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Zolpidem is marketed under many names, but the most known is Ambien. While it is typically prescribed as a sleeping pill for things like insomnia and for brain injury/coma patients for brain function improvement, there are many that are taking the drug for its side effects instead of its intended use. This abuse of Ambien has made it a come down drug for those that habitually abuse the drugs ecstasy and meth.Ambien is started at a 5 mg dosage and that dosage will raise up to 10 mg after a time period of getting used to the drug and its effects. Many health care professionals would like the patient to be able to get used to the drug without needing to do too many items that need good motor function, as there is a slight bit of “hangover” effect on the drug. Some may get the same sedating effect of Ambien at the lower dosage and less of the side effects, if this is true for you tell your healthcare professional you may like to stay at the lower Ambien dosage.
Side effects are plentiful to the drug, some quite disturbing. Whether or not Ambien is the right sleeping pill for you is up to you and your healthcare professional. Side effects may not affect everyone. Side effects to look for are:
- Weakness, unsteadiness, balance issues
- Dizziness, drowsiness, hangover feeling
- Headache
- Constipation, gas, heartburn, diarrhea
- Appetite changes, stomach pain
- Trembling, hands/arms/legs/feet tingling, muscle aches, muscle/joint pain
- Strange dreams
- Red eyes, dry mouth, dry throat, pain/itching/ringing ears
Serious side effects can also occur; some indicate an allergy while others will be severe enough to disturb most users:
- Hives, rash, itching
- Swelling of face, of lips or tongue, eyes, or throat
- Difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing
- Nausea, vomiting
- Chest pain, shortness of breath, pounding chest
- Vision blurring, delusions, hallucinations
- Sleep walking, sleep talking, sleep driving, sleep eating
Ambien can become addictive and therefore it is only to be used in the short term treatment of insomnia and not as a long term solution. If addiction is a problem, care should be taken while on the drug as there is some physical dependence to the drug. If there are symptoms that you are having while on Ambien, whether on the list of side effects or not, tell your doctor. Ambien, while completely useful for its designed function, does have its problems.
Comments
I can take a 10 mlg pill at night and usually feel no different. When I first started taking them I needed to be ready to lay down pretty soon. Now I can take one and lay on the couch for hours watcing TV
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