Zolpidem and Dizziness: What Users Say

• Guy...
• February 29, 2020

Zolpidem for Insomnia "So I have tried everything for sleep. The only thing that worked ever was benzos, and those got me very addicted. So I stopped taking them and also stopped sleeping. Well, I tried multiple other things and finally got on Ambien at a dose of 5mg. I took it, nothing happened, like nothing at all. So, I took another dose, and I felt dizzy and tried to just be calm and fall asleep. Literally nothing but a stomach ache. Stayed up all night. I had heard stories about how strong this medicine is. When it literally was like taking sugar pills for me. So sad and so tired."

• nee...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 6, 2020

Zolpidem for Insomnia "Name brand Ambien works great with no waking side effects. However, for generic Zolpidem, please read: I have to cut generic Zolpidem (not real Ambien) in half, sometimes thirds, as a full pill turns me into a useless zombie the following day. Take 15 minutes before bed, gets me to sleep, only wake 2-3 times during sleep to reposition. Dream well. However, with just half a pill, can't get out of bed for 10-12 hrs, experience severe vertigo 1-3 hrs with 4-5 hrs of dopiness, and a near-total loss of meaningful cognitive function and any motivation to get stuff done. Zolpidem generic is NOT Ambien, as Ambien has none of these side effects. Sadly, the existence of Zolpidem and price-gouging in the US has prevented Ambien insurance coverage and purchase for millions now without insurance. Zolpidem isn't safe, for hours after waking still unable to drive without being under the influence. FDA should take generic off the US market. In the meantime, it'd be much safer and productive to live with chronic insomnia."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 18, 2012

Zolpidem for Insomnia "Ambien is something I have very mixed feelings about. To be honest, I was hooked on it the first time I took it. It took me a year to realize this. It is an extremely subtle dependency that develops, but eventually it will stop working. When it stopped working, I started feeling like I didn't get quality sleep at night at all and was dizzy all the time. I think it has a very subtle withdrawal that many people might not understand. Terrible, I will be up for three days straight at a time, it's been two months off of Ambien, and I sleep worse now than I ever did before I had it. My advice is to take it EXACTLY as it's prescribed, no long-term."

• gig...
• September 7, 2016

Zolpidem for Insomnia "Ambien is a wonderful sleep aid. For people who have trouble staying asleep, this is the medication for you. I've been taking it for at least 10 years, and I've not built up a tolerance to it yet. Don't get out of bed after taking it, as it does pose a risk of falling because it works very quickly and will make you very drowsy and perhaps dizzy. It helps me sleep for 7-8 hours without any hangover effect. Unfortunately, my 'nanny' prescription insurance has just informed me that it will not pay for my opioid pain medication and Ambien together, so I have to choose which medication I want the insurance to pay for. I'll just pay the $54 for it myself, as the 2 alternative drugs my doctor suggested have quite scary user reviews."

• Kom...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 20, 2016

Zolpidem for Insomnia "Oh man, this stuff works. I was on 10 mg for about 5 years! My new doctor had me stop cold turkey about 3 years ago. I grew a tolerance to it and I was addicted to it. My old doctor prescribed it after my mom died when I was 18. I puked after taking my first dose. It made me so dizzy, it was weird. After that first time, it never happened again. The only side effect was that I'd wake up and eat without knowing it. I recall my sister saying that I had gotten up and cooked a hamburger, ate it, and went back to bed without saying a word to her. It seems to be a common side effect, though. It was a great help, but I'm so glad to be off of it for good. I take diphenhydramine to sleep when I need to."

• Ins...
• June 9, 2021

Zolpidem for Insomnia "I started experiencing insomnia after I was diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease, and it only became worse after dialysis/transplant. I have been on Ambien for over 10 years and just recently had to switch from 5 mg to 10 mg. There were days it did not work, but mostly puts me to sleep, especially the now higher dose. I do experience haziness some days when waking up, but I have severe nighttime effects: “drugged or drunk” feeling, sleep shopping, off balance, eating, being intimate with my partner, which I only have flashbacks of (consensual) - short-term memory loss, emotional. Nothing else works for me, and if I come off this, I’ll be awake for at least 4 days before I crash."

• J d...
• January 1, 2017

For Insomnia "It works great. I was prescribed 10 mg, but I cut them in half and take 5 mg instead. Why? I only need to get that tired feeling, not to be knocked out like I'm getting my wisdom teeth pulled out. You take it at night, get in bed right after you take it, and wait for it to kick in. Of course, you're going to get dizzy if you're looking at your phone or binge-watching on Netflix while it's kicking in. So don't do that, haha! If you're afraid that you'll get addicted to it, I mean come on, it's not like it's Xanax. And if you are still afraid to take it, there's also this thing called 'exercise.' It makes you tired, and the worst side effect is losing weight."

• Anonymous
• September 11, 2009

Zolpidem for Insomnia "I took only a small amount, like 1/4 of a pill, and within 15 minutes, I was asleep. I did this for 3 nights, well, this morning I woke up feeling fine. After a while, I felt dizzy and was dizzy all day, felt horrible, my chest was tight, and I have asthma. So if you have asthma, be careful, it also gave me anxiety. My husband takes this, and he does fine."

• ami...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 7, 2018

For Insomnia "My experience with Ambien started in 2008. I was going through some rough times in my life. I was depressed and could not sleep well. My doc prescribed me Ambien 5 mg 'for a couple of months.' A few years later, the dose was increased to 10 and then to 20 mg. I was taking it for 10 years with a few short breaks here and there. Now I'm finally on my route to get it out of my system. January-July, I was taking only 5 mg a night. The withdrawal is REAL. I have all the symptoms possible. I could not function too well, so I took 2 weeks off from work. I wake up after 4-5 hrs of sleep and am unable to fall back asleep. I have flu-like symptoms. I lose balance. I cannot think straight as my brain is foggy. But I'm staying strong. I'm 5 days Ambien free. Please take it only if it is your last resort and NEVER let it control you."

• Nig...
• August 18, 2010

Zolpidem for Insomnia "Ambien CR assists me in falling asleep but only briefly, often waking after just 3-4 hours. When it does work, I don't recall things like getting up to turn on lights and the TV full blast! I have also experienced dizziness, loss of motor skills, and next-day grogginess/sleepiness. Today I woke to find my small craft table smashed on the floor, all the craft items scattered on the floor. A crash like that would most certainly have awoken me, right? Well, no, it didn't, and I don't recall knocking it over! So it had to be me while sleepwalking again! I have turned to taking it only when I am truly desperate for a decent night's sleep!"

• Gaz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 10, 2018

For Insomnia "My experience of Zolpidem is like many on here. I take 10 mg every 3 nights, for example, if I take it on Monday night, I will have a break until Thursday and so on. That way, my body does not get addicted to it. For me, it starts to work in as little as 10 mins when relaxation kicks in, then the full effects begin around 20 mins. But if you are not in bed, you can begin to have balance issues when walking, similar to being drunk, and there have been times when I have had amnesia if I have not gotten in bed straight after taking this drug. There have been times when I have taken one and then been reading in the lounge before bed, and the next thing I remember is waking up 6 hours later in bed, not remembering how I got here or turning the lights off (thankfully, I did turn them off, I just don't remember!). It is a powerful drug, so always remember to take it as you get into bed or you will be at the risk of having amnesia. Overall, it works quickly and is the most effective sleeping medication I have taken."

• swe...
• October 3, 2019

For Insomnia "When I first tried zolpidem for insomnia due to anxiety, I was so scared considering I've heard crazy stories. But I did. The next morning, I felt light-headed, with vertigo, and it made my depression worse, however, I slept so hard that it felt like I died and came back to life. The depression was from vertigo. It felt just like melatonin that actually puts you to sleep. P.S. Vertigo went away the 3rd time trying it. It has helped me so much."

• Ken...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 4, 2019

For Insomnia "I take it and sleep in 20 minutes or so. I have a good night, I don't sleep too much, and the next day I'm not sleepy, so it works perfectly. The only side effect that I'm struggling with is amnesia, as I am starting to get to a weekend and notice I don't remember my week, and it gets even worse if you consume alcohol or take it and stay awake. With alcohol (even not drinking much), I came to forget that I went to bed and woke up believing I was going to sleep, and forgot the whole morning after. And once I took it as I thought I was going to sleep, and a friend called me to go out, and I didn't drink a drop, but I forgot the whole night and 'woke' the other day at lunch not remembering if I slept or what happened or what I did in the morning. I'm not sure if it's only because of the zolpidem or because I consumed alcohol at the beginning, but I felt very dizzy at first, during the day."

• Pin...
• August 10, 2011

Zolpidem for Insomnia "I have read so many things and do not know what to believe. I have post-traumatic stress disorder and have taken sleep aids from the health food store, which left me with vertigo and not feeling well. I have not had any of the usual side effects with Ambien, and it leaves me refreshed, however, I do have one weird side effect, and I was not sure at first if it was the Ambien. But it is. I am usually a person who is cold and likes the heat. But I have gotten heat sick several times, and living in NYC, where there is no air and we are constantly having heat waves, it has made me sensitive to heat. I am super sensitive, and usually if there is a side effect to be had, I get it, but really I have not had anything except the heat exhaustion. I mean sweating, etc."

• JH0...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 6, 2022

For Insomnia "Had heart issues (PVCs) after receiving the 2nd Pfizer COVID vaccine. Affected my sleep enough for my doctor to prescribe Zopiclone 7.5 mg. Went on those for 4 weeks, then another 4 weeks, cut to half a tab and continued up and down with sleep for about 8 months. Read some other reviews as I was getting minor dizzy spells throughout the day, but I could NOT sleep or nap without Zopiclone. Needless to say, I was physically and psychologically addicted to these drugs. I decided to wean off by using a low dose of mirtazapine 15 mg and 7.5 mg and stopped taking Zopiclone. I had about 4-5 nights of disturbed, awake but sedated style sleep at first, but now I am sleeping like I used to and can even take a short nap on the couch. I don’t seem to be getting any dizzy spells anymore either. I was petrified of rebound insomnia getting off Zopiclone, however, upon reflection, I wish I had done this months ago. I will never have one of these tablets again."

• Nor...
• December 7, 2009

For Insomnia "Ambien is definitely effective for sleep, I think most will agree with that. It did put me to sleep. I am a very social person and enjoy talking to people and being around people. I started taking the generic Ambien in Nov of 2008 and was on it for a year. It worked great for 2 months, then the side effects began. I started to get heart palpitations, which is unusual for me, a 30-year-old male, not overweight and overall healthy with sleep issues. Then, I began getting dizzy, which turned into dizziness with horrible anxiety. I have never had a panic attack until I took Ambien. I would get bad anxiety at the grocery store, at lunch with customers, and at work. I have been off this for 2 months, and the anxiety is finally gone, no sleep."

• Dou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 8, 2016

Zolpidem for Insomnia "Very fast-acting, very effective, and does not make you as drowsy the next day. Have experienced some dizziness the following day, but nothing serious."

• Anonymous
• March 26, 2009

Zolpidem for Insomnia "The drug actually only worked for about five hours, but I did sleep soundly. However, the following day, after using Ambien, I experienced drowsiness, dizziness, and stomach cramping."