Understanding the Dangers of Ambien Addiction

Certain places have achieved the status of “The City that Never Sleeps.” New York City is the most famous example of this. It’s a place where the lights are always on, and there are always things to do. However, many of us could describe ourselves as people who never sleep, and it has nothing to do with city life. Instead, it has to do with problems of insomnia and other sleep disorders. Ambien has risen to the occasion as a miracle drug to combat sleep disorders, and its popularity cannot be downplayed. But what are its dangers, and just how addictive is this sedative drug?

Sleep at What Cost?

Ambien’s website wastes no time describing the complex problem of insomnia. The claim is that 30 percent of Americans have trouble falling asleep, and if you fall into this one-in-three category, it’s time to talk to your doctor about this drug, which people have turned to “for more than two decades.” It’s a strong statement, and it communicates two things to the average reader: Sleep problems are common to many of us, and Ambien is a time-tested option to help you get to sleep.

It is true that roughly one in three people have at least mild insomnia. However, it’s important to know that the idea of time-tested sleep aids is a much more rocky journey than it might sound. The story of sleep aids is very much a story of ongoing sedative drug addiction. Early on, people used barbiturates to try to relieve their insomnia. Over time, however, medical professionals and others discovered these drugs caused significant side effects, including behavior disturbances, severe addiction, and withdrawal symptoms.

The 1960s saw a shift from barbiturates to benzodiazepines, a drug that was believed to be much safer but ended up causing the same tendency of addiction and withdrawal. In fact, as the most commonly prescribed drug in the world at one time, benzos arguably caused even greater damage than their barbiturate predecessors. This is where the era of Z-drugs begins, with Ambien leading the way as the No. 1 sleeping pill on the market.

Unfortunately, over two decades of Ambien use have taught us a different story than the idea of time-tested reliability; Ambien can be very addictive with withdrawal symptoms that can be medically dangerous. This seems contrary to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)’s scheduling of Ambien, classifying it as a Schedule IV with a “low potential for abuse.” However, in 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave Ambien a black box warning, along with other sleeping medications, such as Lunesta and Sonata. The FDA’s black box is its strongest warning label for drugs that can have serious or life-threatening side effects.

DUIs and Fading Memories

Besides the initial danger of being an addictive drug, what are some examples of Ambien’s serious and life-threatening side effects? Two main side effects that come up in headlines quite often are intoxication and memory loss. Intoxication might sound surprising, but it’s true that DUIs are no longer limited to alcohol. Ambien’s effects are truly intoxicating, causing people to black out, hallucinate, and even drift in and out of consciousness. People under the influence of Ambien can begin to experience these side effects while driving, or these side effects can lead them to get behind the wheel without realizing what they are doing. Because of this, the term has been coined “sleep-driving.” More and more deadly car crash stories involving Ambien are coming to light.

This also connects the problem of Ambien-induced intoxication to the problem of memory loss. Public indecency and even sexual assault cases have occurred under the influence of Ambien. Some defendants claim they have no memory of committing these crimes. Some suggest that this is true, while others claim that these statements are taking advantage of another known side effect of Ambien: memory loss. Ambien is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant.

The drug activates a receptor in the brain that suppresses the firing rate of other neurons, slowing down activity in the central nervous system. This is Ambien’s sedation process, which is how it helps people fall asleep. But this process also reduces the activity of neurons responsible for learning, memory, and decision-making. A whole host of factors can intensify this problem (other drug use, age, metabolism, physical health, etc.). Ambien’s short half-life means people can wake up while still experiencing the other sedative effects. In some cases, memory loss is limited to what someone did while under Ambien’s influence. Still, abuse and long-term use of the drug can lead to a permanent decline in memory, including dementia.

What to Do

There’s no doubt that Ambien is widely sought after and widely abused. Ambien’s website states that the drug is meant to be used for “short-term” treatment, but the reality is people who are desperate enough to cure their sleep problems with medication are unlikely to limit prescription drug use to short-term. They may think, “if it’s working, why stop?” But using the drug for longer periods than prescribed only increases the risk of negative side effects and developing a substance use disorder with Ambien. If you or someone you know is actively using Ambien— especially if you were unaware of this information—it’s important to consider the risks involved. If an addiction has been formed, be sure to get professional medical help right away.

©Kevin Morris. All rights reserved.

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