Stephanie G.
Drugged night time eating
Mar 26, 2012
So as it turns out, Ambien really can make you eat in your sleep. I've had significant insomnia since childhood. I remember getting ready for school in the morning some days after having not been to sleep all night. I've been taking Ambien for several months now and I love Ambien! I take it at night and fall asleep easily. Then I wake up in the morning feeling refreshed and the most rested I have in years. Then I walk into the kitchen and find evidence of eating. Sigh...I had found the occasional odd thing left out in the kitchen and thought I might be eating and not remembering it. I stopped losing weight about a month ago. For about three solid weeks I've was finding evidence of 500-600 calories a night, every night. Ask me why I'm not losing! Fortunately, I've not gained. But I'm not ready to stop losing! I really didn't want to give up the Ambien sleep, but then I had a scarey event. I took the med and sat on the couch. (Too many years of lying in bed staring at the celing for hours, waiting for sleep.) While I was waiting for the drugs to kick in, my husband came in asking what was burning. I tried to tell him it was the dishwasher, but as it turns out, it was the graham cracker/peanut butter toast in the oven under the broiler (I don't know, somehow it made sense at the time). I didn't even remember putting it in the oven as the house filled with smoke. So, as scared as I was (I really don't tolerate sleep deprivation well), I called my doctor and requested something different. Lunesta is over $8 a pill and my insurance covers $6. That's still $2 a night. It's not nearly as effective, but I don't appear to be eating in my sleep any more.
I'm not terribly impressed. Last night I took a half ambien at 1 am as I was STILL awake. Finally made it to sleep about 2.
Good news, I'm eating a little less (getting the munchies, but not 500 calories worth). Bad news, I don't like working so hard just to get a little sleep. Better news, I'm back on the losing train (yes I am!).