Ambien

Ambien is a Schedule IV controlled substance available in 5-mg and 10-mg tablets. A Schedule IV drug has a low potential for abuse relative to the drugs or other substances in Schedule III. A Schedule IV drug has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Also, a Schedule IV drug may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the drugs or other substances in Schedule III.

Patients who abuse prescription sleep aids such as Ambien may form an addiction. Individuals with a history of drug addiction or substance abuse are at increased risk for habituation and Ambien addiction. Therefore, they should be under careful surveillance when taking any hypnotic such as Ambien.

Ambien addiction is often difficult for friends and family to recognize. Contrary to popular belief, one need not abuse drugs daily to have a problem with addiction; the pattern of abuse may be occasional or habitual. The abuse is usually an intensely private affair between the abuser and a bottle of pills. And, the pilltaker is not subject to the social stigma associated with the shadowy world of street drug dealing.

Ambien Withdrawal
Ambien with the generic name of Zolpidem belongs to a class of medicines that effects the central nervous system, called sedative hypnotics. Ambien is closely related to a family of drugs called benzodiazepines. These drugs cause sedation, muscle relaxation, act as anticonvulsants (anti-seizure), and have anti-anxiety properties. Ambien has selectivity in that it has little of the muscle relaxant or anti-seizure effect and more of the sedative effect. Therefore, it is used as a medication for sleep. Addiction to Ambien can occur with regular use for an extended amount of time. Once discontinued, Ambien Withdrawal symptoms may arise. This creates a vicious cycle, the user has the desire to quit using Ambien, but the Ambien Withdrawal symptoms they experience are the same if not worse than before their initial use of Ambien.

Ambien Withdrawal symptoms include but are not limited to:

• Abnormal extroversion or aggressive behavior
• Loss of personal identity
• Confusion
• Strange behavior
• Agitation
• Hallucinations
• Worsening of depression
• Suicidal thoughts
• Insomnia
• Anxiety

Ambien Overdose
Ambien with the generic name of Zolpidem belongs to a class of medicines that effects the central nervous system, called sedative hypnotics. Ambien is closely related to a family of drugs called benzodiazepines. These drugs cause sedation, muscle relaxation, act as anticonvulsants (anti-seizure), and have anti-anxiety properties. Ambien has selectivity in that it has little of the muscle relaxant or anti-seizure effect and more of the sedative effect. Therefore, it is used as a medication for sleep. People who take too much Ambien may become excessively sleepy or even go into a light coma. The symptoms of overdose are more severe if the person is also taking other drugs that depress the central nervous system. Some cases of multiple overdoses have been fatal.

When abused, Ambien tablets are taken orally, crushed and then snorted, or dissolved in water and "cooked" for intravenous injection.

• sleepiness
• confusion
• dizziness
• clumsiness
• severe nausea or vomiting
• staggering
• difficult or slow breathing
• slowed heart rate
• unconsciousness

Ambien Side Effects

Ambien with the generic name of Zolpidem belongs to a class of medicines that effects the central nervous system, called sedative hypnotics. Ambien is closely related to a family of drugs called benzodiazepines. These drugs cause sedation, muscle relaxation, act as anticonvulsants (anti-seizure), and have anti-anxiety properties. Ambien addiction and abuse affects numerous individuals today. Many become addicted unintentionally and do not realize it until they experience withdrawal symptoms when they discontinue use.

Ambien side effects include but are not limited to:

• abdominal pain, abnormal dreams, abnormal vision, agitation, amnesia, anxiety, arthritis
• back pain, bronchitis, burning sensation
• chest pain, confusion, constipation, coughing
• daytime sleeping, decreased mental alertness, depression, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, difficulty concentrating, difficulty swallowing, diminished sensitivity to touch, dizziness on standing, double vision, dry mouth
• emotional instability, exaggerated feeling of well-being, eye irritation
• falling, fatigue, fever, flu-like symptoms
• gas, general discomfort
• hallucination, hiccup, high blood pressure, high blood sugar
• increased sweating, infection, insomnia, itching
• joint pain
• lack of bladder control, lack of coordination, lethargy, light-headedness, loss of appetite
• menstrual disorder, migraine, muscle pain
• nasal inflammation, nervousness, numbness
• paleness, prickling or tingling sensation
• rapid heartbeat, rash, ringing in the ears
• sinus inflammation, sleep disorder, speech difficulties, swelling due to fluid retention
• taste abnormalities, throat inflammation, throbbing heartbeat, tremor
• unconsciousness, upper respiratory infection, urinary tract infection
• vertigo, vomiting
• weakness

Ambien side effects that are rare include but are not limited to:

• abnormal tears or tearing, abscess, acne, aggravation of allergies, aggravation of high blood pressure, aggression, allergic reaction, altered production of saliva, anemia
• belching, blisters, blood clot in lung, boils, breast pain, breast problems, breast tumors, bruising
• chill with high temperature followed by heat and perspiration
• decreased sex drive, delusion, difficulty urinating
• excessive urine production, eye pain, facial swelling due to fluid retention
• fainting, false perceptions, feeling intoxicated, feeling strange, flushing, frequent urination
• glaucoma, gout
• heart attack, hemorrhoids, herpes infection, high cholesterol, hives, hot flashes
• impotence, inability to urinate, increased appetite, increased tolerance to the drug, intestinal blockage, irregular heartbeat
• joint degeneration
• kidney failure, kidney pain
• laryngitis, leg cramps, loss of reality, low blood pressure
• mental deterioration, muscle spasms in arms and legs, muscle weakness
• nosebleed, pain, painful urination, panic attacks, paralysis, pneumonia, poor circulation
• rectal bleeding, rigidity
• sciatica (lower back pain), sensation of seeing flashes of lights or sparks, sensitivity to light, sleepwalking, speech difficulties, swelling of the eye
• thinking abnormalities, thirst, tooth decay
• uncontrolled leg movements, urge to go to the bathroom
• varicose veins
• weight loss
• yawning