Ambien Symptoms and Signs

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Are People Purposely Staying Awake On Ambien?

The fight against drug abuse includes an Ambien alert.

You will be surprised to learn that Ambien is being abused by users taking it to chill out.

Staying awake on Ambien is something abusers are doing to experience an amnesic adventure.

What is Ambien?

Zolpidem has several brand name drugs it is dispensed under, which includes Ambien.

Physicians prescribe Ambien for insomnia.

This drug is classified as sedative-hypnotics and comes in pill form, sublingual tablet, or oral spray.

Brand names of Zolpidem:

  • Ambien (pills)
  • Ambien CR (pills, long-acting)
  • Edluar (sublingual tablet)
  • Intermezzo (tongue spray)

Ambien is designed to be taken at bedtime, and the Ambien warnings STRONGLY advise against taking it under any other circumstances.

Many of us take Ambien honestly, thinking that we have enough time before going to bed to fold laundry or do a few dishes. However, there is a short window between taking Ambien and it taking effect.

Staying awake on Ambien becomes nearly impossible.

Once it kicks in, wherever you are, whatever you are doing, you will not have any memory of what you do. Sleep driving, sleep eating, and other risky behaviors can occur without you being aware of it.

You put yourself in harm as well as others.

Statistics

2010

  • From 2005-2010, there was a 220% increase in emergency room visits relating to Zolpidem
  • 68% of emergency room visits in 2010 related to Zolpidem were female.
  • The use of Zolpidem as a prescription for insomnia increased as adults aged and became more educated.
  • More women than men used prescription sleep aid.

2016

  • Zolpidem was in the Top 10 overdose drugs.
  • 251 suicidal deaths in the U.S. were from Zolpidem

The Abuse of Ambien

The first sign of abuse is intentionally staying awake on Ambien. Aside from the purpose of using Ambien for insomnia, some of us began abusing this drug as a way to chill without any inhibitions. Our bizarre behaviors surfaced once the Ambien kicked in, leading to all sorts of things while in a state of sleep.

Such things included driving, eating, cooking, cleaning, sex, taking other drugs, hallucinating, posting leud/insulting/compromising content on social media, and shopping. Many Ambien abusers have a lighthearted attitude about their sleep-induced behavior after taking it.

Ambien hallucinations are perceived as comical while the abuser is recorded during conversations they may have with things that are not there. The intentional “setup” by staying awake on Ambien is done, so others are entertained by your behavior.

While this form of fun and entertainment may be worthy for some, for others, it presents the potential for addiction. Those of us who have a history of drug abuse are at higher risk of dependency.

Side Effects of Ambien

  • Staying awake on Ambien is extremely dangerous because of:
    • Sleep driving
    • Sleepwalking
    • Sleep sex
    • Sleep shopping
    • Sleep texting or posting on social media
    • Sleep eating
    • Sleep cooking
  • Drowsiness
  • Lightheadedness
  • Impaired thinking and functioning
  • Headache
  • Drunkenness or a sense of being “drugged”
  • Flatulence
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Heartburn
  • Abdominal pain
  • Uncontrollable shaking
  • Numbness in extremities
  • Pain or burning in extremities
  • Dry mouth
  • Tinnitus
  • Red eyes
  • Muscle aches or cramping
  • Hoarseness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Vomiting
  • Chest pain
  • Blurred vision

Long-Term Side Effects

  • Dependence
  • Withdrawal symptoms; nausea, fatigue, panic attacks, anxiety, uncontrollable crying
  • Overdose
  • Death

Overdose Symptoms:

  • Coma
  • Unresponsiveness
  • Death

Mental Illness and Ambien

Having trouble falling asleep may be manifestations of mental disorders. Mental disorders and insomnia go hand-in-hand, and many of us who have depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or another mental illness have significant problems in falling asleep.

For some, Ambien provides no relief even after 7-10 days of treatment. Staying awake on Ambien becomes frustrating, leading to potentially abusing more drugs to seek sleep. Because of this, we may choose to abuse Ambien and take more than the prescribed dose in the hope of sleeping. We put ourselves at high risk of overdose and even death.

Research Results: Group Study
63% (33 patients) had a mental disorder
43% of patients had a history of drug abuse
81% (43 patients) had withdrawal symptoms after stopping Zolpidem

Treatment for Ambien Addiction

You have the power within you to put the brakes on your dependence on Ambien. A place with other people going through the same thing as you is Resurgence California. You are not alone in your addiction to this drug. We want you to live a normal, healthy life free of drugs with the ability to experience a good night’s rest. Resurgence helps you to be the person you want to be.

Are you ready? All it takes is a phone call. Our phones are manned 24/7.

Resurgence California is a family-like atmosphere where you get the help you need. Every person here will be behind you 100% of the way, encouraging you and helping you. From the moment you walk through our front door, you will gain a sense of being with those who care and love you.

The days of chilly institutional-like treatment centers are gone. Here you can relax in comfy, overstuffed furniture in front of a fireplace, or soak up the peaceful quiet out beside a pool.

Inpatient residents can choose a center based on the level of accommodations. Whether you prefer something standard (that most do) or more luxurious, executive amenities, we have it. Celebrities, homemakers, fathers, mothers, young adults, and the elderly have crossed our thresholds seeking help.

Our faith-based healing and spiritual-holistic therapies are available for those of you who seek to heal the body, mind, and soul. Detox is a part of a treatment plan that cleanses your body from the drug. You have the option of medical detox to make the process more comfortable.

Once you complete detox, you will move on to partial hospitalization to help you ease slowly back into life.

Our approach to treatment is through evidence-based therapies. We use cognitive behavioral therapy and eye movement, desensitization, and reprocessing. During your other therapies, you will learn skills and strategies to equip you to seek other ways to relax and fall asleep.

Residents look forward to the outpatient part of the program. A sense of “graduating” is something that you will find rewarding. As an outpatient, you continue therapy during scheduled visits. If your job, school, or childcare needs to be considered when scheduling visits, we offer intensive outpatient therapy for such situations

Payment and Insurance

We strive to make every part of your time here at Resurgence pleasant and positive.

Our stress-free payment system allows you to make secure online payments.

Payment plans are also available.

We will be happy to contact your insurance for you to verify coverage.

A minute used to worry about contacting insurance can be a minute invested in getting better! We accept most PPO insurances.

If you do not see your insurance in our listing below, give us a call.

  • Assurant Health
  • Vista Insurance Partners
  • Humana
  • Ameritas Group
  • Health Net
  • Cigna
  • Horizon Blue Cross
  • Premera Blue Cross
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield

We have confidence in you and your ability to get better.

Your time here at Resurgence California will not only be healing, but a time for you to reflect, reprioritize, and rejoice in breaking free from the chains of addiction.

You no longer have to rely on staying awake on Ambien to relax.

Being able to lay your head on a pillow at the end of the day and drift naturally off to sleep is something to cherish! Come on, what are you waiting for? Make that phone call! 

Addiction Treatment that
Just Works

Individualized treatment programs delivered in a comfortable, relaxed setting promote healing in your recovery journey.