[Molly-red-bracelet]

I have been taking this medication for nearly 2 years now, however all of the information I have read on it says it should only be used 'short term'? My psychiatrist has kept me on this pill indefinatly. I have tried other sleep medications such as zopiclone 7.5mg, 15mg, temazepam, trazadone but nothing seems to work as well as the zolpidem. I am getting really bad memory loss lately and i donot know if it is these pills. I sometimes cannot remember whole evenings/ parts of the day. I am always tired Its not nice. If i dont take the pills though i can be awake for days then end up very poorly.

Has anyone else had experience of this medication?

Moly

[PlanningtoLive]

I have been on it for quite some time, although I take 20mg. at bedtime. There are numerous times that there are gaps in my memory. I can do things and not remember them. I also have to make sure that I get at least 4-5 hours of sleep to get it out of my system.

My T said the higher the dose, the more memory lapses there are. I can't sleep without either. The alternative is no rest at all.

Good luck.

Mary Alice

[Sventek]

I wonder whether the memory loss is due to a lack of 'real' sleep, as opposed to being drugged. Have either of you tried sleep training programs in the past?

[Beholden]

The memory loss is the drug imo. I've taken Ambien for maybe 7 years off and on. I was told that with my doctor's approval for long term use , it was okay.

If my anxiety is bad at night, and I've had a few days/nights without good sleep, then I will take 10mg of it. But mostly l don't need it lately. The reason i try to stay off of it is the memory loss and the total lack of motivation in the morning or entire day after I use it for a few nights.

[buttrfli42481]

I was on 10mg for a little over a year. It worked really good at first, then I started building up tolerance to it. I went from taking it and being a sleep in less than 20mins, to taking it and being a sleep in 2 hrs on a good night. I have a tendancy to build up tolerance very quickly to meds. When I was on the Ambien, I would frequently not remember what happened after taking it, but always made sure that I was not doing anything important.
Have you talked to your pdoc about your memory problems? Your dose may need to be adjusted, or you might benefit from a break off it. You really need to share with your pdoc the problems you are experiencing.