Ambien
Ambien is a Schedule IV controlled substance available in 5- 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 anti-convulsants (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 anti-convulsants (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.
Overdose of Ambien may include:
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 anti-convulsants (anti-seizure), and have anti-anxiety properties. Ambien addiction and abuse affects numerous individuals today. Many become addicted unintentionaly and do not realize it untill they expierence 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