My doc gave me a script for 10 mg Ambien to use on a temporary basis to put me into a less erratic sleep cycle. For the most part I like it, but I experienced a very disturbing side effect last night.

I took the Ambien around 6 PM, had dinner, then went to bed watching TV. I woke up bright and early the next day and felt fantastic...

UNTIL I turned on my cell phone. According to my phone history, at 7:30 I sent two text messages to my girlfriend, then around 8 PM I called her up. I got an email this morning saying that I left a strange message on her voicemail (which she claims she could not make out due to bad reception) and asking me if everything is okay. I recall none of this at all...

I looked up the words "ambien" and "amnesia" on google and it appears that memory loss has been reported in about 1% of known users. I just left my doc a message asking if this is something I should be concerned about. I certainly am a little bit disturbed.

From the anecodotal reports on Erowid and elsewhere, I have come to believe that the amnesiac qualities of Ambien are fairly well established. When I was in Mexico the last time, Ambien was a pretty popular over the counter street drug.. Alot of folks I talked to told me that if one chooses to stay awake while doing Ambien, then amnesia is pretty much a given...

I'm just glad I am not alone. The consensus seems to indicate that this side effect is not anything to be alarmed about but feels very spooky. I read one report about a father who was awakened from ambien-sleep by his son, then walked with him to a nearby store, purchased a few food items, and returned home. Were it not for the evidence of groceries in the kitchen, he would not have believed his son when he told him they went for a walk the previous night.

The only really scary thing about ambien is how fast it hits you. There is only a very short period of time when you feel it starting to work. Unlike with unisom and other OTC pills, you do not gradually get drowsy then drift off to sleep. You just feel a little light headed then you go out like a light. You also tend to wake up just as quickly. I think there are a few reports of ambien related auto accidents because of this, which to me is not too surprising.

Have you thought about trying melatonin instead. I would try the slow release so you stay asleep. For some this works wonders with out side effects or morning hang over.