Q: Has there been any recent news about Ambien?
A: Sources in print, television, and online media have recently reported occurrences of sleepwalking and sleep-related eating in patients who may also be taking Ambien. The media has also reported that a number of patients have taken Ambien and experienced temporary memory loss or "amnesia": unable to remember events that occurred while they used the drug. Sanofi-Aventis recently issued responses to these stories, both in the media and on their website. The company states that, while sleepwalking has occurred during treatment with Ambien, the instances reported cannot be systematically linked to the product. Furthermore, the company asserts that the U.S. Prescribing Information remains accurate: somnambulism (sleep-walking) is a possible rare adverse event.

Q: Does Ambien cause amnesia (memory loss)?
A: In some cases, Ambien and other sleep medicines can cause a special type of memory loss or "amnesia." When this occurs, a person does not remember what has happened during the several hours between using Ambien and the time its effects wear off. In order to avoid memory problems, make sure to take Ambien only when you are able to get a full night's sleep (7 to 8 hours) before you need to be active again.

Q: Are there any special precautions I should observe before taking Ambien?
A: Because sleep medicines may lose their effectiveness if they are used every night for a long time, they should only be used for short periods of time (such as 1 or 2 days) and generally for no longer than 1 or 2 weeks. Talk to your healthcare professional if you think you need to take Ambien for more than 7 to 10 days. Also, Ambien may cause some people to become drowsy, dizzy, lightheaded, clumsy, unsteady, or less alert. Make sure you know how you react to Ambien before you drive, use machines, or perform any activity that requires alertness, good coordination, or the ability to think and see well. If you develop any unusual and strange thoughts or behavior while you are taking Ambien, be sure to discuss it with your healthcare professional. Stopping Ambien use suddenly may cause withdrawal side effects. Your healthcare professional may want you to gradually reduce the amount you are taking before stopping completely. After taking Ambien for insomnia, you may have difficulty sleeping (rebound insomnia) for the first few nights after you stop taking it.