![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 25. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jacquie on April 24, 2000, at 16:48:56
Please let me know if anyone else out there has had "blackouts" from ambien. I literally have no recollection of certain events, although people tell me about them. Like not remembering phoning people. I just started ambien less than a week ago to help with micro awakenings from celexa. I still wake up 2x a night, but am a bit scared of this ambien. Please help if you can. Thanks very much. Jacquie
Posted by Greg on April 24, 2000, at 17:21:40
In reply to ambien and memory loss, posted by jacquie on April 24, 2000, at 16:48:56
jacquie,
I'd ask my doctor if possibly it might be the Ambien and Celexa together causing the problem. I'm not saying that it isn't the Ambien on it's own, but Ambien dissapates from the system after 4 hours (which is why most people like it, no morning groggyness) and has very few negative reported side effects from what I've read. I've been taking it for almost a year and its been a life saver (or sleep saver anyway) for me. I'm sure someone here will have a better take on this than me. I've never taken Celexa and don't know a great deal about it. Absolutely sounds like a problem you should speak to your doc about, good luck.Peace,
Greg> Please let me know if anyone else out there has had "blackouts" from ambien. I literally have no recollection of certain events, although people tell me about them. Like not remembering phoning people. I just started ambien less than a week ago to help with micro awakenings from celexa. I still wake up 2x a night, but am a bit scared of this ambien. Please help if you can. Thanks very much. Jacquie
Posted by jane on April 24, 2000, at 18:47:52
In reply to Re: ambien and memory loss, posted by Greg on April 24, 2000, at 17:21:40
> jacquie,
> I'd ask my doctor if possibly it might be the Ambien and Celexa together causing the problem. I'm not saying that it isn't the AmbienI can't believe your post - last night I apparently did alot that I don't remember (including driving the car-my son fortunaltely took over) bought food, removed nail polish, and covered my joints with linament bec. of pain. And no memory of my adventures. Scarey. and yes, I've been on ambien for years and celexa for almost a year; but without ambien I won't sleep at all.
Posted by jacquie on April 24, 2000, at 19:42:51
In reply to Re: ambien and memory loss, posted by jane on April 24, 2000, at 18:47:52
jane,
have you spoken to your doctor? I did some research on the tips section of this website and sure enough there's an article on ambien and memory loss. i have also read that when you take it you should plan on going to bed immed. I have been struggling with celexa for 6 weeks. the chronic sleep problem is driving me to seriously consider dropping it and not taking anyhting else...ever. the ambien is horribly creepy side effect. i was so embarrassed. i am grateful it was a friend who told me that i called her, but it really spooked me. please let me know how you feel about celexa after 3mo, 6 and one year. if you have time. i can't stay asleep at all. i used to wake up 3x a night, now it is 2x with ambien. thanks so much for your help.jane. all the best, jacquie> > jacquie,
> > I'd ask my doctor if possibly it might be the Ambien and Celexa together causing the problem. I'm not saying that it isn't the Ambien
>
> I can't believe your post - last night I apparently did alot that I don't remember (including driving the car-my son fortunaltely took over) bought food, removed nail polish, and covered my joints with linament bec. of pain. And no memory of my adventures. Scarey. and yes, I've been on ambien for years and celexa for almost a year; but without ambien I won't sleep at all.
Posted by jacquie on April 24, 2000, at 19:46:08
In reply to Re: ambien and memory loss, posted by Greg on April 24, 2000, at 17:21:40
greg, thanks for your advice. it is a strange and creepy feeling to have no recollection. iam seeing one doctor tomorrow and plan to discuss this. i did read about memeory loss in the tips section of this website...it seems to be rare. the concern i have is whether or not these effects have some permanent damage somewhere along the line...thanks for your input, greg. best, jacquie
> jacquie,
> I'd ask my doctor if possibly it might be the Ambien and Celexa together causing the problem. I'm not saying that it isn't the Ambien on it's own, but Ambien dissapates from the system after 4 hours (which is why most people like it, no morning groggyness) and has very few negative reported side effects from what I've read. I've been taking it for almost a year and its been a life saver (or sleep saver anyway) for me. I'm sure someone here will have a better take on this than me. I've never taken Celexa and don't know a great deal about it. Absolutely sounds like a problem you should speak to your doc about, good luck.
>
> Peace,
> Greg
>
> > Please let me know if anyone else out there has had "blackouts" from ambien. I literally have no recollection of certain events, although people tell me about them. Like not remembering phoning people. I just started ambien less than a week ago to help with micro awakenings from celexa. I still wake up 2x a night, but am a bit scared of this ambien. Please help if you can. Thanks very much. Jacquie
Posted by Greg on April 24, 2000, at 20:37:13
In reply to Re: ambien and memory loss, posted by jacquie on April 24, 2000, at 19:46:08
Jacquie,
Please let me know what your doc has to say, I'm very interested to know if this side effect is common to certain groups of people or just a random effect.All My Best,
Greg> greg, thanks for your advice. it is a strange and creepy feeling to have no recollection. iam seeing one doctor tomorrow and plan to discuss this. i did read about memeory loss in the tips section of this website...it seems to be rare. the concern i have is whether or not these effects have some permanent damage somewhere along the line...thanks for your input, greg. best, jacquie
> > jacquie,
> > I'd ask my doctor if possibly it might be the Ambien and Celexa together causing the problem. I'm not saying that it isn't the Ambien on it's own, but Ambien dissapates from the system after 4 hours (which is why most people like it, no morning groggyness) and has very few negative reported side effects from what I've read. I've been taking it for almost a year and its been a life saver (or sleep saver anyway) for me. I'm sure someone here will have a better take on this than me. I've never taken Celexa and don't know a great deal about it. Absolutely sounds like a problem you should speak to your doc about, good luck.
> >
> > Peace,
> > Greg
> >
> > > Please let me know if anyone else out there has had "blackouts" from ambien. I literally have no recollection of certain events, although people tell me about them. Like not remembering phoning people. I just started ambien less than a week ago to help with micro awakenings from celexa. I still wake up 2x a night, but am a bit scared of this ambien. Please help if you can. Thanks very much. Jacquie
Posted by jane on April 25, 2000, at 8:30:17
In reply to Re: ambien and memory loss, posted by Greg on April 24, 2000, at 20:37:13
> Jacquie,
> Please let me know what your doc has to say, I'm very interested to know if this side effect is common to certain groups of people or just a random effect.
>
> All My Best,
> Greg
>
jacquie - I do take ambien at bedtime but I have other problems and the pain keeps me awake or wakes me. Let us know what your doc says.
Posted by jacquie on April 25, 2000, at 9:33:17
In reply to Re: ambien and memory loss, posted by jane on April 25, 2000, at 8:30:17
sorry to report the doctor had only to report that this is a side effect in some people with ambien..."blackouts" i guess I am one of the unlucky few. I am glad it works for both of you. My experience tell me that in higher doses it causes blackouts and esp. if you haven't eaten much. i took 15mg and had a very light dinner...i take 10 mg and it hasn't happened since. i am hypersensitive to any drug so this is not unusual.
thanks for all your help, jacquie
> > Jacquie,
> > Please let me know what your doc has to say, I'm very interested to know if this side effect is common to certain groups of people or just a random effect.
> >
> > All My Best,
> > Greg
> >
> jacquie - I do take ambien at bedtime but I have other problems and the pain keeps me awake or wakes me. Let us know what your doc says.
Posted by saint james on April 25, 2000, at 13:12:46
In reply to ambien and memory loss, posted by jacquie on April 24, 2000, at 16:48:56
> Please let me know if anyone else out there has
had "blackouts" from ambien. I literally have no recollection of certain events, although people tell me about them. Like not remembering phoning people. I just started ambien less than a week ago to help with micro awakenings from celexa. I still wake up 2x a night, but am a bit scared of this ambien. Please help if you can. Thanks very much. Jacquie
James here...
As a general rule of thumb any sleep med can cause
memory loss.j
Posted by jacquie on April 25, 2000, at 18:58:04
In reply to Re: ambien and memory loss, posted by saint james on April 25, 2000, at 13:12:46
THANKS FOR THE INFO. SOMEHOW, I AM NOT THE LEAST BIT SURPRISED. MY ONLY HOPE IS THAT THE MEM PROBLEMS ARE TEMPORARY AND DON'T POSE A PERMA EFFECT...ALTHOUGH IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO ASCERTAIN WOULDN'T IT? THANKS, JAMES
BEST,JACQUIE> > Please let me know if anyone else out there has
>
> had "blackouts" from ambien. I literally have no recollection of certain events, although people tell me about them. Like not remembering phoning people. I just started ambien less than a week ago to help with micro awakenings from celexa. I still wake up 2x a night, but am a bit scared of this ambien. Please help if you can. Thanks very much. Jacquie
>
> James here...
>
> As a general rule of thumb any sleep med can cause
> memory loss.
>
> j
Posted by saint james on April 26, 2000, at 17:21:40
In reply to Re: SAINTJAMES, posted by jacquie on April 25, 2000, at 18:58:04
> THANKS FOR THE INFO. SOMEHOW, I AM NOT THE LEAST BIT SURPRISED. MY ONLY HOPE IS THAT THE MEM PROBLEMS ARE TEMPORARY AND DON'T POSE A PERMA EFFECT...ALTHOUGH IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO ASCERTAIN WOULDN'T IT? THANKS, JAMES
> BEST,JACQUIE
>James here....
Once you stop the meds the memory problems will go away. These kind of meds don't cause perma effects.
james
Posted by JohnB on April 27, 2000, at 3:08:36
In reply to ambien and memory loss, posted by jacquie on April 24, 2000, at 16:48:56
I find it ironic that one of the side effects listed in the Ambien literature is insomnia.
Posted by jacquie on April 27, 2000, at 5:58:34
In reply to Re: ambien and memory loss, posted by JohnB on April 27, 2000, at 3:08:36
hi john,
i have experienced more irony in the last 6 weeks since istarted taking medication than i have in the lastyear. believe it or not i didn't sleep through while taking the ambien. celexa is an anti depressant, but read the side effects of that and irony will take on a whole new meaning. right noow i am being weaned off of everything because of my hypersensitivity to drugs. we hope to either find something else or keep me off of them. there are many positives to all the medication. let me ask you something....i received your email at 4:10a.m. and I hope you were not taking ambien and realizing the insomnia aspect of it. i hope you got some sleep. are you taking ambien? or curious? see you-jacquie> I find it ironic that one of the side effects listed in the Ambien literature is insomnia.
Posted by JohnB on April 27, 2000, at 13:45:40
In reply to Re: ambien and memory loss, posted by jacquie on April 27, 2000, at 5:58:34
Hi jacquie,
Thanks for your concern. No I didn't take Ambien the other night. But I tend to stay online into the wee hours sometimes, also I'm on the west coast, so later time zone than most on this site.
I don't have a lot of personal experience with Ambien. The few times I used it, I was out like a light. However I think for me it had a nasty rebound insomnia effect, ie., when you stop taking it. But again, I haven't used it enough to say that for sure. But when you read the handout that comes with it, sure enough, it says one of the side effects is insomnia! I just had to laugh at that one.
I think for sleep problems I would try first low dose Remeron (7.5 - 15 mg) or low dose doxipin (25 - 50 mg). I think Neurontin helps some people, Melotonin seems to help some, and there are other suggestions on this site.
Everyone's chemistry is different & there are a lot of meds, so if something isn't working, try something else. I think JohnL is right in that a lot of pdocs are too conservative about letting a person stay on the same meds for months or even years when the meds are not working that well. I think that we all have to get as much info as we can. No pdoc is going to care about you as much as YOU care about you.
Posted by jane on April 27, 2000, at 16:41:29
In reply to Re: ambien irony - to jacquie, posted by JohnB on April 27, 2000, at 13:45:40
JohnB - do you have any experience with sonata?
I've been on ambien a long time and it helped me sleep, but lately I wake, wander, and forget that I've been up. So as much as I hate it, I think that it is time to re-evaluate my meds. Bummer !
Posted by liz on April 28, 2000, at 22:26:47
In reply to Re: ambien and memory loss, posted by jacquie on April 27, 2000, at 5:58:34
Hi Jacquie! I've been trying to catch up on your news...a sleep aid sounded like a good idea, but perhaps ambien is not the one! I got back from Florida this Tuesday - a day late due to weather problems in Atlanta. Then I had an appt. with my doctor on Thursday, after about a 5 week period of minimal communication with him. (He had suggested I quit Adderall shortly after I started it due to my apparent manic reaction, although I reminded him that at 10 mgs. I had little effect, so why would 15mgs. make me kooky? BTW, I only stopped Adderall for a couple of days; Celexa by itself just put me to sleep). Then yesterday, while I was in his office, my father died; I did not find out until later that day. So now I'm hopping on another plane tomorrow to take me out to Oregon, but it certainly will not be a vacation. ( My Dad had been in failing health from Parkinson's for some time, so it wasn't a complete surprise, but I had hoped to see him again and had planned on going next week anyway.) On top of this shock, my doctor spent an 1 1/2 hr. with me yesterday. He asked me at length about my response to the drugs, the change in dosages, my self-medicating, my "non-compliance" (which he did not comdemn) etc. Eventually, he talked about the "comorbidity" of certain conditions, like OCD & ADD, both of which I now know I have, but initially I had thought that I was simply "depressed". He then dropped the bomb on me that I was exhibiting symptoms of Tourette's Syndrome - facial tics that I had not had before (or at least not to this degree). I was like "oh, give me a break!" but when we talked about it, I realized that my siblings and all the adults on my Dad's side had these similar...quirks. I thought that I had just been unconsciously mirroring the faces that had been around me since childhood...but no! He also said that for a time, there was a belief that stimulants, like Adderall or Ritalin, could actually cause Tourette's Syndrome but further investigation showed that the condition was there all along, but perhaps suppressed. The medication can sort of magnify (my word) what was already there. Of course, I had associated Tourette's with the more severe and more rare form of vocalizations, so this sort of blew me away! On top of that, he asked me what I thought about starting a mood stablizer. I had already made him aware of my new agressiveness: my research about my condition, the medications available, this site and its contributions, the journal I've been keeping and so on. I was pleased to see that he was pretty supportive of those efforts. He deferred to me on the issue of mood stabilizers for the time being; I said I was not comfortable with that approach yet and wanted some time to explore that possibility, which was OK with him. I'm to go back to see him with more frequency now because I guess this is more complicated than either of us suspected initially. Jacquie, I meant to be more responsive to you and your trials, and this has turned into something about me; I'm sorry! But this week has been absolutely crazy! I have gone from the person I thought I was (practically perfect, just like Mary Poppins, except for some vague little complaints) - to a raving maniac! Well, I might of over-stated that, but it is really weird! I managed to excel in school, maintain a marriage, rear children, live a decent life, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah and now, come to find out, I have been coping with a bigger burden than I ever suspected. Perhaps its an example of the strength of the human spirit or one's adaptability or some other positive quality....I have to put a positive spin on this. But given this, some of those defenses or coping mechanisms must have begun to slip...I can't explain that one. To make my long story even longer, which I am famous for(do you remember Edith Bunker from "All in the Family"? Thats me! Can't cut to the chase if my life depended on it!), we discussed the "target" symptoms for which we would try to find relief. This doctor does not just throw stuff against the wall to see what sticks; he wants to assess the most limiting behavior, the core debilating symptom and tackle that as the primary focus - then go from there. That made perfect sense to me. For example, I have a teenaged daughter who was put on Prozac, then Zoloft, for no articulated reason. There was no complaint of depression, no definitive symptom - nothing to justify the prescription - so consequently, there was no way to assess improvement. I can't believe
I went along with this but I know now that I was completely ignorant! Our family physician, whom I usually hold in high regard, just assumed she must be depressed because some of her behaviors seemed self-destructive. No one was looking for any other explanation nor for any other solution. No wonder she's been balky about taking meds! So I think targeting a symptom, forming a specific goal and then treating that symptom effectively through (what often becomes) trial and error makes sense. In my case, I fully expect to be on more than these two meds at some point. In fact, my doctor has just lately started to question Celexa due to its side effects plus, as we hone in on my most worrisome symptoms, I suspect that the protocol will change. I know now that I will have to have some patience with this - I guess I did believe there was a magic bullet out there for me. Maybe its another symptom of my OCD that I want things to be in order and I want it now!
Jacquie, I did want you to know that I had kept you in my thoughts and was anxious to hear if you'd made some changes and found some relief. Sorry to ramble...just sorting things out as I type I guess. I'll catch up with you again when I get back home! Take care, Liz
> hi john,
> i have experienced more irony in the last 6 weeks since istarted taking medication than i have in the lastyear. believe it or not i didn't sleep through while taking the ambien. celexa is an anti depressant, but read the side effects of that and irony will take on a whole new meaning. right noow i am being weaned off of everything because of my hypersensitivity to drugs. we hope to either find something else or keep me off of them. there are many positives to all the medication. let me ask you something....i received your email at 4:10a.m. and I hope you were not taking ambien and realizing the insomnia aspect of it. i hope you got some sleep. are you taking ambien? or curious? see you-jacquie
>
> > I find it ironic that one of the side effects listed in the Ambien literature is insomnia.
Posted by jacquie on April 29, 2000, at 6:01:19
In reply to talk about irony! (way too long), posted by liz on April 28, 2000, at 22:26:47
Liz! I was going to look up the old correspondence lastnight and email you....that's irony! I have been wondering and wondering. I am so sorry about your dad, I truly am. I think what you are going through is a test of human strength in many respects. I am very sorry, Liz. Please don't apologize for talking about yourself. Please, don't. I am honored that you want to share those experiences. Please connect when you get back. I am okay. I am being weaned off the celexa as we speak. I started down to 20mg lastweek and started taking 10mg today. I still take the ambien at night to help me sleep while I am on the celexa. alas, that is wearing thin as well. I am a bit unhappy that I will not be taking the celexa, because for the most part I had a better month than I have had in many years, but maybe it was pretty bad really and I just didn't realize it. The sleep problem only got worse. The ambien made be totally forget the day before and I have had a hard time gathering words for sentences. It's been that bad. So cognitively speaking things have not been great either. But I am okay. I look at me and the medication separately for some odd reason. I have thoughts about taking Paxil, but have yet to read one good thing about it. Now I am off to research amino acids again....the Sam-e, I tried that, but l-tyrosine. I am at a loss for th eright med for me. It seems I am hypersensitive to every thing. Well, you be well and keep me posted please!!! take care, Liz. Glad to have you back
**************************************************
> Hi Jacquie! I've been trying to catch up on your news...a sleep aid sounded like a good idea, but perhaps ambien is not the one! I got back from Florida this Tuesday - a day late due to weather problems in Atlanta. Then I had an appt. with my doctor on Thursday, after about a 5 week period of minimal communication with him. (He had suggested I quit Adderall shortly after I started it due to my apparent manic reaction, although I reminded him that at 10 mgs. I had little effect, so why would 15mgs. make me kooky? BTW, I only stopped Adderall for a couple of days; Celexa by itself just put me to sleep). Then yesterday, while I was in his office, my father died; I did not find out until later that day. So now I'm hopping on another plane tomorrow to take me out to Oregon, but it certainly will not be a vacation. ( My Dad had been in failing health from Parkinson's for some time, so it wasn't a complete surprise, but I had hoped to see him again and had planned on going next week anyway.) On top of this shock, my doctor spent an 1 1/2 hr. with me yesterday. He asked me at length about my response to the drugs, the change in dosages, my self-medicating, my "non-compliance" (which he did not comdemn) etc. Eventually, he talked about the "comorbidity" of certain conditions, like OCD & ADD, both of which I now know I have, but initially I had thought that I was simply "depressed". He then dropped the bomb on me that I was exhibiting symptoms of Tourette's Syndrome - facial tics that I had not had before (or at least not to this degree). I was like "oh, give me a break!" but when we talked about it, I realized that my siblings and all the adults on my Dad's side had these similar...quirks. I thought that I had just been unconsciously mirroring the faces that had been around me since childhood...but no! He also said that for a time, there was a belief that stimulants, like Adderall or Ritalin, could actually cause Tourette's Syndrome but further investigation showed that the condition was there all along, but perhaps suppressed. The medication can sort of magnify (my word) what was already there. Of course, I had associated Tourette's with the more severe and more rare form of vocalizations, so this sort of blew me away! On top of that, he asked me what I thought about starting a mood stablizer. I had already made him aware of my new agressiveness: my research about my condition, the medications available, this site and its contributions, the journal I've been keeping and so on. I was pleased to see that he was pretty supportive of those efforts. He deferred to me on the issue of mood stabilizers for the time being; I said I was not comfortable with that approach yet and wanted some time to explore that possibility, which was OK with him. I'm to go back to see him with more frequency now because I guess this is more complicated than either of us suspected initially. Jacquie, I meant to be more responsive to you and your trials, and this has turned into something about me; I'm sorry! But this week has been absolutely crazy! I have gone from the person I thought I was (practically perfect, just like Mary Poppins, except for some vague little complaints) - to a raving maniac! Well, I might of over-stated that, but it is really weird! I managed to excel in school, maintain a marriage, rear children, live a decent life, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah and now, come to find out, I have been coping with a bigger burden than I ever suspected. Perhaps its an example of the strength of the human spirit or one's adaptability or some other positive quality....I have to put a positive spin on this. But given this, some of those defenses or coping mechanisms must have begun to slip...I can't explain that one. To make my long story even longer, which I am famous for(do you remember Edith Bunker from "All in the Family"? Thats me! Can't cut to the chase if my life depended on it!), we discussed the "target" symptoms for which we would try to find relief. This doctor does not just throw stuff against the wall to see what sticks; he wants to assess the most limiting behavior, the core debilating symptom and tackle that as the primary focus - then go from there. That made perfect sense to me. For example, I have a teenaged daughter who was put on Prozac, then Zoloft, for no articulated reason. There was no complaint of depression, no definitive symptom - nothing to justify the prescription - so consequently, there was no way to assess improvement. I can't believe
> I went along with this but I know now that I was completely ignorant! Our family physician, whom I usually hold in high regard, just assumed she must be depressed because some of her behaviors seemed self-destructive. No one was looking for any other explanation nor for any other solution. No wonder she's been balky about taking meds! So I think targeting a symptom, forming a specific goal and then treating that symptom effectively through (what often becomes) trial and error makes sense. In my case, I fully expect to be on more than these two meds at some point. In fact, my doctor has just lately started to question Celexa due to its side effects plus, as we hone in on my most worrisome symptoms, I suspect that the protocol will change. I know now that I will have to have some patience with this - I guess I did believe there was a magic bullet out there for me. Maybe its another symptom of my OCD that I want things to be in order and I want it now!
> Jacquie, I did want you to know that I had kept you in my thoughts and was anxious to hear if you'd made some changes and found some relief. Sorry to ramble...just sorting things out as I type I guess. I'll catch up with you again when I get back home! Take care, Liz
> > hi john,
> > i have experienced more irony in the last 6 weeks since istarted taking medication than i have in the lastyear. believe it or not i didn't sleep through while taking the ambien. celexa is an anti depressant, but read the side effects of that and irony will take on a whole new meaning. right noow i am being weaned off of everything because of my hypersensitivity to drugs. we hope to either find something else or keep me off of them. there are many positives to all the medication. let me ask you something....i received your email at 4:10a.m. and I hope you were not taking ambien and realizing the insomnia aspect of it. i hope you got some sleep. are you taking ambien? or curious? see you-jacquie
> >
> > > I find it ironic that one of the side effects listed in the Ambien literature is insomnia.
Posted by LK on April 29, 2000, at 15:09:44
In reply to ambien and memory loss, posted by jacquie on April 24, 2000, at 16:48:56
> Please let me know if anyone else out there has had "blackouts" from ambien. I literally have no recollection of certain events, although people tell me about them. Like not remembering phoning people. I just started ambien less than a week ago to help with micro awakenings from celexa. I still wake up 2x a night, but am a bit scared of this ambien. Please help if you can. Thanks very much. Jacquie
I took ambien for about a year. The whole year is almost lost to my memory. I have forgotten even seeing movies I have seen before, and I saw them during the day when theoretically no ambien was in my system. I went sailing in the Caribbean (I remember I went) but dont remember what islands I visited. I have been off it for three months now, and am fine again with a good memory, but a whole year of my life is lost to my recollection.
LK
Posted by jacquie on April 29, 2000, at 15:50:15
In reply to Re: ambien and memory loss, posted by LK on April 29, 2000, at 15:09:44
LK-that is pretty serious. I don't recall my days either and I struggle to put thoughts together. Given that I have chronic problems with obsessive thinking,the combo of celexa and ambien has given my mind a much needed vacation and my biggest fear is all this thinking will come back. I am on 10mg of celexa now and still take ambien to help me sleep while i am on celexa. it boggles my mind that you lost all of those memories. how do you feel about that? from a medication and philosphical standpoint, if i may ask. thank you for sharing your experience with me. i am glad that you are okay. did you read the earlier message from saintjames?? he mentioned that all sleep meds will affect memory. i was unaware of this. please be well.
jacquie
************************************************
> > Please let me know if anyone else out there has had "blackouts" from ambien. I literally have no recollection of certain events, although people tell me about them. Like not remembering phoning people. I just started ambien less than a week ago to help with micro awakenings from celexa. I still wake up 2x a night, but am a bit scared of this ambien. Please help if you can. Thanks very much. Jacquie
>
> I took ambien for about a year. The whole year is almost lost to my memory. I have forgotten even seeing movies I have seen before, and I saw them during the day when theoretically no ambien was in my system. I went sailing in the Caribbean (I remember I went) but dont remember what islands I visited. I have been off it for three months now, and am fine again with a good memory, but a whole year of my life is lost to my recollection.
> LK
Posted by LK on April 30, 2000, at 9:29:53
In reply to Re: Whoa....LK, posted by jacquie on April 29, 2000, at 15:50:15
>
Jacqui -- I feel bad about the lost memory. It causes me embarrassment when I can't remember things, especially when I am talking to my 16 year old son. I am not sure what to say to you, except to talk to your doctor about alternatives. Lack of sleep can be very serious, too. Maybe a different antidepressant? Be sure your doctor knows what effect this is having. Ambien really isn't recommended for long-term use.
I hope you find something that helps!
LK
> LK-that is pretty serious. I don't recall my days either and I struggle to put thoughts together. Given that I have chronic problems with obsessive thinking,the combo of celexa and ambien has given my mind a much needed vacation and my biggest fear is all this thinking will come back. I am on 10mg of celexa now and still take ambien to help me sleep while i am on celexa. it boggles my mind that you lost all of those memories. how do you feel about that? from a medication and philosphical standpoint, if i may ask. thank you for sharing your experience with me. i am glad that you are okay. did you read the earlier message from saintjames?? he mentioned that all sleep meds will affect memory. i was unaware of this. please be well.
> jacquie
> ************************************************
> > > Please let me know if anyone else out there has had "blackouts" from ambien. I literally have no recollection of certain events, although people tell me about them. Like not remembering phoning people. I just started ambien less than a week ago to help with micro awakenings from celexa. I still wake up 2x a night, but am a bit scared of this ambien. Please help if you can. Thanks very much. Jacquie
> >
> > I took ambien for about a year. The whole year is almost lost to my memory. I have forgotten even seeing movies I have seen before, and I saw them during the day when theoretically no ambien was in my system. I went sailing in the Caribbean (I remember I went) but dont remember what islands I visited. I have been off it for three months now, and am fine again with a good memory, but a whole year of my life is lost to my recollection.
> > LK
Posted by Mark H. on May 1, 2000, at 12:40:35
In reply to Re: ambien and memory loss, posted by LK on April 29, 2000, at 15:09:44
Hi Jacquie,
Wow! A year! Ambien is incredibly effective, but I just can't use it any more. My wife says I have fallen out of bed twice, that I flop around so much she thought we were having an earthquake -- I'll take it one more time just so she can videotape it and show me what it does, but I've actually hurt my back TWICE falling out of bed, and of course I thought I got a perfectly peaceful night's sleep.
One other caution: I made the mistake of taking it while still on the computer (thinking I was going right to bed, yeah sure), and Sue says when she came to get me, it was like I was drunk and incoherent, and I fell down the stairs!! A friend of mine said the same thing happened to him!
It's an amazing drug, but I'm done with it (except for the home video night -- I've got to see this flopping around stuff).
Mark H.
Posted by jacquie on May 2, 2000, at 18:12:58
In reply to Re: Jacquie/ ambien and memory loss, posted by Mark H. on May 1, 2000, at 12:40:35
Hi Mark- thanks for the info. Ambien is very strange, but I must say that it works. I have learned to be very, very careful what I say and do and write and compute 20-30 minutes after I take it. I was told I talked very slowly and sounded drugged (don't remember this phone call) and then every once and awhile I look at my emails from the night before...no more emails after taking the ambien! Falling out of bed...yikes. Can't say that has happened to me. PLEASE be ever so careful...it helps to have humor and laugh at ourselves. I feel deeply for LK having lost an entire years worth of memories. Sometimes as they say the cure is worse than the disease. Thanks for sharing, Mark. I hope you're getting some rest. best to you, jacquie
> Hi Jacquie,
>
> Wow! A year! Ambien is incredibly effective, but I just can't use it any more. My wife says I have fallen out of bed twice, that I flop around so much she thought we were having an earthquake -- I'll take it one more time just so she can videotape it and show me what it does, but I've actually hurt my back TWICE falling out of bed, and of course I thought I got a perfectly peaceful night's sleep.
>
> One other caution: I made the mistake of taking it while still on the computer (thinking I was going right to bed, yeah sure), and Sue says when she came to get me, it was like I was drunk and incoherent, and I fell down the stairs!! A friend of mine said the same thing happened to him!
>
> It's an amazing drug, but I'm done with it (except for the home video night -- I've got to see this flopping around stuff).
>
> Mark H.
Posted by Cass on May 2, 2000, at 19:14:31
In reply to Re:Mark and upcoming Oscar..., posted by jacquie on May 2, 2000, at 18:12:58
I have not taken Ambien, but a friend of mine did. She was told by another friend that when she was on it, it was like she had ingested truth serum. I noticed it too. Sometimes when she called me before going to bed, she would end up drowsily and with slurred words telling me the "scandalous" stories about her engagement, marriage and her husband's past. I don't know if she remembered telling me because I never reminded her about the stories again. Those were not the sorts of things she usually talked about, so I thought she might be embarrased. Just be wary of making calls before going to bed!
Posted by jacquie on May 2, 2000, at 19:59:50
In reply to Ambien as truth serum, posted by Cass on May 2, 2000, at 19:14:31
Dear Cass- quite the truth and I never make calls after taking it. Had not thought of it in terms of truth serum...very good analogy and gentle reminder. thanks. jacquie
> I have not taken Ambien, but a friend of mine did. She was told by another friend that when she was on it, it was like she had ingested truth serum. I noticed it too. Sometimes when she called me before going to bed, she would end up drowsily and with slurred words telling me the "scandalous" stories about her engagement, marriage and her husband's past. I don't know if she remembered telling me because I never reminded her about the stories again. Those were not the sorts of things she usually talked about, so I thought she might be embarrased. Just be wary of making calls before going to bed!
Posted by SLS on May 7, 2000, at 20:52:28
In reply to Re: ambien and memory loss, posted by LK on April 29, 2000, at 15:09:44
> > Please let me know if anyone else out there has had "blackouts" from ambien. I literally have no recollection of certain events, although people tell me about them. Like not remembering phoning people. I just started ambien less than a week ago to help with micro awakenings from celexa. I still wake up 2x a night, but am a bit scared of this ambien. Please help if you can. Thanks very much. Jacquie
>
> I took ambien for about a year. The whole year is almost lost to my memory. I have forgotten even seeing movies I have seen before, and I saw them during the day when theoretically no ambien was in my system. I went sailing in the Caribbean (I remember I went) but dont remember what islands I visited. I have been off it for three months now, and am fine again with a good memory, but a whole year of my life is lost to my recollection.
> LK
Just an observation:Amnesia emerged as was one of the biggest complaints of people who were taking Halcion (triazolam), a potent benzodiazepine used for sleep. This would even occur to people who used it only occasionally to prevent jet-lag during air travel. Like Ambien (zolpidem), people often awaken just a few hours after taking it. Although belonging to different drug classes, both Ambien and Halcion have extremely short half-lives. Perhaps there is a connection.
Does anyone know if there are any similarities between Ambien and Halcion with regard to the "truth-serum" effect?
- Scott
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