the night before? I woke up this morning and there was mail scattered across my countertops, three empty beer bottles, and a friend called me on the phone last night to tell me that she had been in a car accident and I have no recollection of anything that happened last night..:what

Also, a week ago, I thought someone broke into my house and ate all my strawberries..I called my landlord to ask him if someone else had a key to my place..He frowned upon the idea..Turns out, as I figured out, I was sleep walking one night after taking ambien and ate all of my strawberries..I knew someone wouldn't just break into my place just to eat my strawberries..WTF

Re: Ambien

ERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.......................!!!!!!!!!!

it happens to me quite a lot. pretty much always when i drink! (which is mot of the time)

if i dont drink i more or less remember but it can take me a while to piece it together.

think i'm killing off a few too many brain cells

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one of my mates takes that stuff, and if he drinks after he takes it or doesnt go to sleep right away he turns into an uncomtrolable douche bag with no memory the next day of what he had done

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Are you taking any other medications? There is a whole of list of drugs that can cause pretty severe side effects when taken with ambien. If you want, you can PM anything you are taking and I can look up the drug interactions.

Although, I suspect you were doing fine until you had those beers. The combination can lead to major sedation by acting on the Gaba receptors in your brain, which would impair the ability of your brain to create and store memory. I could be totally wrong though too, its been a bit since biochem.

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Yeah, I don't normally drink after I take it, but sometimes after it kicks in, I don't make good decisions...Like drink 3 beers and wonder what the hell happened the next day.

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^^^ exactly.. we were out in ft myers one night when we took jay tripwire to play at Blue.. we had a hotel and he took it before we left the venue.. well he had some more Sake after the ambien because he was already drunk and forgot he took it.. the rest of the night was very entertaining.. like him and jay tripwire trying to "break into" the hotel next us by tying to explain to the security guard they lost their room keys and needed to get in

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^^That's how it usually goes..After I take it, I feel good and usually get the urge to hit the ganj or drink a beer...Normally, I wouldn't even think of drinking or anything, but when I take it.....I thought I had people over last night, but it was just me...Fuck

Re: Ambien

[quote=threehills;587881]Are you taking any other medications? There is a whole of list of drugs that can cause pretty severe side effects when taken with ambien. If you want, you can PM anything you are taking and I can look up the drug interactions.

Although, I suspect you were doing fine until you had those beers. The combination can lead to major sedation by acting on the Gaba receptors in your brain, which would impair the ability of your brain to create and store memory. I could be totally wrong though too, its been a bit since biochem.[/quote]

My grandmother is terminally ill and in a hospice. Lately, the nurses have been giving her Ambien to sleep at night in combination with Loritabs to control pain. Not only does she sleep all night, but shes out the entire next day. Seems like a pretty hefty combo to me. I could understand the sleepwalking and not knowing what happened the night before.

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can u not get something else less messed up to help u sleep?

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^^Not really..I have some major sleep issues..I feel tired but can never get to sleep.

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[quote=Dhar_2;587906]can u not get something else less messed up to help u sleep?[/quote]

or try just taken the ambien alone...:roll: ambien is actually very good at what it does. If you are just taking ambien and not a cocktail of other drugs (including alcohol) and sedatives its probably one of the best choices on the market as it does not develop a dependence issue like some others.

Those little colored warnings are not just on the bottle to make it look pretty.

If you are having trouble getting to sleep becuase your "mind won't shut off", ask your doctor about adding in something for axienty. Cymbalta is a good choice.

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^^Thats hexactly it..My mind won't shut off..It sucks..I try to make a "blank screen" in my head but it doesn't work...But, you are right, ambien works really well, just not a good idea to drink while taking it...But after taking it, I get the urge to have a drink sometimes..Where normally I wouldn't want to drink while on it, but after taking it, my inhibitions are lowered and I drink..

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one of my buddies called me one night after taking abien. Since he didn't fall asleep right away, he started halucinating and in his words having a mini trip. He was actually quite disturbd and almost started tearing up. I would be freaked out too if I took a sleeping pill and then started trippin

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^It was almost like trippin'...I thought I had people over last night..It was just me..

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[quote=lilsensa;587913]^^Thats hexactly it..My mind won't shut off..It sucks..I try to make a "blank screen" in my head but it doesn't work...But, you are right, ambien works really well, just not a good idea to drink while taking it...But after taking it, I get the urge to have a drink sometimes..Where normally I wouldn't want to drink while on it, but after taking it, my inhibitions are lowered and I drink..[/quote]

Just to clarify, having anxiety does not necessarily mean you are nervous and fretting all the time. Peoples minds who are always going, always thinking about something, even something positive can be considered anxious. My wife is like that, her mind is ALWAYS thinking about her research, coming up with new experiments and explanations for data, and because of it, she is an all star at work. But when she DOES want to relax and forget about that shit, its really hard for her to do, much less turn it off and fall asleep at night. She would normally lay in bed until 3 or 4 am every night waiting to fall asleep. Often she would have to have a few vodkas to quiet things down, which is NOT a good way to deal with things. We tried ambien but that didnt help much. Cymbalta helped her tone down her brain a few notches without clouding her thinking like some other meds and things have been peach keen in terms of getting to sleep now.

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dude, I love the strawberry bit

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[quote=threehills;587922]But when she DOES want to relax and forget about that shit, its really hard for her to do, much less turn it off and fall asleep at night. She would normally lay in bed until 3 or 4 am every night waiting to fall asleep.[/quote]

That's exactly how I am.

[quote=clintlove;587923]dude, I love the strawberry bit[/quote]

Haha, someone broke into my place just to eat my strawberries!!! I was freaked out at first. Called the landlord, he sounded like he thought I was one strange focker..

Re: Ambien

i'm sorry threhills but recommending cymbalta for a bit of anxiety is NOT a good call. SSRIs and SSNRIs are so unbelievably overprescribed in north america it makes me ill. these are serious, brain chemistry altering drugs, that despite the drug companies saying otherwise, do lasting and permanent changes to the way a person's brain works.

if you can't sleep, and ambien is making you do random crap...stop taking it. the sleepwalking and other side effects are actually becoming more and more apparent. there are stories of people driving their cars, going to work in the middle of the night, all because of ambien.

try a drug called zopiclone instead. its brand name in the states is lunesta. will knock your ass out, and other than a bit of a funny taste the next morning, there are few side effects. you won't be sleepwalking, either.

if you do end up trying it, make sure you have 7-8 hours of sleep time, cause you'll have problems (at least initially) getting up if you've taken it 5 or 6 hours before. ohh, and the first time you try it...don't be more than 10 minutes away from bed. my buddy ended up falling asleep on his dinner he was eating at 10:30. his girlfriend came downstairs and fount him face down in a plate of pasta. he still hears about that haha...

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[quote=day_for_night;587936], do lasting and permanent changes to the way a person's brain works.

..[/quote]

got any evidence for that dramatic claim?? ;)

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that shit fucks you up big time, its fun. but I cant remember the fun the next day.

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[quote=day_for_night;587936]i'm sorry threhills but recommending cymbalta for a bit of anxiety is NOT a good call. SSRIs and SSNRIs are so unbelievably overprescribed in north america it makes me ill. these are serious, brain chemistry altering drugs, that despite the drug companies saying otherwise, do lasting and permanent changes to the way a person's brain works. [/quote]

Based on what literature is it not a good call?

I was not able to locate an meta analysis (the gold standard of scientific literature) of the efficacy of cymbalta (duloxetine) in treating anxiety, but did find numerous studies supporting its use. Did not see any saying it was a bad choice

From the one scholarly journal article...; [quote]CONCLUSIONS: GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) is associated with substantial impairment in functioning and subjective well-being, and patients treated with duloxetine 60-120mg/day, compared with placebo, experienced a greater return to normative functioning.

[SIZE=1][URL="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18221755?ordinalpos=4&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum"]Pollack MH, Endicott J, Liebowitz M, Russell J, Detke M, Spann M, Ball S, Swindle R.[/URL][/SIZE][SIZE=1]Examining quality of life in patients with generalized anxiety disorder: Clinical relevance and response to duloxetine treatment.[/SIZE][SIZE=1]J Psychiatr Res. 2008 Jan 21;[/SIZE][/quote]

Re: Ambien

[quote=lilsensa;587907]^^Not really..I have some major sleep issues..I feel tired but can never get to sleep.[/quote]

I have the same problem, it's fucked up. It's like I'm lying in bed and my mind is doing circles around the idea of sleep ... even when I'm asleep, apart of me realizes I'm finally falling into deep sleep and feels good / relieved about it. It's wacked. Like part of me is detached.

I've been taking melatonin and it hlped a bit, but not recently. The downside is if I STILL don't fall asleep on melatonin, I get hell tired. Sucks. :(:(:(

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i too have the busy brain syndrome & use ambien only for the ace in the whole type situations where i cant sack out eventually. because along with have endless thoughts on a blank sheet, frustration mounts & doesnt help the situation.

ive kinda been preloading for sleeptime with a few milli's of melatonin. & thus rarely take any ambien throughout the year. it is rediculously too expensive to continue to take nightly.

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Ambien just does not work for some people who don't drink with it. I had a buddy who was on it for a time call me at 5am to pick him up at the Palms casino where he had been playing blackjack all night, he had no idea the next day what had happened. The stuff does some weird things to people. Personally, I will smoke a few puffs and eat half a xanax bar, gets me there, but just personal preference. But drinking on that ambien, might as well toss down an oxy pill and some speed to really get things going.

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you may want to try something natural.. Valerian Root.. might not work immediatley, but like most natural remedies, once it builds up in your system works wonders. i have used it, and it has a nice calming feeling and you just drift off and dont feel like crap in the morning.

[COLOR=white]Valerian is used for insomnia and other disorders.[/COLOR] [COLOR=white]In the [/COLOR][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States"][COLOR=white]United States[/COLOR][/URL][COLOR=white] Valerian is sold as a [/COLOR][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietary_supplement"][COLOR=white]nutritional supplement[/COLOR][/URL][COLOR=white]. Therapeutic use has increased as [/COLOR][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietary_supplements"][COLOR=white]dietary supplements[/COLOR][/URL][COLOR=white] have gained in popularity, especially after the [/COLOR][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietary_Supplement_Health_and_Education_Act"][COLOR=white]Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act[/COLOR][/URL][COLOR=white] was passed in [/COLOR][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994"][COLOR=white]1994[/COLOR][/URL][COLOR=white]. This law allowed the distribution of many agents as over-the-counter supplements, and therefore allowed them to bypass the regulatory requirements of the [/COLOR][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_and_Drug_Administration"][COLOR=white]Food and Drug Administration[/COLOR][/URL][COLOR=white] (FDA).[/COLOR] [COLOR=white]Valerian is used against sleeping disorders, restlessness and anxiety, and as a muscle relaxant. Valerian often seems only to work when taken over longer periods (several weeks), though many users find that it takes effect immediately. Some studies have demonstrated that valerian extracts interact with the GABA and benzodiazepine receptors. Valerian is also used traditionally to treat gastrointestinal pain and [/COLOR][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irritable_bowel_syndrome"][COLOR=white]irritable bowel syndrome[/COLOR][/URL][COLOR=white]. Long term safety studies are missing. As valepotriates may be potential mutagens, valerian should only be used after consultation with a physician.[/COLOR]

Re: Ambien

but yeah, i never really got as crazy as stories ive heard. i kinda look forward to that 15-45 mins after it kicks in but before i crash on the couch or bed. i dont really sleepwalk, but am reminded the next morning by my wife of sharing my crazy colorful thoughts.

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[quote=nbpgt;587982]i kinda look forward to that 15-45 mins after it kicks in but before i crash on the couch or bed. i dont really sleepwalk, but am reminded the next morning by my wife of sharing my crazy colorful thoughts.[/quote]

That's how I usually am with it..I like it

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[quote=Huggie Smiles;587948]got any evidence for that dramatic claim?? ;)[/quote]

yes.

just did a basic search from wikipedia cause i'm at work and don't have time to really get into this

[quote]But there is one counteracting effect: high serotonin levels will not only activate the [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postsynaptic"][COLOR=#0000ff]postsynaptic[/COLOR][/URL] receptors, but also flood presynaptic [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autoreceptor"][COLOR=#0000ff]autoreceptors[/COLOR][/URL], that serve as a feedback sensor for the cell. Activation of the autoreceptors (by [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agonist"][COLOR=#0000ff]agonists[/COLOR][/URL] like serotonin) triggers a throttling of serotonin production. The resulting serotonin deficiency persists for some time, as the transporter inhibition occurs downstream to the cause of the deficiency, and is therefore not able to counterbalance it. [B]The body adapts gradually to this situation by lowering ([/B][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downregulation"][COLOR=#0000ff][B]downregulating[/B][/COLOR][/URL][B]) the sensitivity of the autoreceptors[/B] Of greater importance is another adaptive process: the downregulation of postsynaptic [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5-HT2A_receptor"][COLOR=#0000ff]serotonin 5-HT2A receptors[/COLOR][/URL]. After the use of an SSRI, since there is more serotonin available, the response is to lower (to normal levels or less) the number of postsynaptic receptors over time, [B]and in the long run, this modifies the serotonin/receptor ratio[/B]. Since a larger percentage of available receptors become activated by serotonin, transmission is enhanced or restored

[B][[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Selective_serotonin_reuptake_inhibitor&action=edit&section=25"][COLOR=#0000ff]edit[/COLOR][/URL]] Permanent neuropsychological changes[/B]

Since the early 80's scientists have used a technique called neonatal clomipramine to produce animals used in depression research. If rats are given the tricyclic antidepressant [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clomipramine"][COLOR=#0000ff]clomipramine[/COLOR][/URL] when they are 8-21 days old they will develop behavioural changes in adulthood which resembles depression in humans.[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSRI#cite_note-34"][COLOR=#800080][35][/COLOR][/URL][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSRI#cite_note-35"][COLOR=#800080][36][/COLOR][/URL]In 1997 Lundbeck found that treatment with the SSRI LU-10-134-C, which only differs from their product citalopram by two atoms could give similar results as clomipramine.[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSRI#cite_note-36"][COLOR=#800080][37][/COLOR][/URL] [B]Later it was found that neonatal citalopram makes persistent changes in the serotonergic transmission of the brain.[/B][/quote]

There is no evidence to counter these long term changes in the brain, as can be witnessed by the months and months it takes to wean people off them properly.

There is growing evidence that the drug companies:

1. did not do enough testing on these drugs. people think that because they are so commonly prescribed, that these drugs are not that serious. these alter the way people think, and have been linked to both agression and suicides in teens, and they now come with a warning that says so. the recommendation is now that the age warning go up to 25.

2. are getting doctors to prescribe them for everything. feeling a bit anxious? have an ssri. having a bad week? have an ssri.

not being able to sleep is not, i repeat NOT a reason to take an SSRI. any doctor who tells you otherwise needs his/her head smacked.

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wikipedia is not evidence. Evidence is published in scientific peer reviewed journals.

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Let's not lose any sleep over this, guys :)

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NO! I insist on winning this internet based arguement as an act of confirmatoin of my manly prowess.

Dammit, that was joke wasn't it....lose sleep...I'm an idiot.

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[QUOTE=lilsensa;587875]Anyone else take this and have no idea what happened the night before? I woke up this morning and there was mail scattered across my countertops, three empty beer bottles, and a friend called me on the phone last night to tell me that she had been in a car accident and I have no recollection of anything that happened last night..:what

Also, a week ago, I thought someone broke into my house and ate all my strawberries..I called my landlord to ask him if someone else had a key to my place..He frowned upon the idea..Turns out, as I figured out, I was sleep walking one night after taking ambien and ate all of my strawberries..I knew someone wouldn't just break into my place just to eat my strawberries..WTF[/QUOTE]

Dude, I don't know if this was intended to be funny, but this cracked me up to no end, esp. the part about you thinking someone broke into your house to eat your strawberries. What an odd thought.

In all seriousness, hope you get this straightened out -- I've heard about the sleepwalking (and sleepdriving, and sleepsexing, etc.) associated with Ambien, and while it's conceptually hysterical, I bet it would be unnerving to actually experience.

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^^I "knew" that I didn't eat them..But then I thought about it for a couple of days and tried really hard to remember..I have the idea in my head that I probably ate them in my sleep, and that is more likely than someone coming into my house to eat them. LOL

The part about not knowing what I did the night before is a little strange...Kinda like waking up and wondering if you had sex with the slut in bed next to you after a drunken night.

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forgetting you ate strawberries is better than waking up a few miles from your house in your pj's

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[quote=Steve Graham;588102]forgetting you ate strawberries is better than waking up a few miles from your house in your pj's[/quote]

Being paranoid that someone has been, or still might be in your house is kinda weird..I'm kind of paranoid as it is..That waas just bad..Every noise I heard, every shadow I saw behind the shower curtain just freaked me out..Then I thought about how silly it was. :p

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some friends were spinning some tunes at my pad on cdj's once..

I had a beer, a half bar of xanax and a bowl... sleepwalk to 7-11 grabbed a spicy big bite, ate it on the way back to my house...

passed out on the couch listening to them play music, woke up at 3am on the couch, everyone was gone.

I wasnt hungry though. :)

I didnt remember going to the corner store, except I had the receipt in my pocket.

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[quote=threehills;588082]wikipedia is not evidence. Evidence is published in scientific peer reviewed journals.[/quote]

happy to post more later. i've been doing research on this for years, scientific and anecdotal.

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[quote=lilsensa;587875] Also, a week ago, I thought someone broke into my house and ate all my strawberries..[/quote]

Not to make light of the blackouts... but damn that is hilaroius!!!

I'm fucking rollin over here!

:CrackUp:

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yeah, when you pull that one sentence out, it is pretty funny

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Oh and sorry to repeat others on this topic...