Drug Interactions and Precautions

You should not take Ambien or Ambien CR if you take sodium oxybate (xyrem).
The following prescription medications may increase Ambien's effects: antihistamines, anti-anxiety drugs, anti-seizure medications, muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers, psychiatric medications, amitriptyline and tranquilzers.
You should be sure to have your physician review your medical history, especially if you have ever had kidney or liver problems, depression, drug or alcohol dependency, COPD or sleep apnea. You should not take Ambien while you are pregnant or nursing, since a small amount of Ambien passes through to the baby in utero as well as through breast milk.
You should not take additional herbal medications, since they make interfere with Ambien or increase its effects.
You should not drink alcohol with Ambien.

General Side effects

Ambien is meant to be taken for no longer than two weeks, and the side effects compound as time passes. Even though your doctor may tell you that you can take it for a longer period of time, it is not a good plan.
The effect of Ambien is almost immediate, so you want to be ready for bed when you take it. You may find the effect to be one of lightheadedness and intense sleepiness. Do not take Ambien unless you have seven to eight hours to sleep.
Ambien can cause dry mouth, depression and auditory and visual hallucinations in some people.

Long-term usage

One of the big side effects of long-term use of Ambien is its amnesia effect. You may find that you have no memory of conversations that took place after you took Ambien. It is a good idea to have another adult around, since there have been instances of people taking Ambien and going for a drive and having no memory of it afterward. Similar experiences involving computer use, telephone conversations and eating episodes have occurred.
Ambien tends to linger in the body, making the patient drowsy during the day, and this effect worsens the longer the patient takes Ambien past the two weeks. Excessive daytime tiredness, dizziness, diarrhea, heart palpitations and abnormal dreams are other side effects.
Another major problem is that, like most sleep medications, Ambien can become addictive after a few weeks.

Withdrawal From Ambien

Withdrawal from Ambien can cause sweating, nausea, insomnia, fatigue, stomach pains, panic attacks, irritability, unpleasant sensations, vomiting, tremors and seizures. There is no way that a physician can tell ahead of time what symptoms you may experience. You should withdraw from Ambien slowly and under a physician's care.

Important Information

It is illegal to share your prescription of Ambien with another person. If you stop taking this prescription you should return the bottle and remaining pills to your pharmacist and ask them to dispose of them for you.