Zolpidem and Drowsiness: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Liz...
• March 14, 2015

Zolpidem for Insomnia "I have been on regular Ambien 10 mg since 2007. I have major insomnia and have tried alternatives and even quit drinking caffeine and limit sugar to no avail. I talked to my doctor yesterday and decided to try the CR because I just couldn't stay asleep. After 3-4 hours, I was wide awake. Well, last night I had the most vivid dreams and I am still groggy this morning. It definitely helped me fall back asleep. (I pee a lot, lol.) I am glad I waited until the weekend to see how it would affect me. I took it at 8:30 p.m. and it's almost 9 a.m. and I feel slightly hungover. I'm going to try it again tonight, but sleeping through the night might not be worth it. I can't believe some reviews say it's not effective because it immediately made me sleepy!"

• Mr ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 7, 2014

For Insomnia "Zolpidem provides a fabulous alternative med for sleep to OTCs. It's a relaxing but also effective means of quickly falling asleep. If only the scientists could modify the meds so zolpidem does NOT cause next-day grogginess and drowsiness in susceptible individuals. Thank you."

• Jen...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 12, 2020

For Insomnia "After having a violent cough caused by ramipril for 18 months, which caused total sleeplessness, I now have to take zolpidem every other night. I take 7-1/2 mg but am finding I am waking after 2-3 hours, unable to get back to sleep. I have been to sleep clinics where I stayed awake also. Would it be counterproductive to increase my dosage, or have I come to the end of the line regarding sleeping pills?"

• Wee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2018

Zolpidem for Insomnia "I have been dealing with severe insomnia recently and tried several things. Melatonin worked for about a day, then stopped. I tried OTC options, but nothing worked. I would get drowsy but was still unable to fall asleep. It was beginning to take a toll on my body, I have a physically demanding job and was really feeling the effects. My doctor is great, he asked about things I've tried, and he told me to try Ambien. Well, talk about fantastic! I took it last night after trying to fall asleep naturally and failing, and within 45 minutes, I was blissfully asleep. I slept the entire night, something I haven't been able to do. It works wonders for me, although I haven't been on it enough to know if it will continue to work, and I am aware of the limitations of this drug (shouldn't take it for more than 2 weeks). If you have a doctor willing to let you try it, I would highly recommend you do so. Make sure you take it about an hour before you want to be in bed sleeping."

• zzz...
• October 30, 2009

Zolpidem for Insomnia "This has been very helpful for me. My sleeping pattern has been messed up for years since having a daughter with a significant disability, which included, among many other things, a sleeping disorder. Ambien has enabled me to fall asleep consistently after a short period of time trying to fall asleep, whereas I used to, more often than not, lay awake for hours before falling asleep. It is interesting for me that there have been a couple of times where I was not able to go to bed for over an hour after taking it, and it didn't seem to make me feel any more groggy or sleepy, but when I did finally go to bed, I fell right asleep."

• Fai...
• May 5, 2009

Zolpidem for Insomnia "I've tried several different sleep medications for insomnia and while attempting to get used to the CPAP machine for sleep apnea. Ambien CR works great, I can get a full night's sleep, however, go to bed within 1 hour of taking the medication, or you will feel a bit drugged. I don't recommend taking it every night, it is addictive (try not to take more than 3 nights in a row). It is more difficult to wean off from than regular Ambien. Overall, if needed, this is a good medication if taken responsibly."

• nic...
• January 7, 2009

Zolpidem for Insomnia "I could never get to sleep as long as I have remembered. I'll get to bed around 2 and fall asleep around 5 or 6, and I wouldn't call it sleep anyway. I have been taking Ambien for 2-3 months and sleep fine. Much better than other medicines I've used for insomnia. No hangover the next day, just groggy for 30 minutes or so."

• Ste...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 22, 2016

Zolpidem for Insomnia "I've been sick for the past week, and because of that, I cut out my nightly glass of brandy - figured it was time to start cutting out certain unhealthy vices. I primarily used the brandy as a sleep aid right before bed (just one glass). Since doing so, however, I've been waking up several times a night. So, I asked my mom if I could take a small piece of one of her Ambien - about 1/4 of a pill. After about 15 minutes, my eyelids were heavy, and I don't remember actually going to sleep. It's more like I just blacked out. Today (the morning after), I didn't wake up until after 11 a.m. Just for context, I went to bed around 11 p.m. As I write this, it is almost 4 p.m., and I'm still extremely groggy and lethargic, along with dehydrated and cranky."

• Sca...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 18, 2015

Zolpidem for Insomnia "I was prescribed this by my doctor as a result of being bipolar and being up for days on end. Ambien is definitely a tremendous sleep inducer. After a few minutes, you wouldn't know if you were dead or alive. I was probably on 5 mg for about a year. When I was on a bipolar 'high', I could take three pills and only sleep a couple of hours. I often felt groggy or drugged the next day using this product. I quit taking this product as a result of weird and unexplained behavior. One time, I woke up with no clothes on and couldn't find them. I never slept naked because I was single and had a 17-year-old. Scary stuff. You don't know what you're doing on this stuff."

• Lex...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 2, 2021

Zolpidem for Insomnia "This medication is the worst. The first night, I only took a half, it did put me right to sleep. It was not a restful sleep. When I woke up, I was groggy, stumbling. The next night, I took the other half, it did not put me to sleep at all, and when I did fall asleep, once again not restful, not deep, terrible. Did not wake up groggy. On the third night, tonight, I did not take any Ambien. As I’m writing this now, it’s four in the morning, and I did not sleep. In fact, insomnia feels triple in strength-no sleep, not tired, night terrors, sleep paralysis, trembling. This is horrible. I’ve been up the entire night. I’m exhausted. I will never take Ambien again. It made things much worse for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 11, 2015

For Insomnia "My doctor prescribed this medication 10 mg for my serious illness of anxiety. I used to be so anxious I would feel sick at night and not be able to sleep for days. This medication has helped me to sleep within an hour of taking it. I do wake up at 4:30-5 every time I take it but fall back to sleep quite quickly. The only problem is that it does make me super drowsy in the morning. Next time I take it, I'll try only using 5 mg instead of 10 mg to stop the drowsiness. Other than that, it has saved my life!"

• Anonymous
• November 15, 2010

Zolpidem "I came here to post my experience over the years with Ambien and Ambien CR. They were bad for me. I had issues with memory, especially with my family having to remind me of what I said and did, even the morning after, really groggy, cloudy, fuzzy. Not good for raising kids. I was helped by sweetlemon on this website in her post here: I asked my doctor about Silenor, and she gave me 3 milligram tablets. She had no samples, but I figured I had already spent a fortune on Ambien, so why not. Got 7 hours of sleep without a problem. I haven't felt this good in a very, very long time. Thank you all on this website. I can sleep now!"

• Pet...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 7, 2018

Zolpidem for Insomnia "Careful with this drug. I would not recommend using it for more than a couple of weeks. I took it for just over a month and ran into problems after the third week. There's a good reason most doctors are unwilling to prescribe it long term because it is pretty bad to withdraw from, and you can start to crave the high that it gives. If you stay up, just one night of doing that was enough, as I got addicted. I found myself not remembering that I took more than one... Some nights I took 3 and even 4 one night. The next day, I was severely drowsy, was also experiencing withdrawal sweats, muscle twitches, and severe anxiety. Personally, I find Doxylamine to be actually more effective than Ambien, and it's not addictive."

• Anonymous
• October 27, 2009

Zolpidem for Insomnia "I've taken 12.5 mg Ambien CR on and off for 3 months now. Within the last two weeks, it's been more like every day. I was so groggy all day. Also, I'm not sure I slept... It was more like just being turned off rather than in a state of recuperative sleep. I cut the pill in half last night and had only 4 hours of sleep, where I awakened twice. I still feel more refreshed than ever, probably because this is the first time in weeks I don't have an Ambien hangover. It's a great medicine, but I'd like to wean myself off of it. I suspect it's either causing depression or amplifying a depression I didn't know I had."

• Anonymous
• April 14, 2010

Zolpidem for Insomnia "I have been taking Ambien for more years than I can count due to insomnia and nightmares. I have experienced the 'sleepwalking' activities, mostly repetitive conversations and eating, which have been benign and harmless. Fortunately, I have family that is up later than me, so they keep me from doing anything too outrageous. Sometimes I have a vague memory of my activities if my husband brings it to my attention, but if I am particularly stressed or anxious, the side effects are amplified and my memory is gone. As for morning grogginess, a shower usually perks me up."

• Cam...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 25, 2018

For Insomnia "I have extreme chronic muscle pain that prevents me from falling asleep. Zolpidem helps put me to sleep at least five out of every seven nights. I am also on Mirtazapine at 15 mg (an anti-depressant also used for sleep and certain types of pain). I find if I'm not a little drowsy, and my chronic pain is not lessened when I take the zolpidem, I won't fall asleep. I take the Mirtazapine three hours before bed, and then the zolpidem two hours later. I'm generally drowsy and experiencing less pain by then. After the zolpidem dose, usually asleep within an hour. For pain patients, I highly recommend the Mirtazapine/zolpidem combination. The quality of sleep is good as well, and I don't feel drugged or groggy in the morning."

• Anonymous
• December 20, 2010

Zolpidem for Insomnia "I used to be on trazodone, Ambien, and Ambien CR. I enjoyed both Ambiens because I did get a lot of the sleep that I have missed out on, but I did feel groggy when I woke up and still tired. When Ambien CR started to not work as well, I would ride a bike and end up in someone else's lawn. My body got so used to all of them that, now after 1 year of not taking them, it still treats my body as if I am 'high.' Everyone's experience is different."

• ano...
• January 4, 2010

Zolpidem for Insomnia "I love Ambien, although its effectiveness dwindles. I like to split my 10 mg tablets into five and combine it with 1/2 bar of Xanax, sleep like a dream, and I am not groggy at all. Restoril is fabulous too."

• vir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 3, 2014

For Insomnia "I have had insomnia for about 7 years. I took temazepam (Restoril) for about 3 years, but it eventually quit working entirely, so I started taking 10 mg of zolpidem nightly about 4 months ago. It is very good at helping me to go to sleep quickly, and I stay asleep about 6 hours, but not much longer. I haven't felt any drowsiness the next morning or had any headaches or other side effects. I have learned a few things about zolpidem, though. I cannot eat at all for at least 2 or 3 hours before taking it. Also, I need to go to bed within 15 or 20 minutes after taking it, or it doesn't work very well. Lastly, I learned that I can't eat chocolate for at least 5 or 6 hours before taking it because of chocolate's high caffeine content."

• Jes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 8, 2018

Zolpidem for Insomnia "These take up to an hour to kick in for me, so it is frustrating when I take it for breakthrough insomnia in the middle of the night. I also feel more groggy with this sublingual form of Ambien versus when I take standard Ambien (swallow). Not what I was expecting, but it does help a little."

• Dan...
• August 6, 2008

For Insomnia "I use Stilnox, which is what we call Ambien here in New Zealand. I am a flight attendant, and every now and then, I need to reset my body clock back to NZ time. Zolpidem works well, and no groggy feeling the next morning, nor do I get the funny aftertaste like I do with Imovane. I must admit, though, you really need to be ready for bed as it's fast-acting. The only negative is if I need to use the bathroom in the night, my partner tells me I end up walking into walls."

• fro...
• October 28, 2009

For Insomnia "I have not been happy with this medication. It causes extreme drowsiness, indigestion, and wakes me up within a few hours. I also find myself eating in the middle of the night. Since I tend toward depression, it makes me feel even more so."

• sle...
• October 14, 2009

For Insomnia "I have been taking the generic zolpidem for 2 years without a problem. I love my Ambien, wake up without being drowsy. Have noticed a longer time frame before it kicks in, the longer I take it. If very anxious, can wake me after 4 hours. Overall, a great medicine, and I am very sensitive with medications."

• Anonymous
• April 7, 2009

For Insomnia "I love zolpidem, it works great for me. I've been using it about 4 times a week for 9 months, and so far I haven't had any tolerance or loss of effectiveness. I'm asleep within 30 minutes after taking it, every time. I have noticed that it makes me drowsy for a while the next day (not as bad as Tylenol PM or Unisom can). There have also been a couple of times when I have woken up in the middle of the night and done weird stuff that I don't remember, which is kind of scary. Overall though, it has been a Godsend."

• Car...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 1, 2022

For Insomnia "I'm 75 and have been struggling with no desire to sleep since I was 27. Sounds unbelievable, but this is true, you can ask anybody who's known me through the years. I've had three sleep studies, and they tell me that my neurotransmitters don't stop until 3:00, and they get going until 6:00. There's many a time I can go all night without sleeping and totally be functional the next day. If I get 2 hours a night, I'm fine, totally functional the next day. Zolpidem is the only thing that I can take to get at least 2 hours of sleep because I could not take the whole one, as it will affect my cognitive abilities the next day. I bite into the little pill, and that will give me enough to sleep at least 2 hours, and actually, after all these years, 2 hours is enough. If I get more sleep, I feel very dopey the next day. As you can read, I don't react like most normal people and don't require sleep to totally function either mentally or physically the next day. For 33 years, I've taken it, not every day, just intermittently."