I received a sample of these from my doctor as I was having problems going to sleep and staying asleep after I had a hysterectomy. I was having a lot of night sweats and a brain that would not turn off, for some reason. I took just one 5 mg pill and it did help me go to sleep and I slept pretty soundly. However, I woke up with a headache and a dry yucky mouth. After taking them for about a week my husband said I was talking in my sleep and getting up and going to the bathroom or into the living room or kitchen although I had no memory of getting up. I found a video online that described woman who took ambien who ended up getting into her car and hitting another car and getting arrested all with no memory of ever doing it. I am now not sure I will take anymore of this medicine. I am going to talk to my doctor and see if there is something else I can take. You can be sure i will be doing some research on any other medication she prescribes. No where in the literature I received did it have these side effects listed.

bed159

Rural Retreat, VA

Ambien CR is a prescription medication for insomnia.  It requires a doctor's prescription. It is the best sleeping medication I have tried.  It has allowed me to fall asleep quickly, and sleep soundly for at least six hours. I have tried the generic form of this medication (zolpidem) and it is inferior to Ambien CR.  It has helped me fall asleep, but wake up in the middle of the night and can't fall back to sleep.  Very awkward if you need to get a good night's sleep! Ambien CR is not covered by my insurance, so it is much more expensive to get at the pharmacy than to get the generic form with just a co-pay.  So, I get a prescription for the generic which I use on a more regular basis, but have the CR prescription filled and use for special nights when I really need to get that great night's sleep. My sleep trouble is because I can't seem to shut my thinking/worrying when I want to sleep...and Ambien CR really helps. I've never had this problem, but some people say that they have had sleep-walking when they've taken Ambien, so it's not for everyone.

mockx3

Beaver, PA

I have been having a problem falling asleep for a number of years now. This was the first sleeping medication that I took that was a prescription.  I knew that there was a few side affects to taking this, however, I never realized they were happening to me until my son told me what was going on. For the longest time, I was blaming my son for eating food out of the refrigrator at night.  He was getting grounded due to bowls, plates, spoons, forks, glasses missing.  We had to buy new forks and spoons due to them all missing.  Then one day my little dog was playing under the bed with a toy and I heard a bowl klink.  After climbing under the bed to see what was under there, I found all my missing dishes and silverware.  It wasn't my son, but ME eating all night. Which explained the 15 pounds I had been gaining for no reason. Secondly, I didn't know I was sleep walking.  My son was 9 at the time and had to sleep in the living room or in bed with me.  I would get up in the middle of the night and wander out into the yard in my pj's.  Or I would walk around the house and wake up in the kitchen floor.  Worse was when I got in the car and ran it into the well house.  THANK GOODNESS FOR MY INSURANCE!  Finally, I would buy stuff from infomercials not knowing I did it the next day.  I bought a carpet shampooer, make-up, knives, heaters, green putty, a select comfort bed (now that was a shock to see it show up), plus tons more. I have now learned I can't any kind of sleeping pill.  They just don't agree with my system.

cbilbo

Half Way, MO

My doctor prescribed me Ambien CR after I had been taking the generic version of Ambien which is Zolpidem.  It was losing its effectiveness, as all things can after extended use.  I had been using Ambien at 10 mg for 3 years or so, and it just wasn't working the same.  I found myself having lots of sleepless nights after taking Ambien and waiting hours for it to work.  I was skeptical about the Ambien CR, because instead of releasing 10 mg to me at once, it was only delivering 6.25 mg at a time (since it's 12.5 mg total and it releases half at first and the other 4 hours later).  But it did work.  It comes in a round, blue tablet.  I don't notice a difference between Zolpidem and Ambien CR once I've fallen asleep.  I don't think it helps me stay asleep any longer.  Just like the regular Ambien, your stomach has to be empty for it to work.  There's usually a sticker on my bottle that advises me to take it on an empty stomach.  If I take this medicine on a full stomach, I'll have to wait hours for it to work, and then I'll start to feel its effects.  I have tried lots of sleep aids, and some of them work ok, but as far as my racing thoughts go it works the best.  It is addictive, though.  As you can see, I've been taking some form of Ambien for around 4 years now.  So if you're not on this already, it's probably best not to take it at all.  

sarabentley

Layton, UT

My problem is exactly what Ambien CR is supposed to cure, falling asleep without trouble, but waking in the middle of the night with little hope of ever getting back to sleep. Does it work? Only moderately well. I still wake but do fall back to sleep eventually. The down side is (1.) feeling groggy all morning (I take the lower dose and this cannot be cut in half), (2.) ridiculously expensive (most insurance companies will pay for Ambien but not Ambien CR, (3.) works no differently from most other sleeping pills, including regular Ambien, (4.) it's simply a version (no better in my opinion) of regular Ambien, but by treaking it, they could get a new patent and charge a fortune while protecting it from generic versions. In conclusion, after horrific sleeping problems, I have discovered that UNISOMTablets work better than any prescription medication. But, and this is a HUGE but - only Unisom with the active ingredient Doxylamine.  Most Unisom has the active ingredient that starts with Diph --- , which is same as all the other over-the-counter sleeping pills. Unisom with Doxylamine is a completely different animal. (1.) For me, it works better than any other sleep medication I've tried, including Ambien CR, (2.) it is incredibly less expensive, (3.) you don't need a prescription, and (4.) you can cut it in half which I do since a whole Unisom Doxylamineis really strong. I hope someone can benefit form this, it has been a life saver for me, but has taken me years to discover.

HonesttoGoodness

Orlando, FL

Ambien CR scared me, at first.  I was afraid I would become dependent on it.  But my experience with it was completely different.  I use Ambien CR as needed, not every night.  I don't feel the need to use it nightly, nor do I feel as if I could not sleep without it. I do know that, during stressful times when adequate sleep is necessary, Ambien CR lets me get that deep sleep.  Taken according to directions (that is, when I have at least 8 hours before I need to get up), it produces no side-effects. So far, I've had no negative side-effects from any prescription medicine, so think carefully about how you might react to Ambien CR.  My experience, though, has been nothing but positive.

tk410158

Brentwood, TN

When I first started taking Amiien Cr, it was like it was working great, but the longer I take it, seems like its not what it was or that my body has gotten used to it...  I actually have to take another form of pm with this if I want a good nights sleep..

tinahornet

Alexandria, AL

**Ambien CR **(zolpidem tartrate ER) is the extended-release version of Ambien, a sleep-aid medication available only with a doctor's prescription. There is no generic version for the extended release version yet, so this medication remains uncovered by many prescription plans. This lack of a generic version's availability renders this medication too expensive for many who suffer from insomnia. Which is unfortunate.  Chronic insomnia has been linked to significant physical and psychological ailments: depression, high blood pressure, high blood sugars and gastrointestinal disorders.  Insomnia isn't "just" a restless night cut short by an early alarm clock.  Its a serious illness with significant consequences for nontreatment. I've used 3 versions of this medication: Ambien, generic Ambien (zolpidem tartrate) and **Ambien CR**.  Ambien CR is by far the most effective of the three, allowing me to fall asleep quickly, sleep soundly through the night, and wake refreshed without any residual "hangover" effects.  It works best on an "occasional use" basis, but I've also used it for weeks on end during times of enormous stress and it has continued to be helpful.   Speak with your pharmacist if your insurance company doesn't pay for Ambien CR and the usual Ambien is ineffective for you.  In limited cases, they can refer you to programs or alternative methods of payment.

SusanAbe

Harrisonburg, VA