I'm glad he has a stethoscope now i know he is a real doctor

I take Ambien for sleep problems. I love it because I have no side effects the next morning, and would love to take it every night, however I know I am not supposed to. I do forget what I did the night before. Soooooo..... I can be my own Secret Santa with Ambien and Amazon.

I personally take ambien every night I take the highest dose bcuz I have a bunch of medical conditions and it's complicated this is a life saver for me

I take 10 mg at 10 pm. It helps me very good for sleeping. It kicks in very quickly, and I have a good sleep.

I TAKE AMBIEN FOR YEARS & THANK GOD FOR IT. I'VE NEVER HAD A REACTION. I TRIED EVERYTHING. ONLY AMBIEN

I was diagnosed with low-grade chronic depression in 1990. I tried half a dozen anti-depressants but could not get comfortable on any of those I tried. I remarked to my psychiatrist at the time (in around 1992) that I thought I could handle the low-grade depression if I could just get a good night's sleep. He put me on 5 mg Halcyon and 10 mg Buspirone. A few years later he changed Halcyon to Ambien. I have been using 5 mg Ambien/Zolpidem and 10 mg Buspirone nightly for the last 25 years. Occasionally I will feel a need to raise the dosage for a few nights, then return back to the lower dosage. The results have been very satisfying, with no untoward side effects.

I've been on ambien every night for over 12 years. Never had tolerance develop, never done anything stupid on it, mainly because I take it and go to bed, not sit up, wander around the house, etc.

It’s the only sleep aid I’ve had that actually helps me fall asleep, stay asleep and wake up feeling refreshed. I haven’t experienced any side effects, I also have not been on them long. I’m also on ADHD and anti-depression medication.

Maybe the most calming voice on KZfaq

I have taken Ambien for at least 15 years. Probably started when it came out. I started off with 5mg and about 8 years ago started taking 10mg nightly. I sleep like a baby. No side affects at all that I'm aware of, no sleep walking, no problems and no issues, but great sleep. For about 15 years I consumed at least 2 or 3 large alcohol drinks maybe more every night during the evening sometimes refilling alcohol glasses. I continued taking Ambien and I noticed no problems. I quit drinking alcohol about 10 months ago cold turkey and noticed no change. I quit drinking alcohol because I thought that I got too old to drink and alcohol doesn't improve your balance and walk. Now I'm 81+ years old. Still sleep great, probably sleep better with no alcohol. I don't recommend consuming alcohol while taking Ambien, but I never had no noticeable problems. Since I quit I haven't missed consuming alcohol at all. I suggest you quit consuming Ambien and quit consuming alcohol if you realize you have a problem with Ambien and alcohol. If you have problem with Ambien like some comments below then quit taking it. I take the take the Ambien knock-off version Zolpidem 10mg because my insurance covers more of Zolpidem's cost. Good Luck to all of you. Stay healthy and sleep well. If you are up all night barking and biting folks, then adjust your consumption and contact a Sleep Medicine Doctor..

This saves my life during exam period...

Was also told to me that i cannot use this medication long term but since i havent had chemical side effects from using it ive been using it for 2 years. The most dangerous side-effects are not chemical, i start to overshare to my friends about my feelings and regret it tomorrow.

I have taken over 15 years (small dose). No problems. Always had trouble. My mind is more active at night even when child. My dad and I met at midnight for cereal since we couldn’t sleep. My best inventions and design’s come at night

I'm 95 and have been on Ambien for around 15 years. I use the 12mg controlled release. I hop right into bed after taking. The same time every night. I did try getting off many times in years past. They are really very effective. Trying to sleep is impossible without them. At age 95 I worry very little that I can't do without them. I just make sure I have 3 extra in reserve in the event of a blizzard or car failure.

I take Ambien only if I have had a severe case of insomnia for several days. I take it and immediately get into bed. If I delay getting into bed, I may do things I don't remember and binge eat. Ambien should be used with utmost caution, imho.

Wow I'm just falling asleep watching you Doc!

I've suffered a head injury in 1996 and have had chronic insomnia for 25 years. been taking ambien/zolpidum and ive had ups and downs with it. It's hard to control how your body responds to the med. I try to rember no cokes after 6pm. Not too much coffee during the day. A 1/2 glass of milk before bed. If I have not adhered to those rules then ......... for a faster acting sleep aid, let it dissolve under your tounge with lights off and eyes closed. No radio, no TV. Add a pair of soft foam ear plugs if you like. It works for me.

I've been taking it for well over 2 years with no down side. Maybe, if I imagine it, I could possibly feel a bit hung over, but not much. It hasn't affected my memory the next day, however after I begin to "feel" it the night prior, I don't have much recollection of what I did just prior to getting in bed. I also take a muscle relaxer called zanaflex (4 mg) with it and a chlorampheneramine (4 mg) tablet as well. I call it my sleep "cocktail" and it works like a charm with no down side. It's great! Get to sleep "naturally" without medication? No way. I'd roll around for hours. When I take my cocktail, it's like turning off a light switch! I'm glad I live in a day and age we have these wonderful drugs.

These are dangerous, if you take one, make sure you lay down and turn off all the lights. There has been a couple of times where I’ve had the lights on and was doing things waiting for the pills to make me sleepy and I ended up sleep waking and doing a bunch of random weird stuff, I also drove on it not remembering a thing!. 😖🤦🏽‍♂️

I never had any problems with sleep until I went through menopause. I had insomnia so bad that it was affecting my work. My doctor prescribed zolpidem 10mg & that worked very well. I have not had any side effects from it other than I have been on it for years now. I have tried not taking it, but can’t fall asleep without it.

I have severe insomnia, I have tried it all sleep hygiene, and other useful methods they do help. Ambien 10 mg helps me sleep 4 out of 7 days for up to 6-7 hours of sleep. I have been taking it since 2016. Yes I am addicted, I do go on short holidays without taking it. Now that I am retired. Thank God I don’t have to get up to go to work, so can sleep in. Yes I have experienced most of the side effects, except sleep walking, cause I don’t take it before I am going to sleep. Then it puts me down within 30 minutes!! So I say if you are careful and do not experience extreme side effects, this medication works.

People need to stop blaming patients for prescribing problems and side effects. "Not long ago" ppl did not have computers at home or in their hands. In the old days you had to trust your Dr 100% or get to a med library and read. Stop blaming patients. Now we have all info and our fingertips but it hasn't been like this for long.

I like this guy.

My case is unusual. My doctor suggested prescribing sleeping pills, and I refused. So he prescribed zolpidem and told me it was something to protect my intestines and important to take every day without fail. After a year and a half I found out what it was and quit. Tapering off didn't work, because knowing I had taken a sleeping pill would prevent me from sleeping. For the past 10 months after quitting I've sleep twice a month, 2 hours or so at a time. That's extreme insomnia. I've been told it will take a total of 18 months to fully recover, If I can survive that long. Instead of sleeping I spend 8 hours or more trying to sleep, and I always feel tired and sleepy, despite an excellent vegan diet and weight training.

My doctor prescribed me this medication and it’s done WONDERS for my insomnia. I have a lot of those side effects though.. my mom takes all the keys at night 😬

Hola. Desde Centroamérica. Soy asmática y leucopenia empecé a tomar media tableta sólo duermo 4 horas tomarla a las 12 de la noche y despierto a las 4am. No me da sueño en todo el día. Insomnio crónico trabajar y estudiar de noche desde los 17 años 16 horas diarias. 4 horas preparar planes de estudio y sólo 4 horas para dormir usaron muchas pastillas,pero uso muy prolongado 1987 a 2021. Mantengo el mismo ritmo. Me gustó tu explicación lo felicito doctor. 🤗🇵🇦🙏🇺🇸🤗

This stuff has made me quadruple my income by being able to wake up in the morning and run my business but unfortunately I have lost a lot of my memories in my life.

This medication has helped me so much

Thank you Dr. Richardson, hope you can do a video on all types of Z-Class prescriptions. 👍

I am 76 and have taken Ambien nightly for over 20 years. I have not had problems with it but without it I cannot sleep. Due to a move and trying to find a new doctor I truly did not sleep a wink for 19 nights.

I've been taking Zolpidem 20 mg/day for 20 or more years. Yeah. I've had my share if crazy behaviors -- sleep eating, sleep sex, and sleep driving -- but those have passed with vigilance. Right now, the big concerns are tolerance, especially for the late sleep cycle dose, and waking up "foggy" which can last all morning long. Oh the whole though the medication works well if i take it when I'm serious about going to bed, and can put down either the book or tablet once I start to feel drowsy. Typically, I get 6.6 - 9 hours of sleep interrupted twice for bathroom breaks and another 5 mg dose. In fact, I'm starting to get sleepy now. I hope you find this feedback helpful.

I have been suffering with Insomnia and Bpd and Ptsd for about 4 years and I've been taking zolpidem and other medication for 2 years, I can say it worked out for awhile but recently I've been struggling again with sleep and when I take zolpidem, instead of sleeping, I would have crazy behaviors, binge eating and walk around the house, sometimes I don't remember anything from the night before these behaviors were there from the start however now it's a lot more of that and less sleep. I was worried about my health like Can the meds like zolpidem have permanent health issue like kidney damage etc.? Your video has helped me a lot so thank you, and hope to learn more about the meds I take

I have been on ambien since 2010 after leaving th army and still use it I get script every month lol clockwork. Best thing ever

Last night I took two of these pills not even knowing what they were I also mixed them with a beer . Ended up sleep driving and woke up safely thank the lord !

It makes my body unbalanced and I hallucinate a little. Mostly distortions of objects and lights and makes them look like they’re moving or shifting around.

Finishing up a 13 year straight 10mg nightly addiction. Next week is the end of my 4 week taper 🤟 moving on !

I took some and I I felt I had to build a boat on my couch out of sofa cushions to avoid sinking into the covers

Sleeping medications have the opposite effect with me. With my eyes open I feel tired like I could fall asleep in 2 minutes. But as soon as I close my eyes my brain starts zooming 100mph and I feel fully rested. I just have to end up staying up feeling bugged out. I need a sedative to get good sleep.

When i Was 16/17 I was prescribed ambien and had pretty good results on it, until i started sleep walking and one time I guess i tried making pancakes without turning the stove on and woke up on my kitchen floor with eggs and flour all over the floor.. so I stopped taking it for 17 years.. I am now 34 and was just prescribed it recently again to try to help with my insomnia. praying that i dont do that same mistake again.

I’m a veteran who suffers with server complex ptsd. I take Zolpidem and it has on the odd time made me do some quite perculiar actions thoughts. My head is like a frag grAmDe with a old snippy pin holding it in. With the mix of meds. I currently have they keep me stable but I always feel the blow up could be near

It is reallly good but understand the problems... it has saved me because I just can't sleep an I need to be alert for my occupation...

I remember how crazy this was for me when I started because i remember i was getting ready to bed riggt after taking a pill and then i can't remember ANYTHING after that, the next day my mom told me that i didn't cover myself, not even turned the lights off nor closed the door, i checked my phone and i was texting a friend! Ilegible messages though just a lot of letters and symbols, it was fun finding that after because i dont remember ANYTHING AT ALL, my guess is amnesia

Dependence is not a negative consequence. I depend on water too.

Was just prescribed ambien for insomnia. I’ve been on 100mg of lamictal for a month, I’m happy with it but can’t sleep. However, I’m sitting here staring at this ambien tonight because I’m terrified of taking it.

Ambien is a life saver for me, nothing else worked for me. I do try and skip them for a couple of days occasionally so I am not dependent on them.

His voice is soothing

Tha nkyou dr Richardson nice voice calming yes I take Zolpidem Iam 84 yrs old will not be without thank goodness for this.help

5:33 yeah... I did that. It was terrible. Thankfully, no one got hurt but I didn't realise it until I saw my car was parked differently.

I was prescribed Ambien for many years. When I was forced to stop cold turkey due to circumstances beyond my control I was significantly altered neurologically. I was prescribed everywhere sleep aid including benzos. A year later I am no better and the doctors aren't at all interested in helping me.

I took it 5 years ago because of the anxiety of taking standard test and now I can’t sleep without it. It’s more mentally than physically. It did cause mental dependency although i only take 1/4 of the pill every night. The side effect is i do feel harder to focus, depressed, and sometime want to throw up. So i would hope people who want to try it to be cautious of the side effect. Now I need to try hard to get it out if my system 😢

My mother is addicted to ambien. She begs/screams at us when we don't give her more than her allotted 10mg a day. She also tries to think up any excuse she can tell us to try to convince us to give her more earlier than recommended.

I do use this medicine for sleeping but I do take it every other night if I can. Thank you for your video..

I have a long history with Ambien and it has caused me some problems with memory. I'm trying to cut my dose from 10 mg down to 5 mg. I know I'm going to have bullish nights for the next week or so. But at age 68, I can't afford to have my memory affected.

i stopped taking ambien. i would sleep-eat just about every night. in 2 yrs i put on 50lbs, not good! the first 2 wks of no ambien i barely slept. took a ton of melatonin n nyquil. i know thats not great either but i weened that two. time heals. i could not deal with being 50 to 60lbs overweight, being chubby took my confidence away. small steps, gym and walks. good luck people.

I take sublinox which is the same thing...recommended dosage is 10mg...I take 20mg...been so for a few years now...no side effects so far. I’ve never woke up not knowing what happened, no sleep walking...nothing.

I read a lot about the 2012 study that linked zolpidem, benzos and other sleeping pills to highly increased mortality. What are your thoughts about this, doctor?

My #1 I really, strongly have to give my most senior suggestion,that know one should never mix or get confused taking the pill for constipation and the pill for sleeping at the same time. If you my finds by havingl done both, use any Cheep trash bag, and spead a few bags all over the pillow, and some for the floor, and ony if you when really respect, try and keep the walls splitter frew

Heaven knows it is a right/wrong drug for me. Should one take too many and run out some time before the next prescription then it's a cycle of torment. I was given it as I was desperate to sleep. It worked but has you in that trapped cycle whatever you do. Sticking to the dose has a lessening effect and the potential of trying to increase it, rather than abusing it as such, is always there. Informative and accurate video.

I take 10 mg nightly because my insomnia is so bad. Unfortunately, I sleep eat sometimes. I will wake in the morning and find wrappers / plates from things I ate and don't remember. Unfortunately, it's the only thing that helps me sleep.

This helped me so much I do all the sleep hygiene I’m up all night peeing I didn’t pet last night it’s a miracle

As a doctor, let me tell you that Ambien drug dependency is really really hard to treat. Don‘t take this lightly!

Very useful! Thank you for this video :)

OMG I just started taking Ambien about a month ago. Last night was so weird. I woke up about 5/6 am. I had a bole on my night stand and a plat in my bed. I did not remember a thing about this it was not there when I went to bed. I proceeded to the kitchen. I then looked in the refrigerator and found a new picture of tea. That I did not make the afternoon before. This really scares me about what else could happen.

I find myself in the kitchen everynight around midnight for the past 5 years eating...I live on smoothies and eat rather healthy. I get cravings after taking the tablet...then I'm in the kitchen eating...has anyone experienced this?

This is truly a very dangerous drug which people don't understand and or realize before they begin taking it ! I've always been very energetic strong and with anxiety even as a child and I basically I'm in excellent health for my age in the sixties. I have worked as a leader and in upper retail management for years and was always very successful and a recognized and rewarded by the corporation with trips etc. As a child I have always been very self-motivated and disciplined in work and goals and my supervisors recognized immediately that I didn't need any supervision for I have always been hardest on myself and on my employees striving for perfection and everything I did. My energy level is a wonderful thing but working 60-80 hrs weekly with all this responsibility kit me on edge. When I finally got to bed and trying to relax I would lay awake for hours feeling as though I had a motor running inside of me. Anyway, he prescribed Xanax and it worked beautifully. There was no side effects and I would wake up refreshed and without feeling like I was hungover or tired and dizzy as with cold medicines or Benadryl. My family doctor retired and I had to find a new doctor and nobody wanted to prescribe Xanax. So for years I didn't take anything till a few years ago. My new doctor was younger and gave me zolpidem. Work very good for a few weeks and I was taking it daily. (It was also very cheap!) I had very serious and dangerous side effects. Sleepwalking, waking up and cooking a meal and not eating it and not knowing it till the next morning with a mess, waking up 2:00 in the morning and driving to taco Bell or Burger King and making purchases at Burger King or taco Bell and not remembering or knowing any of it the next day. The worst thing is I wrecked my car in the bumper fender a couple times and I don't remember ever it ever happening! Dear god, I could have been arrested if somebody saw me that late and hit something for hit and run or whatever but nothing happened! Sometimes I would wake up and hallucinate but that only happened I think when I was drinking beer which I now know not to do. Finally when I would stop taking it, I could not sleep for the next two nights and I would hallucinate and imagine hearing things for hours when it was wearing off. There must be a safer and less dangerous drug to take with less side effects! Please offer me your professional advice and recommend something else. Also, what was the big uproar about Xanax years ago and why no one wants to prescribe it. 😱🤔 Please forgive my long-winded comments with all the details but I have always been very detailed oriented in my work and that's made me successful but now I give too many details in everyday life. Also, please overlook some of the grammar and spelling but my smartphone which I just purchased and I'm learning how to use it gives me a lot of trouble. Thanks for understanding God bless! 🤗😇💞

ambien has 0 effect om, i’ve even taken 3 and still nothing

It's about the only thing that helps me sleep and stay asleep at night.

Took ambien for 14yrs, life saver and not as dangerous as temazepam.

I suffer from chronic pain spinal fusion joint issues. this stuff at least will put me to sleep for a couple hrs

I've been on Z for 5 years due to military service. I've recently gotten off (for now) to attempt to regain natural ability to rest without RX. It is appearing to be very very difficult.

That's Funny. I sometimes get up and make meals after taking Zolpidem, especially when I first began taking it, or if I take a stronger dose of it. I have no recollection of it in the morning, but I find the meals in refrigerator. 😄

I am addicted to zolpidem. Zoloft for depression, lamictal and olanzapine for mania and mood swings, but at the end of the day, 10 mg of Ambien, which allows me to 'go away' and escape from this shit.

Why would you have someone on it longterm? No, it doesn't have "some" potential, it can cause horrific dependancy. Withdrawal almost killed me.

Ambien is a really helpful medication

I take 5mg nightly with no issues.....i am 62 yrs old...

I've been cooking food and other weird stuff without recollection of it the day after, and my doctor told me not to worry about it. not sure if I should trust him anymore since this is a bit scary

I was TORTURED by Ambiens cousin Zopiclone for 40 yrs sleepwalking, sleep eating, sleep cooking etc. I cannot tell you how upset I am.

I take it.and im always tired during the day. Hate how tired it makes you.even after 9 hours of sleep.

I have been going through serious insomnia the past two weeks and was unable to sleep or only getting two hours of sleep, started taking insomnia and I am consistently getting 8-10 hours of sleep and feel rested and amazing when I get up no groggyness at all, but I do sometimes feel that I don't want to stop taking it due to the possibility my insomnia may get worse or come back all together if I stop, so I do understand the dependent side effect.

My fan in the celling keeps trying to come down he got close the other night and not scared it actually gave me some one talk to they were all talking to me the walls the vacuum cleaner the closet doors and even my blanket

Thank you Dr very helpful 👏🏼👏🏼

this pill makes me high as a kite and 1 hour after taking it I lose my memory. I have zero memory of what I did or what has happened from taking my pill till I fall alseep. my doctor says its not a common side effect.

Hey doc, so I’m leaving for 8 months, and il have to get up very early for that duration and I have insomnia and I was wondering if it would be ok to take for 8 months? I’m 21 years old and healthy

Can't take it. I would often wake up in the morning with all kinds of food stuck to my beard, like macaroni and cheese, cereal, etc. One morning I woke up and I thought I had crapped myself. It was chocolate cake. I had gotten up and eaten a half of a three layer chocolate cake that a friend had brought me for my birthday! The scariest thing was, I didn't remember a thing. Oh, and one time I got up in the morning and there was a bag of groceries on my kitchen table. All the doors were locked from the inside so nobody brought me those groceries, I drove to the store and bought them. I was afraid to go to the store where they came from because maybe I went down there in my underwear. Ambien works great, just not for me.

I've just realized I've been sleep walking on this medication. I thought I was loosing my mind. I even thought I had a poltergeist cause I couldn't explain how thing were happening around my house. I've been on this stuff for 30 years and my doctor NEVER has said a thing about getting off. People you can not trust your life to even a doctor, they just don't have the time or care to do anything about it. If you die, oh well.

My Grandma went sleep swimming on it and drowned last year

Ambien is, without a doubt, the best sleep medication. I’ve been on it many years and it still works. I can’t sleep naturally. Some people need sleep meds.

It’s like being drunk can’t remember what I did the night before! I actually want to ween off it!

I work a swing shift. One first, two seconds and two thirds every week. The morning after working my first third shift, I have a major issue getting good sleep. I can usually only sleep 2-3 hours. I also have obstructive sleep apnea and sleep with CPAP. This broken sleep pattern really takes a toll on me. Would this medication be okay to take 1-2 days per week? I’m trying to avoid pharmaceuticals and I’ve tried everything else under the sun. Nothing else seems to work.

A lot of ppl are fine with ambien, but the fact these stories r true where people do crazy things while asleep is enough to call it dangerous

It helps sleep, usually leads to a good snack before bed. Just don't get silly and drive, or drink alot. Just watch youtube or read in bed. I've tried Delta sleep inducing peptide recently, seems to balance out rem sleep but still new.

Just stay off of it! I slepwalked and fell from a 2 story balcony at 2 am. I shattered my ankle and leg, broke my arm and back in 2 places. I'm lucky to be alive.

I had to came here I’ve been on this pill for a year now on an off but since recently I started having chest pains shortness of breath an headache are sometimes dizziness now I’m flushing them down my toilet it’s good but not for long term

My mothers doctor’s has been given her them these tablets for 20 years. Now her mind is dependent on it, and doctors never told her about stopping and the long term effects! She is taken court action because she has been on other medication and other drugs now she goes in to mental coma’s due to being on for 20 years. Could anyone help with there own experience or if the doctors are wrong for not informing correcting information. My mother suffers severe ptsd, childhood rape, lose of children and many more shock truma to her brain! Would love some help or information

I appreciate your content so much :)

Great video! Very informative.

Thank you doctor. My wife and daughter complained that I have slow convulsion like symptoms but enough to disturb them to sleep. When they knock me about it my sleep is disturbed.

This is the most nice voice

What happens it its combined with alcohol? Asking for a friend.

Last time I took Ambien i kept waking up to my door always being left wide open o__o after waking up early by loud car horn I found myself butt ass naked in the road . Don't take Ambien o__o