Ambien and Confusion: What Users Say

• Luc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 14, 2019

For Insomnia "Took 10mg Ambien to aid sleep and began having strange dreams and sleep adventures that blended together, and I couldn't tell if real or not. I ordered things online, called people at all hours, cooked food, and drove around all night. I somewhat remember driving around with total strangers in my car, including an Asian midget sitting in the back seat with a chicken. I thought it was a dream until I found feathers everywhere and a tiny shoe in the car. Most scary was when I woke up next to a strange woman in my bed. She seemed to be a drug user and was upset that I didn't know her since we had been friends for a month. She cleaned out my wallet and stole my Ambien while I showered. I never took another pill. This was scary to me, and I have no idea where I met these people? I now just take Nyquil when I need sleep."

• Tri...
• February 21, 2020

"This drug should come with more specific warnings. When given, it can create displacement and utter confusion. This happened to both my father and now my husband. It takes a long time to leave your system, unlike Xanax, and does anything but create sleep. Both my father and husband ended up paranoid, confused, and beyond comfort. I am very unhappy about this drug."

• VER...
• January 31, 2016

For Insomnia "I was admitted to a hospital cardiac care unit following an MI. I received Ambien and woke up from sleep profoundly confused and hostile. I ripped out of my arms and legs all the IV and EKG leads and then left my bed, marching to the double doors of the CCU. Female nurses were screaming, for I was naked and bloody from the leads being torn away from my body. The bravest man I ever met was a young CNA who stepped in front of me, telling me, 'You cannot leave the CCU.' Considerably shorter and lighter than me, his action was totally courageous, given that I was in a temporary, drug-induced altered mental state. I recall only vaguely warning him that I would throw him against the wall if he blocked me. I awakened, embarrassed, ashamed."

• sor...
• November 29, 2009

For Insomnia "I've been using Ambien for about 4 to 5 years now. I also take a pain medication for a back injury. My doctor switched me to Ambien CR, and the side effects were horrible. I felt angry beyond my control, confused, experienced memory loss, and crazy hallucinations. This was about 2 weeks ago, and I'm still trying to put the pieces together. Make sure if you take this pill, you check for drug interactions and be in bed ready to sleep. It's good and sad to know I'm not the only one."

• gin...
• August 15, 2015

For Insomnia "Ambien was not the drug for me. There were mental side effects that caused me to be depressed and confused about life interests. I was in the emergency room four times in one weekend after two months of taking Ambien prescribed by my doctor to help me sleep. I will never take this drug again."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 31, 2021

For Insomnia "I had been having leg pains at night and was only getting 2-3 hours of sleep in 30-minute stretches for 2 months. I thought I was going crazy from the sleep deprivation. I was having brain fog, confusion, depression, and couldn’t work. I begged my doctors for something to help me sleep at night. The first new night and every other night since, I fell asleep within 30 minutes and slept for 8-9 hours. I’m back to work with better focus and concentration since I’m getting a good night's sleep! This medication saved my life."

• Mae...
• October 18, 2015

For Insomnia "Knocked out within 5 minutes. Woke up 3 hours later; lights still on and found my book on the floor. The next day, I had memory loss and felt confused. I tried them 3 times with the same experience, then I returned them to the pharmacy. Maybe I"

• Anonymous
• August 4, 2009

For Insomnia "Pros: Onset in 6 minutes, perfect sleep (feel more rested despite sleeping for less time), absolutely no physiological side effects. Cons: Blurred vision, problems with coordination, profoundly altered mind (confusion, delusions, hallucination), retrograde amnesia (complete blackout for duration). Powerful, incredibly effective sleep aid, with very few interactions or physical side effects. Solved my sleep problems 100%. Be careful when, how, and around whom you use this drug. You might wake up in the morning and find you've called people, written or drawn things, etc., without any recollection."

• Anonymous
• July 25, 2010

For Insomnia "Really effective and helped me sleep, but also found myself confused and sometimes sleepwalking. In one case, I was pretty badly injured jumping back into 'bed,' but it was the home office desk I dove into, not the bed. It was a strange experience because I never walked in my sleep and thought I could clearly see and knew where I was, it equaled 'bedroom' at 2 AM. Take with caution."