Debbie Cousins's Journal, 05 January 2020

I love the openness and honesty. You’re not excusing anything and fighting it as best as you can and that’s wonderful! Hopefully you can find something that will help without the side effects. Prayers!😊 

The Ambien episodes are common with that medication. I had plenty of weird ones when I took it. Don't take it any more. 

Thanks, @ItsyTZB and @rgaDawg. I've "gone off" it several times before and tried many different substitutes, but just haven't found the one that works YET. I'm sure the problem will be resolved soon. Until then, I'm going to REALLY hope that nobody else gives me delicious sweets! 

I can SOOOO relate!! I have had chronic insomnia for about 20 years. Relied on Ambien for most of that time. I too had sleep eating (as well as other) incidents and I could never recall them or anything I did before falling asleep. My doctor slowly weaned me from 10mg to 5mg and then I switched to Xanax which I am now weaning from 10mg to 5mg. Right now I plan to continue the 5mg of Xanax for as long as I need it. It has eliminated my loss of memory incidents but it too is a controlled substance and I get tired of the hassle associated with ordering refills too early, and I now also have problems staying asleep with frequent awakenings. So this is what I am doing: I changed my regime to include non prescription sleep aids to fall asleep (they do work believe it or not, I was skeptical as well), and I also take 12.5 mg of melatonin to fall asleep. I still/always wake up in the middle of the night, always at the same time (1:00 am) so that is when I take the Xanax. I long for the days when I can completely eliminate the Xanax too. If ever, I refuse to go back to having the insomnia. I saw a therapist for help for quite a while but the insomnia persists. My insomnia has often resulted in marital discord as well, so it's a problem that is affecting him too, which is horrible. I tell the world this story because I hope it can help you or anyone else who may be addicted to ambien. Switching to Xanax seems to have made a major positive impact on my life. Adding non RX sleep pills has also helped as well and it may just help me get off of the Xanax, I am hoping. Best of luck to you!! I hope this might help.  

Thanks for the insights, @gail nowacky. I cannot take melatonin as it gave me the most terrifying nightmares imaginable. Took it once and NEVER again! I didn't think I'd live through that night. Not sure if Xanax would be a good fit for me because I think it is an anti-depressant or anti-anxiety drug, and I already am on a careful balance of three other ones. I guess you were wondering how I was such a wonderful person, right? Now ya know! I have an appointment with my psychiatrist on the 17th, and I am affirming that he will have the perfect solution for my insomnia that will NOT involve sleep-eating! Be blessed! 

Ambien is notorious for sleep walking and other unpleasant incidents while in a sleeping state. I guess I didn’t realize that it was still actively prescribed. 

I feel like i've not selpt well in 30 years, taking asll this information right in!  

WOW, @Diminishing_ME - I'd be DEAD if I'd gone that long without sleeping well! Thankfully, when I DO go to sleep, I sleep soundly and am able to go right back to sleep after I wake up to go to the bathroom during the night. 

It is still actively prescribed @Kenna Morton, but most doctors are hesitant to do it. I've been taken OFF of it several times. Once I got up and made these intricate little chocolate MICE with maraschino cherry bodies and tails and Hershey kiss head and nose with almond sliver ears. The next morning, I demanded of my children, "WHO made a mess of this kitchen!!!?" When they informed me that IIII had and had me look in the fridge, I had NO recollection of having even gotten up. Weird (but kinda fun, too, though I can see how it could be dangerous). 

Ambien is the debil's chile! I went across a time line ( 1.5 hrs) to an all night Walmart and bought the ingredients for thanksgiving.... cooked it and went to bed. TRASHED THE KITCHEN. Next night I went for a drive and woke up 30 miles from home THANK HEAVENS FOR PAJAMMAS! Nothing like waking up in the middle of cornfields and NO CLUE where you are. ( yes it was before the govt. gave poor people the cell phone maybe even GPS). I was done with Ambien. Went to Benadryl and Tylenol mix. Then if that did not work I (resorted to bad behavior) took a shot of Plumb Schlivavitz and went back to bed. That stuff is hard. Mom used to give it to us when we were sick... and you REALLY have to want to feel better to resort to that stuff. But It did KILL what every you had quick...better than Thera-flu.  

My Ambien story is when my son woke up to find that the night before I had apparently made PB&J with Milk, he wakes up my wife to tell her, "Hey, dad put the milk in the cabinet and the peanut butter in the fridge." Pretty mild. 

You are incredibly awesome!! An inspiration and WOWZER - I had nightmares too and never associated them with melatonin!! Crap!!!! Now what am I going to do?! Holey cow. Now I know.. I guess I am back to scratch. Perhaps the Zyquill alone will work. I am going to try that again, any feedback you get from psych, please message me. I would appreciate it very much! 

Well, your story certainly tops mine, @rebeccaberg!!! When I was off of the Ambien, @gail nowacky, and NOT on any other prescriptions, I would resort to taking Benedryl and Cyclobenzaprine (a muscle relaxer). That usually worked for me. Most all of the over-the-counter concoctions have either diphenhydramine (Benedryl) or melatonin in them. Have you tried drinking Sleepytime tea? Usually, if I can't go to sleep I do that, too (unfortunately with a slice of toast with butter and peanut butter!) Some of the non-effective (for ME!) Rx's I've tried are Rozerem (a VERY expensive medication), Trammadol, uh, er, um, I can't remember the rest - maybe one of their side effects was memory loss!