Ambien And Memory Loss Association: Side Effects Of Ambien Cr Use
Ambien (zolpidem): Important Warnings and Precautions for Use
Sleeping disorders and insomnia have become a modern day problem. However, with use of newer generation drugs, this problem can be easily avoided. Ambien is one such prescription drug which is approved by FDA to treat sleeping disorders such as insomnia. Ambien is a trade name of the generic drug Zolpidem. It is a short acting nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic drug. It has become popular because its action is quick and has very short half life . However, as with all sleep aid medicines, Ambien should also be taken under close medical supervision. Who Can And Can’t Take ZolpidemZolpidem can be taken by most adults aged 18 and over. It’s not suitable for some people. To make sure zolpidem is safe for you, tell a doctor if you:
If Youre Experiencing Forgetfulness Or Confusion Check Your Medicine CabinetFor a long time doctors dismissed forgetfulness and mental confusion as a normal part of aging. But scientists now know that memory loss as you get older is by no means inevitable. Indeed, the brain can grow new brain cells and reshape their connections throughout life.Most people are familiar with at least some of the things that can impair memory, including alcohol and drug abuse, heavy cigarette smoking, head injuries, stroke, sleep deprivation, severe stress, vitamin B12 deficiency, and illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease and depression. But what many people don’t realize is that many commonly prescribed drugs also can interfere with memory. Here are 10 of the top types of offenders. Recommended Reading: Bleed In Brain Stem Ambien Vs Ambien Cr Side EffectsAmbien can be taken in immediate-release or extended-release format . Immediate-release Ambien is prescribed to help people fall asleep at night, but Ambien CR is intended to help people fall asleep and stay asleep through the night. It combines a standard dose of immediate-release Ambien with a smaller dose of extended-release Ambien. Because Ambien CR is released more slowly into the body, it causes more pronounced residual effects the day after it was taken. This includes mental impairment, memory impairment, and lack of coordination. Patients taking Ambien CR should avoid next-day activities requiring mental alertness such as driving or operating machinery.
The Link Between Ambien And Memory LossThe most commonly discussed form of memory loss associated with Ambien involves sleepwalking, including interacting with other people, and not remembering any details of the event afterward. This side effect occurs most often in people who are taking antidepressants as well as Ambien, and also in people who take their Ambien dosage and don’t immediately go to bed, but can also occur under other circumstances. Other, less dramatic memory loss can occur while using Ambien. This usually consists of a loss of focus, trouble concentrating, and general short term memory loss. You May Like: How To Shrink A Tumor Naturally Abuse Addiction And WithdrawalAmbien was first developed to provide an effective alternative to other sleep medications, without the potential for abuse or addiction. However, research has shown that Ambien can produce tolerance, dependency, and withdrawal all signs of a potentially addictive drug. One of the most serious side effects of using Ambien is the possibility of becoming chemically dependent on the medication, or needing Ambien in order to feel comfortable and function normally. If Ambien is taken according to a doctors orders and used on a short-term basis, chemical dependency and addiction are unlikely to develop. Individuals at risk of addiction include those who take Ambien for longer than a few weeks, those who take more than the recommended dose, and recreational users who abuse the drug for nonmedical reasons. Recreational users often take Ambien in unsafe ways, such as crushing the drug into a powder and mixing it with alcoholic beverages or snorting it. Taking Ambien this way significantly increases the risk of over-sedation, overdose, and addiction. Additional withdrawal symptoms may include:
No matter what an individuals level of Ambien abuse may be, rehab offers a way to recover physical and psychological health. How To Avoid Side EffectsUse the medication as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Take it and immediately get into bed. Allow at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep to ensure avoidance of morning hangover effects. Keep a regular sleep-wake schedule. If you have other symptoms such as snoring, witnessed apnea, gasping, teeth grinding , frequent urination at night , persistent awakenings, or excessive daytime sleepiness, consider evaluation for sleep apnea. Do not use Ambien with alcohol or other drugs that affect the brain. This may worsen the effects on memory and could even lead to dangerous problems, such as disrupted breathing. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that women use lower doses of Ambien due to the potential effects on morning function, especially driving. If you find yourself having difficulties after taking the medication, you may want to speak with your healthcare provider and consider lowering the dose or tapering it off. If you experience serious side effects, contact your practitioner immediately and discuss the need to discontinue use of the medication to avoid recurrence of these problems. Once the medication has cleared out of your system, it is unlikely to continue to affect your health. Recommended Reading: How To Test For Brain Parasites A Fifth Type Of Medication That Affects Brain FunctionOpiate pain medications. Unlike the other drugs mentioned above, opiates are not on the Beers list of medications that older adults should avoid. That said, they do seem to dampen thinking abilities a bit, even in long-term users. As far as I know, opiates are not thought to accelerate long-term cognitive decline.
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