Ambien Experience "Warning to all of you that take it"

I was on Ambien for about 3 months after my dad died last dec, and after I had tumors removed I lost 2 lbs.  But here is the crazy part, my daughter is with my new husband and I every other weekend.  I noticed the next morning my shampoo was on the shower floor, it had fallen off of the window sill.  I thought that was strange.  She told me the next morning that I was standing in the shower at 12:30 am trying to open the window because I was hot, then she said I was hungry and went out to the kitchen and I wanted pizza, but I guess I ate chips and snacks that were on the counter from friday night munchies.  That is why I was gaining weight because I kept getting up in the middle of the night to eat. She said the she asked me her name and I told her "ice cream".  So she very calmly walked me back to bed and tucked me in.  My daughter is 12 yrs old.  She said my eyes looked weird but they were open.  So this is a good reason to stop taking Ambien.  We have all seen the commericals for this warning that sleep walking may occur.  I thought, naw, this won't happen to me.  Well, it did.  I went out and checked to see if I had driven the car that night or anything else weird.  I will tell you what, if it weren't for my daughter wittnessing this, I wouldn't believe it.  She told me "Mommy throw those pills away".  So I did.  I will never take Ambien again.  I use Tylenol PM and Ativan to help me sleep.  I still wake up sometimes in the middle of the night, but at least this time I am aware of it.  I wanted to share this embarassing but true moment for those of you that take Ambien.

HI,
I also took ambien cr for a bit...I did laundry one night. Got up the next morning, thanked my b/f for doing it....he said he didn't!  I had done laundry w/ no memory of it!  Then he asked if I had gone for a drive???  Well, if I did I was driving around town in my PJ's.....Very scary.
I got off that very quickly! LOL
I now take temazepam...working much better for me!
Linda

Wow! I have been taking Ambien for about a year now and I don't think I get up at night. I mean I do get up but I remember it. Actually, I feel like I'm immuned now because I use to fall asleep within 20 mins after taking it but now I can stay awake and read as long as I like. I do finally go to sleep but I have to make myself lay down.

I was probably getting up and eating every night and who knows what else.  I was one that said oh that doesn't happen to me.  I think other choices for sleep aid would be safer.  I swear, if my daughter didn't see it, I would not have believed I did it.  A lot of people like the Ambien, which I did, but now to fall asleep take 2 Tylenol PM and half or a whole Ativan 1MG.  It does the trick.  Just please be careful those of you that are still taking the Ambien.  It scared the socks right off of me.  You don't know if you are sleepwalking, you really have no memory of getting up.  When I do get up I remember.  I gained about 8 lbs and couldn't figure out why.  Best wishes
Kristy

yup, I too sleep walk with Ambien. When I was in the hospital they gave it to me and they had to wake me up to get me off the toilet. I guess I was sitting on it singing. Don't remember any of it.

On another note, I can't take Ativan either. It makes me black out. My husband caught me stabbin myself with a needle when I took it. He said I also asked him to help me kill myself, but I don't remember that either. Just wanted to share that with you. I'm glad it works for you though--it does for a lot of people. As for me I'll never take either one. But I don't have that problem with the meds I'm on now (Lunesta and Propranolol)

It's weird how the exact same meds can have completely different effects on each of us, huh?

Nettie