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Mental Health > Addiction, Recovery Forum > Ambien CR, Anxiety Attacks
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Q: Ambien CR, Anxiety Attacks
asked by: steelangel on May 13th, 2008
New User
I am a 37-year-old woman from N.Y. who has never had any health problems. Back in Feb. of 08 I started taking Ambien to help me sleep at night. After 4 weeks, I started feeling a huge pressure in my chest and panicked feelings. Another two weeks and I was having anxiety attacks so bad that I could hardly drive, work, attend any outside functions or anything for that matter. When I returned to the Doctor to report what was going on, my doctor assured me that it was not the Ambien and referred me off to Mental Health for phsyc. evaluation. After 8 weeks I finally threw the pills in the garbage (positive that this was the cause of my problem) it took another two weeks for the MAJOR effects to start to go away.
I think that people really need to have more information posted on the web about the side effects about Ambien. I have suffered from major anxiety attacks, neurological problems (spasms, twitching, arm numbness and something that feels like restless leg syndrome over your entire body.) After 4 months of this I am still having problems, the effects have not gone away; not for even one day. Some days are better than others but it is like being on a roller coaster and not knowing when it's going to run your ass over.
I have lost so much financially, physically and emotionally because of this drug. If I can help anyone by posting this form it will be well worth it. This is a HORRIBLE thing to have to go through and it lasts for so damn long.
Feel free to contact me if you have had these problems or need a little support.
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Users who thank steelangel for this post: carla123` 
Replies(5)
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CarolDiane
replied on May 21st, 2008
Extremely eHealthy
Neurological "twitching" is very common with alot of drugs. I it were me, I would take these symtoms and talk to your doctor about them. Sounds like it is doing you more harm then good.
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carla123`
replied on June 16th, 2008
New User
ambien cr and anxiety
this message is for steel angelo regarding the horible effects from ambien i too have these effects. i took two on may 5th and life has been hell for me ever since. no one believes me that it is the ambien causing this. i would like to hear how you are doing now that it has been since febuary as i need some encouragment. i am in torment 24/7 and would like to know of your progress and what you are doing to help yourself. please respond.
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omusrick
replied on January 25th, 2009
New User
ambien and adrenal stress
Dear steel angelo, so sorry to hear about your trouble with ambien. I took it for 18 nights and also had panic attacks. But I found out it also stressed my adrenal glands. This caused me to not be able to tolerate any stress at all. My doctor told me that adrenal stress usually goes undiagnosed. As I read your symptoms, I experienced the very same ones. They lasted for about two months. My doctor said that I had to do bedrest for one month to give my adrenals a chance to rest and rejuvenate. I did. I feel like I am well again. Ambien is a devil of a pill yet the doctors are too careless or unconcerned to admit what is going on. I hope you are feeling better. I hope my message will help someone.
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jax1
replied on October 2nd, 2009
New User
anxiety with Ambien
I have recently been using Ambien to help me get used to a CPAP. I did not experience any problems at first, but over the last week have been having horrible anxiety similar to what is described above. I have had the feeling of a knot in my stomach and heaviness in my chest. I'm going to quit taking that crap.
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wendyrs
replied on October 2nd, 2009
Supporter
Yes, stop taking it. Ambien has a lot of horrible side-effects. It made me sleepwalk and almost drive off in my car in the middle of the night. It caused me everything but sleep. I know the original post is old but one thing that I've noticed is that doctors will never admit that a medication is harmful or the cause of a medical problem. I won't get into the reasons but I can tell you that they care more about losing money than their patients well-being.
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