Sleepwalker found frozen after taking Ambien

[Anxious Patient]

Man freezes to death while sleepwalking barefoot in his underwear in 20-below zero weather.

Ambien, the most-prescribed sleep aid in the United States has helped millions, but it has also has been linked to hundreds of cases of sleepwalking, sleep-driving and even sleep-shoplifting.

http://www.startribune.com/local/east/37614524.html

[RN1982]

I had a friend who used to take Ambien. She said that if she didn't go to bed within 15 minutes of taking it she would be a demon. She said that she left the headlights of her car on all night, left the door wide open with the keys in the lock all night, she sideswiped a cement post while going to the ATM. She doesn't take it anymore. I took unisom for a while, not on a regular basis, I only took half of the pill and it was enough to knock me out for 16 hours.

[Mommy_of_3_in_AL..RN]

I have to admit..I am an Ambien user. There are several things that i have done with no recollection, which is usually because i take it, then decide to do something else..clean, bathe, play online, etc. The only thing i have done that i regret, was running my car into a ditch..because i decided to go visit a friend after taking my meds. Lesson learned..i take it as i am getting into bed now. My husband does not like my taking it, but he also is under the impression that insomnia is all in my head, and i can "will" myself to sleep. I was diagnosed 8 years ago, and ambien is the only thing that does not leave me hungover the next day. It is a very helpful med for those that truly need it, but the warnings about taking it right at bedtime should be better understood by users.

[nuangel1, BSN, RN]

i take ambien and have never had a problem with it .the insomnia was awful months and months and lack of sleep affected my personality and not for the better.as we all know people who take any drug can suffer sideeffects .the med may not be for everyone but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be an option for people who need it.

[StrwbryblndRN]

We had two different pts take ambien for the first time on our floor. Both stripped naked and walked into another pt's room. One pulled out his iv and his foley bag was dragging behind him. What a sight to see a man dripping blood and naked come into your room. Everyone understood and the pt apologized.

Life is like taking a med for the first time. You never know what is gonna happen.

[RN1982]

I had one too many patients who took ambien and would then do the "strip naked, pull out every line" thing, so everytime a patient asked for something to help them sleep, I suggested Restoril to the doc.