Expert: Jacqui - 8/10/2010

Question
I'm 34 year old and I just took about 16 ambien I'm hot but still not sleepy my vision is a little blurryhearts beeting kind of fast
Should I be worried?????

Answer
Hi Shalana,

An e-forum probably isn't the best option for this as the response isn't immediate and it might be a medical emergency.  If you are still experiencing the symptoms I would seek medical assistance.  You may be having an adverse reaction.  Alterantively, are the pills the real deal?  

I am the last person to be all preachy about drugs (as you will see from my past posts), but taking 16 Ambien probably isn't the best idea.  Ambien is a non-benzodiazepine hypnotic called zolpidem, which is very closely related to benzos like diazepam (valium), and xanax (alprazolam).  It has had some media recently due to reports of strange reactions, such as people taking the tablet then going into a dissociated state (there was a story of a woman mysteriously putting on weight and it was later found she was getting up in the middle of the night and eating with no memory later, another case reported a guy painting a fence in the middle of the night with no memory later).  There is a link to adverse events related to zolpidem:

http://www.druglib.com/adverse-reactions_side-effects/ambien/seriousness_lifethr...

From a harm reducation perspective, I would perhaps reduce your dose.  I am not sure if you are taking it for recreation or for therapeutic reasons, and it is difficult to give harm reduction advice without knowing.  However, whatever reason, you should be aware that there are side effects related to this medication (as is the case with all medications).

Shalana I hope all is okay.  I would really emphasise the importance of seeking medical help when you need it.  I assume you are in the US with its stupid health system (if you were in Australia treatment would be free) - but your life is important and you are not going to get a quick enough response from a web site.

If there is anything else I can help with, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Take care, and whatever you do, do it safely.

Jacqui