Ambien/Sleep aid users

Hey Grads, I have a question to ask those of you who use Ambien. Does anyone notice an increased appetitie whiel taking it? I have been keeping track of my habits for about 4 months now. If I take 5mg at 9pm, I am rummaging for something to eat 30-45min later. This sensation is that of what I felt to be true hunger, even If I had eaten relatively close to the time of taking the pill.I know it sounds silly, and I plan to do some research, but sometimes I'd be half sleep and literally feel "pulled" to find something to eat. I would also wake up starving. In the past 17 days since I've discontinued use, I feel great. I am exercising prior to bedtime, and getting at least 6 hrs of sleep, and I hardly feel hungry. Has anyone else experienced this?

If I do not stay in bed, and wander around, I think I need food.

But if I GO TO BED, I'm fine, never am hungry.

I did a quick check on Google for Ambien side effects, and there are many. One is listed as behavioral changes, but did not see anything specific about increased appetite. I'd ask your doctor or pharmacist if increased hunger could be a problem. I use Restoril, and have for 10 years for a sleep aid. No noted problems with this for me.

Absoultely true...take the pill with you and after you hit the bed. take it.  If you don't you will be gaining I promise you. You will not remember what you ate the night even when you see a empty bowl or cup.I have shopped, paid my bills, spoke on phone and not remembered one stitch of it and that scared me.  Had conversations with my husband and he swears I was wide awake, didn't remember a thing. We had so many aguments over "he told me that" when I didn't remember the words at all. I found that i have to not keep any junk in my house whatesoever not even cereal because it seems Ambien makes me want anything and once you eat it, I feel you loose the sleep effect immediately. I was on ambien 5's then 10's for about 2 yrs. and keep it as a backup so not to get to used to the one that truely gives me a good nites sleep now. (Prosom generic is estazolam). I switch off because i will not sleep unless i take pill.  Now I take my pill put it in a cap of a container I use for my calcium and d3 right before bed and I am in bed when I take the sleeping pill and I do not get out unless I wake to get bathroom in middle of night and usually not until 5 or 6AM.  If you don't need the pills don't take them...I went nearly 40 yrs with just 2-4 hrs of sleep and I really needed to catch up before I started to look my age, I exercise in the morning and sometimes before bed, i do pilates and still don't sleep without meds but for 20 minutes. The more weight you have on your shoulders the less you sleep.

Hi. I'm glad you posted this. After a stroke I had 2 years ago, I was put on lunesta, and later on ambien to combat the insomnia. My husband is a witness to this. I would take my pill, and literally be downstairs eating like crazy! And if I was lucky to get to sleep before I ate, I would be sleep walking to the refrigerator in the middle of the night to eat. I would wake up with wrappers all over the bed! This is NO EXAGGERATION! Right after my stroke, I weighed 157 pounds, by the time I got myself together enough to be off the ambien, and other anti-depressants, I weighed 202-that is 2 yrs later. Now, I'm down to 186, but I am working hard with my tool to get my weight off. Really, if you don't need to take the sleeping pill, don't take it. The side effects are not worth it. Good luck! Diana Mora

Diana I am sorry to hear about you stroke and your story is sooo very familiar. I too had a stroke in 1999. I was 119 at the time. My husband has a head injury from Nam so he really does not have the sense to know he should have called ambulance or took me to hospital. He took care of me very well but never took me to a dr until my next schedule visit. I was awake unable to talk or walk. That was 2 months later when I got to my dr...I just shake my head in disbelief that he carried me to shower, bathroom, washed my hair every other day, it was very long...would blow dry it for me and put me in a clean "ironed" nightgown as he knew I liked...washed my sheets weekly and "ironed" them just as he knew I did. It was amazing that he never thought to take me to the ER or call the dr. I didn't know my name or why I was in Florida, originally from Wynnewood( would you believe)...didn't know my phone number. It was all a complete blank for years. It finally all came back little at a time. When he did bring me she had me sit on a scale and I was 132..that was 2 months of him feeding me comfort food like  mashed potatoes and turkey with gravey. He said thats what I wanted so he got it at a diner closeby. Well months passed into years and mid 2001 I started to walk  a little and was rushed to ER with what EMS was sure was a heart attack it was my blood. I need a transfusion. I got on the scale and was 157. Upon release they insisted I get proper rest and gave me Ambien. Imagine I was just starting to walk and was able to make my way to kitchen  with loft crutches or a cane after he went to sleep to get something to eat. Now I  a person who will not go to bed without eveything being done (clean). Including the sink....imagine me waking and finding plates and pans not in dishwasher but sitting in the sink or on the counter...I went back to dr and complained he was  I had anxiety and panic attacks after 9-11, dr put me on xanax with the ambien...needless to say I was a complete wreck I changed dr's and when I got weighed there I was 197  I nearly went out of my mind...never had I been overweight in my life ...so I know exactly what you are talking about....by 2003 I had creeped to 213 and had done everything to try and loose but couldn't so had surgery. Thank goodness the tool does work! I have been pretty stable for nearly since 1 yr out (2005). I am at 129 going for 122 because I think my orignal weight of 119 is too thin fo me. I am very careful about any drugs (don't even take tylenol) I take and I write them down not for me but for him just in case anything happened to me again. Geez I sure hope he call EMS next time...I have saved his life like 3 times already!!!! Good luck and see my friends I told you it was after my stroke. :) Diana Good Heath in the Future!

Thany you all for your replies. I am happy to know that I am not the only one who has experienced such a side effect, 3 weeks ago, I woke up to an empty plate beside my bed, and said WTH???I refuse to take this medication ever again, I haved used other sleep aids before, tylenol pm, and lunesta. But my exercise is helping me get at least some rest. And I'll honesly take 5-6 hrs as opposed to a continued weight gain. This has been really scary. Thanks again.

Hey, Sweetie! I actually ATE in my sleep one night.  Didn't remember it at all but found the sugar-free tastee cake wrappers on my headboard!!  This is not unusual with the medication. I have to take the Ambien in bed.  Cannot take it and walk around.  Nope. Hugs, K

Hi I just wanted to say how I love the quote on your signature - how true that is.