Zolpidem for Insomnia User Reviews (Page 2)

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 12, 2024

Ambien (zolpidem) "This drug changed my life. Went from 4 hrs of crappy sleep every night for years to now normal. 5 mg a night has worked well and still works just as well now 5 years later. If all the doctors I had seen in the past would have just prescribed this long ago I wouldn't have lost so much quality of life for so long."

• jennyb
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 6, 2020

Ambien (zolpidem) "I have been taking 10mg for about 1 1/2 years. Someone else mentioned getting the "munchies" after taking it. I thought it was just me! Anyway, it's not helping me fall asleep like it used to. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I either need a stronger dose or a different drug."

• Richard
• March 1, 2020

"I have been taking Zolpidem for 4 years. All it does is help me sleep; I have severe sleep apnea, general sleeping issues and a wonderful wife who snores like a chain saw. I do not sleepwalk, sleep drive or sleep cook. What I do is sleep 6 to 8 hours per night. I manage my dosing; if I know I am getting to bed late and have to arise early, I'll take half a pill. I am never groggy in the morning. Zolpidem has changed my life for the better; I am no longer grumpy or sleepy all the time. I wake refreshed and ready for a busy day. Zolpidem is not a narcotic but Humana and Walgreens regulate it tighter than opioids and, frankly, I resent it. Both are complete nannies over this effective yet safe medication. I do not abuse Zolpidem and love how it has improved my life. There might be others who have side effects from Zolpidem but not I. But I strictly take no more the 5 to 10 mg per night,."

• Marc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 5, 2020

Ambien CR (zolpidem) "Been on Ambien Cr generic for about a year. FINALLY getting good sleep. Falling and staying asleep. It’s not perfect every night but most nights it’s pretty good. No issues at all with it. Beware of Sandoz generic! Horrible and barely works. Thankfully was able to fill next months early with Winthrop"

• Grandma
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 1, 2020

Ambien (zolpidem) "I had cancer 13 years ago so anyways couldn’t sleep after that so my dr put me on 15 mg of ambien and a few years down the road because of regulations he had to cut it to 10 mg. Which I’m still not used to, well I was going to VA and had to switch to regular Doctor, I have a dr. that hates Ambien but at least she is giving me 5 mg and now I am very restless and get around 4 to 5 hrs of sleep. Very tough, but I know my life is shortened by being on Ambien but I have tried absolutely every thing on the shelf of sleep aids, and Ambien is the only one that will give me sleep and no nightmares."

• Feath...
• February 26, 2008

Ambien (zolpidem) "My insomnia comes from anxiety issues when I try to sleep. I found that Ambien didn't make me sleepy but it did relax me enough to fall asleep. There are tons of stories floating around about strange behavior and I have my share. I found this only happens when I try to do things between ingestion and onset. Only take it when you are already in bed, relaxing, and attempting to fall alseep, and you shouldn't have any problems."

• JBIRD
• May 9, 2009

Ambien (zolpidem) "Had sleep problems since College (43 years old now). Took all the normal heavy duty sleep medicines like Valium and even Benadryl. These only put me in a half sleep state and made me feel horrible for days on in. After 20 years of suffering from insomnia and after a bout with meningitis in 2000 my friend, a neurologist who was seeing me for post meningitis asked me how I was sleeping. I told her I haven't had a good nights sleep in over 20 years. She wrote a script for Ambien. I have never been so in love with a pill in my life as I am with Ambien. I fall asleep within 15 minutes, get a good 7 hours hard sleep and wake up bright and early and feel rested like I have not felt in decades. Ambien is a miracle drug and thanks to the genius who made it."

• Anony...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 4, 2014

Ambien (zolpidem) "Ambien works. Not because it's a sleep aid but because it's a HYPNOTIC. Which means if you don't want amnesia then get yourself straight to bed after taking it. It kicks in in 5-10 mins and may or may not keep you asleep all night. But those of you complaining of eating, etc and having no memory of what you did is very simple: taking a HYPNOTIC while you're still up and showering or whatever is going to make you do stupid things you won't remember. Just take it AFTER you lay down, turn off your phone, and you'll be fine."

• Great...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 2, 2014

Ambien (zolpidem) "I'm 19 and suffer from bad insomnia. I've tried Benadryl, Unisom, even a different prescription sleeping pill, Restoril (temazepam). These all either didn't work or left me extremely groggy in the morning and throughout the day. Anyway, I was scheduled to study abroad and my worst fear the entire trip was not sleeping in a foreign atmosphere. My Dr. prescribed me a few weeks worth of Ambien 10 MG. I can't tell you how great this medication was. It drifted me off to a gentle, deep sleep and I stayed asleep for at least 7 hours. I woke up happy and refreshed In the morning; even energized! I took the high dose and did not experience any side effects or hallucinations. I was able to enjoy my trip."

• Cz94
• September 22, 2017

Ambien CR (zolpidem) "I've been on ambien CR for over 10 years, then all of a sudden the doctors want to change things up, tried 5 mg, didn't work, now on 6.25 and kind of working but only get 30 days worth and they keep telling me I have to get off it....why??? Don't screw with what works, now my anxiety is worse never knowing if I can get my meds to sleep...."

• Garde...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 19, 2017

Ambien (zolpidem) "I have been taking Ambien for almost 10 years and it works like a charm for me. I was prescribed Ambien following the murder of my only child. A year later my husband of 40 years was diagnosed with ALS. I am a full-time working caregiver and sleep would be elusive if not for Ambien. I am now 61 years young and healthy as a horse. Unfortunately, Express Scripts, BCBS or my employer is making it almost impossible for me to get a Rx filled. I am very frustrated!! People are different and Rxs work differently on all of us ! I know Ambien works for me."

• Daugh...
• February 19, 2020

Ambien (zolpidem) "Ambien became a nightmare for my mother and family recently. Because no one fully explained how and when to take Ambien, my mother took it late, around 1am after initially falling asleep around 11pm and waking up sleepless. She’d then attempt to wake up around 8am and function normally. Well, no. We thought she was having a stroke and called 911. Falling over, slurred speech, texts that look like this, “Ecotidhfhudishfjffmn”....all very abnormal behavior for my mom who is very vibrant and healthy! After several days of this mystery morning “illness”, she finally alluded to taking her Ambien dosage at 1am. Well, duh. Mystery illness solved. My intention is to warn others who take Ambien - I insisted she stop taking it and sleeps even better now! - to take it as soon as you go to bed and DON’T expect to function normally until you’ve had 8 hours of sleep after dosing."

• Debbi...
• February 1, 2015

Ambien (zolpidem) "I have been taking Ambien every night for a over 20 years. I am a nurse and it's very difficult to work swing shift and teach yourself to sleep whenever ..esp if you suffer from insomnia. I have had insomnia since a child, probably sleep walking. Sleep eating prior to taking the medicine. Now that I have it ..my life has improved 200 percent .No one can imaging how disturbing it is to lie in bed for 8 hours wide awake ...knowing you have work soon. When I first took it, I was groggy in the morning ..but now as long as I get 8 hours I wake up feeling awake and amazing ..never grew a tolerance for it. Always works. I will say when I had children under 5 ..I would never take it ...not safe ..when you are caring for others .this med saved me."

• Bbano
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 9, 2019

"Teva...best manufacturer for zolpidem! Never had a problem sleeping with this manufacturer but since my pharmacy switched to Aurobindo zolpidem, they SUCK! I used to fall asleep easily within 15 mins of ingestion @ 11:00+ and sleep until my alarm went off at 6:45 with no problem, but this new manufacturer Aurobindo is a faux. I wake up at 3:00-4:00 am EVERY SINGLE NIGHT NOW!!! Please let Teva make my Ambien because insomnia is a killer when you actually have to work for a living! Give me my meds that work back because I CANNOT sleep! Cheap pharmaceutical companies are the degradation of this medication induced society! You created me...now let me sleep and be in a functional work force to survive!"

• HKGirl
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 19, 2014

Ambien (zolpidem) "When I got prescribed Ambien I started with 5mg and it worked but I only slept for 4 hrs. So the following night I took 10mg and I was asleep in no time and got a full 9hrs of sleep. Best night ever in years. I woke up feeling refreshed. Minor headache but I don't know if it was due to the Ambien. 1 Tylenol pill took it away so no biggie. This is the only sleep pill that has helped me. I tried Restroil and Seroquel and got no sleep only bad side effects. I love Ambien."

• sher
• December 2, 2007

Ambien (zolpidem) "I take ambien occasionally to help me get a full night sleep. in the morning I wake up with so much energy it is unbelievabe.I sleep 7 full hours and wake up without feeling any side affects but full energy."

• Ajano
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 23, 2019

Ambien (zolpidem) "This Is really answering JK's question after a certain amount of time yes the ambien loses its effectiveness what I would suggest what you do would be to go to something else for 60 days maybe even 90 days then go back to ambien. This will make your tolerance to the ambien all but disappear and you'll be good to go. I have found I have to do this about every 8 to 10 months"

• Anonymous
• June 24, 2008

Ambien (zolpidem) "I have been taking Ambien for many years and am totally addicted to it now. I can't sleep if I don't take it. I guess there are worse things to be addicted to. It is best to take it and get right to bed, no lingering in the kitchen. It really works!"

• Bad...
• February 4, 2014

Ambien (zolpidem) "I have been taking Ambien on and off for 8 years for severe insomnia, mostly related to anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder. Over time my body has built up a dependence and a tolerance. I will lay awake till 5 am if I don't take it miserable and exhausted for days. The generic doesn't seen to work as well and since I have been on it so long I usually have to take 20mg to get a full nights sleep, but with certain generics I still wake up at 3am and can't go back to bed. It has been a God send over the years as I tried everything else. I was treated for depression but those medications made it harder to sleep. At some point I would like to stop being dependent on the medicine but every time I try to quit I go through weeks of with no sleep."

• Don...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 17, 2013

Ambien CR (zolpidem) "I was in my late 60's when I realized that I was having sleep issues. Tylenol PM no longer had any effect. I tried ALL the OTC sleep remedies for another 3 years, with no meaningful success. Two to four hours of sleep was getting old and aging me in the process. I finally got my G.P. to give me a prescription for Ambien and my world changed overnight. It was great, finally am getting 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 hours of continual, restful sleep, as long as I take an Ambien or Ambien CR. Have read tonnes of medical reports and am convinced this is a blessing. Sure, there are some weird side effects for some people, but these are a tiny minority."

• Chris
• October 5, 2018

Ambien (zolpidem) "After being a good sleeper out of the blue I began to suffer bad insomnia, taking hours to fall asleep or repeated awakenings which was not like me! Possibly because of neighbor issues for years causing stress which finally started to impact my sleep, I tried over the counter meds with no success, then my doctor gave me Ambien and it works so well for me at 10mg, it does not always keep me asleep all night but at least it knocks me out and destroys any anxiety due to insomnia. It seems those of us with insomnia find it hard to calm the brain down and repeated sleepless nights makes us more anxious making sleep increasingly hard to come by. Medications like Ambien are effective as they increase GABA in the brain leading to relaxation and then makes it easier to sleep. I would say this drug is safe, surely better than drinking alcohol to sleep which has bad health impacts. Regular good sleep improves my mood, appetite, lowers anxiety and depression, Ambien does this, it's a good thing!"

• MKE...
• June 10, 2020

"I've been taking ambien for years. I have extreme insomnia that I've inherited from my mom's side. After reading some of these reviews, I realized I had similar experiences sometimes but found ways to alleviate them. MAIN TAKEAWAY - take the pill on an empty stomach and don't take it until you're fully in bed and ready to fall asleep. It's a hypnotic so you'll do goofy stuff until you get used it. It's a very hard feeling to describe. If you take it on a full or even mildly full stomach, you can count on it not working at all. That's been my experience for the past 12 years. I have very severe insomnia. I would rather not have to take any medication but after trying everything, Ambien is the only drug that will burn clean for me. Meaning I don't feel hungover the next day. Empty stomach, be in bed. I have a fast metabolism, so I do usually burn through it within 4 hours. I just moved to CR 12.5 3 months ago. It's working alright but not a life saver by any means."

• insom...
• March 3, 2014

Ambien (zolpidem) "I've had horrible insomnia since I was a child. Diagnosed with severe sleep apnea a few years ago. Ambien is not the holy grail. You build up a tolerance over the years but 12.5 is as high as most doctors will go ) from 10, 8 years ago). Pluses for Ambien - it will put you to sleep; no half-life so no grogginess in the morning. Minuses- it will put you to sleep but generally not keep you asleep. Thus the waking up wide awake at 3 a.m. There is now intermezzo - and sublingual 3.5 dose of Ambien meant for this problem - works for me 50% of the time- otherwise I just stay up. Another minus - if you take Ambien on a full stomach IT WILL NOT WORK. I generally eat before 5 and allow 5 hours before I take it. But in all - a savior!"

• dpvwia
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 6, 2015

Ambien CR (zolpidem) "I've had chronic insomnia (clinical diagnosis, sleep studies, neurologists, etc.) for over 25 years, starting in high school and gradually getting worse over the decades. No drugs aside from powerful depressants (barbits, benzos, tranquilizers, etc.) had helped me at all. Ambien CR has been a miracle medication for me. My insomnia is so constant and severe (I literally won't sleep a single minute some nights) that my Dr lets me take it every night. Many people talk about the possible side-effects of long-term usage, but that ignores the very definite effects of chronic insomnia. I have no next-day side-effects, but I will have rebound insomnia if I stop. Taking with a glass of water helps for me; so does good sleep hygiene rules."

• phant...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 26, 2013

Ambien (zolpidem) "I have terrible chronic insomnia. I have safely taken this medication for over 12 years, with no significant side effects. Go to bed as soon as you take the medication. In my case the window for working is very short---7-10 minutes. If it hasn't helped me sleep by 15 minutes, it isn't going to help for that particular time. I would recommend this medication to anyone!"