Yes - Ambien can have those side effects - and others. As can any of the sleep meds. I'm amazed at the number of people who pop them like M&Ms - not realizing that they are serious medications - and can be habit forming. Not that they shouldn't be used under MDs orders for serious sleep problems - but I would never use them just to sleep on a plane. Missing a couple of hours sleep for 1 night never hurt anyone.

Have never take this - or any others - since I can fall asleep standing up in the subway. And NEVER have trouble falling sleep on the plane since I take Dramimine (for really bad motion sickness).

I always take 5 mg. Ambien for overnight flights to Europe and always sleep. But yes, memory loss is a real problem with Ambien. Once I took it at night and DH said to me the next morning, "That was nice last night." And I swear, I couldn't remember a thing!

some of these responses were hilarious. Guess I should have ignored my brother (the M.D's) advice to take the Ambien and taken Xanax or one of the others instead. Well, at least none of you all were on the Marco Polo to Phila flight with me...or at least not that I remember....

artlover, I hope he was referring to an encounter with you....

As for me, any drug that causes memory loss scares the living beejeebies out of me. I wouldn't touch it.

artlover, P_M LOL! You are both quite humorous =D>

Loss of sleep is far less dangerous than the side effects of Ambien after prolonged use.

At least that is what my doctor tells me.

I took half a Xanax. I am one of those that has to be careful how much to take or I'll be out for days. It didn't help much on the trip over, but on the way home, I got some rest.

I didn't have jet lag in Europe, but really suffered for two days in the States after returning home. Mentally, I knew what time it was, but I was tired and hungry at odd times.

artlover: *blush* My DH told me something quite similar. Twice.

Bad Ambien!

P M, Good point--I hadn't thought of that!

Tara, Some people might see that as a plus.

LoveItaly, As they say, truth is often funnier than fiction.

I just wish there was something else out there that worked for me without the side effects! (Valium and Xanax give me hangovers, and the others don't really help much!) I'm sure open for suggestions too!

This has been one of the most helpful threads I've seen in ages. Thank you -- thank you -- thank you. From now on everytime I do something stupid I'm going to say I'm on Ambien.

but Neo if you were... you wouldn't remember you'd done something stupid
;-)

I do the flyover the fun way-several glasses of wine after not sleeping for 24 hours (getting ready to leave, etc), ah..I think I just have several... I did notice though that my hubby hardly snored at all after taking that little pill, but was out like a light!! Shirley

Oh, PS, leahinsc, welcome to my world (can't remember my kids names). I should be taking that stuff, it would perhaps be a legitimate reason... Shirley

I take 10mg of Ambien on the flight over and never have had any memory problems. If I have, I don't remember.

It doesn't put me totally out, even in BE where I can stretch out, but I do get 3 or 4 hours of sleep in. After a cup of coffee, I feel fine, no hangover.

Bottom line is, everybody reacts differently to different medications. Any kind of pain pill or decongestant, I'm wired and awake for hours.

Guess I'm just lucky hubby didn't take photos of the spectacle. I think I'll try Valerian next time.