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Americans have a hard time falling asleep. The CDC states that “In 2020, 14.5% of adults had trouble falling asleep most days or every day in the past 30 days…In 2020, 17.8% of adults had trouble staying asleep most days or every day in the past 30 days.” That’s why we love sleeping pills, especially Ambien (zolpidem). Once people start taking Ambien (zolpidem), many keep on taking it. That’s in large part because it works. Most people fall asleep pretty fast after taking zolpidem. But the FDA makes it quite clear that patients should not be prescribed zolpidem indefinitely:
The FDA’s official prescribing information says:
“AMBIEN (zolpidem) is indicated for the short-term treatment of insomnia characterized by difficulties with sleep initiation.”
Please note the words “short-term.”
There is another FDA caution! It is a boxed warning, the agency’s highest alert:
WARNING: COMPLEX SLEEP BEHAVIORS:
“Complex sleep behaviors including sleep-walking, sleep-driving, and engaging in other activities while not fully awake may occur following use of AMBIEN. Some of these events may result in serious injuries, including death. Discontinue AMBIEN immediately if a patient experiences a complex sleep behavior.”
The FDA goes on to describe “Complex Sleep Behaviors” in a bit more graphic detail:
“Complex sleep behaviors, including sleep-walking, sleep-driving, and engaging in other activities while not fully awake, may occur following the first or any subsequent use of AMBIEN. Patients can be seriously injured or injure others during complex sleep behaviors. Such injuries may result in a fatal outcome. Other complex sleep behaviors (e.g., preparing and eating food, making phone calls, or having sex) have also been reported. Patients usually do not remember these events.”
Sleep Driving with Ambien (Zolpidem)?
Most of us have a very hard time imagining sleep walking, sleep driving or having sex while fast asleep. Burt we have heard from so many readers that we do not doubt such behaviors occur, often with total amnesia for the events. Here is just one link to such stories.
This reader describes what happened after taking Ambien:
Q. I had a bad experience with Ambien. I totaled my car only two houses from my home. One evening, about 10 minutes after I had taken the drug, my husband mentioned that he had forgotten to pick up one of his prescriptions. I told him I would go pick it up. The pharmacy is only about five minutes from our home. I felt fine to drive.
I crashed into a mailbox and tree. I never felt sleepy while driving. I have wondered if a study has been done regarding the number of traffic accidents that have occurred after someone took zolpidem.
A. The sleeping pill Ambien (zolpidem) can begin to exert an effect quite quickly, depending in part on the formulation and timing. Most people start to feel sleepy within 15 to 30 minutes, so your impairment came on very fast. We have heard from others who have engaged in dangerous activities after falling asleep.
You can learn more about the pros and cons of various sleeping pills and many non-drug options for dealing with insomnia in our eGuide to Getting a Good Night’s Sleep. This online resource can be found under the Health eGuides tab.
Another reader shared a somewhat similar experience:
“I took Ambien, jumped in the shower, ate something and fell asleep watching TV. Apparently, I got in my car and drove into an electrical pole, knocking it over. I woke up in a hospital emergency room the next day with no recollection of anything.”
A DUI Citation After Ambien (Zolpidem):
Q. I have a question about Ambien. I took it and ended up sleep-walking. In fact, I was driving my car and was slapped with a DUI citation. I don’t remember a thing. Can you help me?
A. Sleep-walking, sleep-eating and even sleep-driving are potential hazards of taking Ambien (zolpidem). We have heard from other readers who have gotten into accidents while sleep-driving because of zolpidem.
Legal cases involving “sleep-related, complex behaviors such as sleepwalking and sleep driving” have been brought before the courts, but the legal decisions have been inconsistent (Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 2011; Journal of Law and Medicine, 2016).
Another Case of Sleep Driving Under the Influence of Ambien (zolpidem):
Wally offered this story about sleep driving:
“Ambien (zolpidem) would make me sleep walk, eat and drive! I would wake up with food in my bed. I would not remember anything about how that happened.
“One time I woke up in the hospital with a broken finger, femur, ankle, patella plus a fractured skull. I had been sleep driving. I am sure about that because I NEVER wear pajamas when I am driving. NEVER!
“I am pretty sure I was sleep walking to my car and then driving in my pajamas. I totaled my car into a tree about 30 seconds from my house.”
Other Options for Insomnia:
Many people are loathe to give up their Ambien (zolpidem). That’s because if they stop, the insomnia comes back with a vengeance. The only way they can sleep is with zolpidem on board. Please share your experience with zolpidem or any other sleeping pill in the comment section below. Have you ever had an accident while taking a drug like zolpidem?
For people who would prefer to avoid such sleeping pills, we offer a number of alternatives in our eGuide to Getting a Good Night’s Sleep. This online resource provides information on popular sleep aids and natural approaches to overcoming insomnia. It is available at this link.
Lisa
My family has a genetic pre-disposition to trouble sleeping, and I’ve been taking Ambien for over 30 years with no side effects except having a restful sleep.
Nan
I have taken it for many years with absolutely no problem. My spouse awakens many times in the night and is awake for some time. I am an extremely light sleeper and would get very poor sleep without the Ambien. I went off it when given hydrocodone after foot surgery. No problem going off that either. I’m glad that my doctor believes that sleep is more important than expert opinions.
Leslie
I was taking Ambien for a short period of time and had a sleep-eating event where I awakened outside lying on the ground. I had blue-black crunchy things in my mouth and at first thought they were bugs. I ran inside to the bathroom mirror and in the sink was an opened bag of blue corn tortilla chips. I felt very afraid as I had no memory of doing it or how I got outside. I feared that something much worse could have happened to me.
I quit taking it, told my doctor at my next appointment and as she had had 3 similar unconscious incidents reported to her, she told me she would quit prescribing it.
Suzy
Manhattan
I have been taking 10MG for at least 15 years every day without any problem, except that it still is not a very good nite sleep. I am threatened by NY State, who says that at 70 you can’t get it anymore. Not sure I will be able to survive this.
PS: Right now the insurance will only pay for 15 days a month. The other 15 days I pay $28 for 15 pills or $2 per generic pill!
PS2: CBD oil (with Zolpidem) helps a lot but a good one is really expensive
PS3: My mother had Ativan, Oxycodone most of her adult life. When she died, 92, she had been Oxy free for a number of years and on her own volition.
Ruth Gutstein
Maryland
I have used Ambien (zolpidem) on an occasional basis. I used to use 10 mg. at bedtime, but after reading about the experiences with driving in one’s sleep, etc., I had it cut down to 5 mg., which I take occasionally before bedtime. I haven’t had a problem with it.
Kathleen
Maryland
I, too, have been taking 5 mg of Ambien on a very occasional basis for years – as directed, including with at least 7.5 hours to sleep afterwards. I’ve never had any problem with it. I use it only if I haven’t slept well for several consecutive nights – maybe once or twice per month. I don’t know why, other than mis-use, that it affects people differently, But I hope this isn’t becoming another drug that is taken off the market for everyone because some people have bad reactions.
Lynn
ca
Ambien is supposed to be taken at night. Maybe these people are taking too high a dose.
I never had any problems but my Dr. said it was a “dependent type of drug” so needless to say he wouldn’t fill a RX after a month. It is supposed to be only a temporary solution to some sort of trauma and can’t sleep situation. What are these physicians doing prescribing for long term. People should sue the Doctor for over-subscribing.
Jan
Michigan
I think it’s stupid people are saying about driving after taking Ambien you’re not supposed to do that it says in the information on Ambien take only when you’re ready for bed get in the bed because I don’t know when it affects you be ready for sleep. Be ready for sleep you’re supposed to take it because you need to go to sleep if you’re out there driving and taking Ambien your ignorant
Anonymous
Anonymous
I don’t think any of the reports involve people who took Ambien and then willingly drove. A person posted this, and I believe they are mis-understanding the dangers of this drug. People are taking Ambien, going to bed, falling asleep and then conducting these activities by way of sleep walking and sleep driving. Do not underestimate how dangerous this drug is. I think it should be taken off the market.
Karen
Oregon
I tried numerous times to get off Ambien, especially after reading the very negative side effects that were actually changing my brain function!
Not only was it hard to get to sleep, but I experienced vivid night terrors as I withdrew from the drug.
I finally just bit the bullet and decided to get off cold turkey. It was hard, but now my memory is better, my thinking is clearer and I can get to sleep ok as long as I don’t have caffeine after 3:00 pm. I am relieved to finally sleep like a normal person?. I feel stronger and better about myself for conquering this addiction. You can do it!!!
Harriet
Roanoke, VA
No problem for 10 years. I’m 78, in very good health. Should I expect problems to develop? I take 1/2 pill at night and wake up fine the next morning.
Jeanne
Minnesota
What dosage were they taking?
jane
CO
Seems I read some while back that sleep aids, on average, let one fall asleep about 5 minutes sooner and sleep about 15 minutes longer than placebos. Perhaps prescribing “placebos” would be much safer all the way around.
Penelope
FL
For me, lavender essential oil under the nose and on the pillow brings sleep quickly and easily.
Suzy
NC
I also had a bad experience with Ambien, resulting in totaling my car only two houses from my home. My dad had recently died, and in going through his things, I saw a bottle of Ambien. I kept it, thinking “just in case” I may need it. (Yes, I know taking meds prescribed for someone else is a huge No-No.) One evening, about 10-15 minutes after taking Ambien, my husband mentioned that he had forgotten to pick up one of his prescriptions, so I told him I would go pick it up. The pharmacy is only about 5 minutes from home, and I felt fine to drive. (He did not know I had taken the Ambien.) The result was what I mentioned in the first sentence…crashed into a mailbox and tree. I never felt sleepy while driving. I have wondered if a study has been done regarding the number of traffic accidents/violations that have occurred after taking Ambien.
SMW
I’ve never had a problem with Ambien CR and been taking for 10yrs. Chronic insomnia aggravated by shift work. If you have a problem you should stop taking it. It’s the only thing I can take that doesn’t leave me groggy the next day. When I retire in a couple of years I do want to wean off. And I’m tired of being lectured about taking something that, as of yet, causes me no problems. This first was blown out of proportion by two high-ranking male politicians who were able to blame Ambien for DUI even though they had both been drinking. So, instead of coming down on men about Ambien dosage it was women who “weren’t supposed to take the higher dosage because it stays in their system longer because of more body fat” according to the all-knowing FDA. I don’t know if that’s still the case. I know people who buy OTC sleep medications like Nyquil and Benadryl that leave them extremely hung over the next day. How is that supposed to be better? Strangely enough, I used to be able to take Benadryl, but when the grocery store brand of acetaminophen PM I took was discontinued I could not find another brand that did not leave me feeling terrible the next day. Go figure.
Brian
Rindge NH
Yes! I, too, got a DWI for sleep driving while taking Ambien. My shrink was useless and took no responsibility for how the med affected me. I lost not only my driver’s license but my career. I never misused it but I lost my career because of it. The rebound insomnia led to a horrible car accident when I fell asleep at the wheel and I have 24/7 chronic pain.