Ambien Information

Ambien, manufactured by Sanofi-Aventis, belongs to a class of medicines called central nervous system (CNS) depressants, which slow down the nervous system. Ambien was approved by the FDA in 1999 for the treatment of insomnia.

Ambien may cause some people to become drowsy, dizzy, lightheaded, clumsy, unsteady, or less alert than they are normally. Even though Ambien is taken at bedtime, it may cause some people to feel drowsy or less alert when waking up. Also, Ambien may cause double vision or other vision problems. 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.

Concerns are being raised about the safety of Ambien. Reports of people taking Ambien are experiencing sleepwalking, memory loss / amnesia, binge eating while sleeping, having sex while sleeping, and other disturbing side effects. Some of the most serious side effects involve Ambien users having auto accidents the day after taking Ambien due to daytime sleepiness and the lingering feeling of being drugged. One disturbing report concerned a physician at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston who could not recall advising residents on rounds the morning after taking Ambien.
In response, Sanofi-Aventis stated that even though sleepwalking occurred during treatment with Ambien in the studies, they cannot be linked to Ambien. Furthermore, the company says that the U.S. Prescribing Information remains accurate: somnambulism (sleep-walking) is a possible rare adverse event.

If you or a loved one took Ambien and suffered memory loss, sleep walking, or other harmful side effects, contact us today so we can put you in touch with legal professionals who specialize in Ambien claims.