Ambien Side Effects
What should I watch for?
Visit your doctor or health care professional for regular checks on your progress. Keep a regular sleep schedule by going to bed at about the same time each night. Avoid caffeine-containing drinks in the evening hours. When sleep medicines are used every night for more than a few weeks, they may stop working. Talk to your doctor if you still have trouble sleeping.
After taking this medicine for sleep, you may get up out of bed while not being fully awake and do an activity that you do not know you are doing. The next morning, you may have no memory of the event. Activities such as driving a car ("sleep-driving"), making and eating food, talking on the phone, sexual activity, and sleep-walking have been reported. Call your doctor right away if you find out you have done any of these activities. Do not take this medicine if you have used alcohol that evening or before bed or taken another medicine for sleep since your risk of doing these sleep-related activities will be increased.
Wait for at least 8 hours after you take a dose before driving or doing other activities that require full mental alertness. Do not take this medicine unless you are able to stay in bed for a full night (7 to 8 hours) before you must be active again. You may have a decrease in mental alertness the day after use, even if you feel that you are fully awake. Tell your doctor if you will need to perform activities requiring full alertness, such as driving, the next day. Do not stand or sit up quickly after taking this medicine, especially if you are an older patient. This reduces the risk of dizzy or fainting spells.
If you or your family notice any changes in your behavior, such as new or worsening depression, thoughts of harming yourself, anxiety, other unusual or disturbing thoughts, or memory loss, call your doctor right away.
After you stop taking this medicine, you may have trouble falling asleep. This is called rebound insomnia. This problem usually goes away on its own after 1 or 2 nights.
Common and Rare Side Effects
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
confusion about identity, place, and time
discouragement
false or unusual sense of well-being
fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
feeling sad or empty
general feeling of discomfort or illness
irritability
lack of appetite
lightheadedness
loss of interest or pleasure
shakiness and unsteady walk
tiredness
trouble concentrating
trouble sleeping
unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination
unusual tiredness or weakness
Rare
attack, assault, or force
black, tarry stools
bladder pain
bloody or cloudy urine
burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
change in walking and balance
chills
cold sweats
crying
decreased awareness or responsiveness
deep or fast breathing with dizziness
delusions of persecution, mistrust, suspiciousness, or combativeness
difficult, burning, or painful urination
difficulty swallowing
dizziness
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from lying or sitting position
fainting
false beliefs that cannot be changed by facts
feeling of unreality
frequent urge to urinate
irregular heartbeat
irritability
lack of feeling or emotion
light-colored stools
lower back or side pain
numbness of the feet, hands, and around the mouth
pale skin
poor insight and judgment
problems with memory or speech
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
quick to react or overreact emotionally
rapidly changing moods
restlessness
seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
sense of detachment from self or body
severe sleepiness
sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
stomach pain
swollen glands
thoughts of killing oneself or changes in behavior
tightness in the chest
trouble recognizing objects
trouble thinking and planning
trouble walking
troubled breathing with exertion
uncaring
unusual bleeding or bruising
vomiting
yellow eyes or skin
unease or dissatisfaction with life
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Less common
Back pain
being forgetful
belching
body aches or pain
congestion
difficulty having a bowel movement
difficulty with moving
double vision
feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
hoarseness
indigestion
longer or heavier menstrual periods
loss of memory
muscle pain or stiffness
pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
seeing double
sensation of spinning
stomach discomfort
tender, swollen glands in the neck
unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness, or feeling of sluggishness
voice changes
Rare
Bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste
blemishes on the skin
blindness
blurred vision
breast pain
change in near or distance vision
change in taste
changes in patterns and rhythms of speech
decreased interest in sexual intercourse
difficulty in focusing the eyes
feeling of warmth
frequent urge to defecate
inability to have or keep an erection
increased appetite
increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
increased sweating
itching of the vagina or genital area
lack or loss of strength
loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
pain during sexual intercourse
paleness of the skin
redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
redness or other discoloration of the skin
severe sunburn
slurred speech
stomach upset
straining while passing stool
tearing
thick, white vaginal discharge with no odor or with a mild odor
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
