Zolpidem or Ambien is often used as a recreational drug. This can be extremely dangerous. The effects of Zolpidem and Lunesta increase and intensify when used along with alcohol. Both, Lunesta and Ambien come along with a wide variety of mild and severe side effects. These are discussed below in detail.

Although these drugs promise instant relief from insomnia, one must be careful in evaluating just how safe these drugs are. The sheer multitude of minor and major side effects is a serious cause for concern. Lunesta and Ambien should be taken only under careful guidance from a qualified health professional. These are not drugs to be taken without proper supervision as many factors have to be considered before they are prescribed to you. Your medical history, any medications you might be taking, any allergies that you might have, all have to be taken into account before you start on such prescription drugs.

Lunesta. Its side effects

Lunesta can result in a number of side effects. Some of these are minor irritants, some of these can, however, be quite severe.

The minor side effects are:

• Drowsiness in the day, dizziness, low alertness
• Memory loss and difficulty in concentration
• Anxiety, depression, nervousness
• Headaches
• Nausea, reduced appetite, constipation, stomach pain
• Oral dryness
• Strong unpleasant after taste in the mouth
• Mild skin rash
• Vomiting
• Loss of co-ordination
• Painful periods (menstruation)
• Breast enlargement in males
• Heartburn
• Cold-like symptoms
• Decreased Libido

The more severe side effects of Lunesta are:

• Strong feelings of aggression
• Urges to hurt oneself
• Hallucinations and nightmares
• Severe allergic reactions (in which case you must contact your doctor and STOP taking Lunesta IMMEDIATELY)

Lunesta can adversely react to birth control pills, anti-histamines, anti-depressants, anti-fungals, medications for anxiety, mental illness, or seizures, sedatives and tranquilisers. Be careful in case you are on Vitamins, Supplements or herbal remedies, especially if they contain St. John’s Wort.

Lunesta is not to be consumed by pregnant or breast feeding women. In case you become pregnant and are on Lunesta, be sure to inform your doctor.

Inform your doctor/surgeon in case you are scheduled for any surgery, even dental surgery.

Avoid consuming alcohol while you are on Lunesta. Lunesta is a sedative so you should be careful with alcohol consumption. Alcohol can also worsen the intensity of the side effects of Lunesta.

Lunesta can affect your mental health. You may experience raised levels of aggression, hallucinations, depression, confusion, etc. Make sure your family is aware of these risks and can call your doctor if required.

» back to top

Ambien. Its Side effects

Zolpidem or Ambien is no less risky to take. Ambien can have side effects that affect your physical and mental health. Ambien is also habit forming. Zolpidem also causes withdrawal symptoms if stopped.

Zolpidem has a multitude of side effects including:

• Anterograde amnesia where the sufferer is unable to recall events that occurred just moments ago before their attention shifted to something else.
• Hallucinations or delusions
• Altered thought patterns
• Poor motor coordination, difficulty in maintaining balance.
• Mood swings from euphoria to dysphoria
• Increased or changed appetite
• Impaired judgment and/or reasoning
• Reduced Libido
• Increased uninhibited and extroverted behavior, especially in social situations
• Increased Impulsiveness
• Rebound Insomnia can occur if intake of Zolpidem is stopped
• Headaches
• Dull drugged feeling
• Upset stomach, vomiting, nausea
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Heartburn
• Uncontrollable shaking or tremors in a body part
• Burning or tingling sensation in the extremities- arms, legs, hands, feet
• Pain or pressure on the face.
• Redness in the eyes
• Blurred vision or other problems with vision
• Ringing, painful or itchy ears
• Pain in the joints, back or in the neck
• Painful or cramping muscles

Zolpidem can have some serious side effects too. If you have any of these, contact your doctor immediately.

• Rash/hives/itching
• Increased and poundiong heartbeat
• Chest pain
• Fever

In case any of the side effects persist, inform your doctor. Even the relatively minor side effects can do damage.

Zolpidem is also sometimes abused as a ‘recreational’ drug because of its ‘hallucinatory’ effects. Zolpidem abuse occurs in many ways- through oral ingestion, crushing and snorting, or even cooking for intravenous injection.

Make sure you do not mix zolpidem and alcohol.

Pregnant or breast-feeding women are not advised to take zolpidem.

» back to top

Say NO to Lunesta and Ambien

Why put yourself at risk to so many complications and dangers. There is a safe alternative. You do have a choice. Choose Snooz and sleep worry-free. Snooz is a completely safe herbal formulation that is tailor-made to combat Insomnia. It relaxes and sedates to help you get better uninterrupted sleep. The pure herbs in its formula are specifically selected for their sleep enhancing properties. These herbs help the body by improving and boosting the natural mechanisms and functions instead of interfering with them. The natural high quality ingredients cause you to suffer no side effects at all.

Prescription pills
 

Over-the-counter pills,
No prescription required

Prescription pills
 

Professional guidance
required before starting the course.

No professional guidance
before starting the course required

Professional advice needed before taking the pills.

Sedative hypnotic drug only approved for use on a long-term basis.

100% herbal sedative pills for combating insomnia.
 

Sedative hypnotic drug approved for a short term.
 

Combat insomnia with harmful ingredients.
 

Extracted with rich herbal sleep enhancing properties
 

Cures insomnia with contents that possess harmful properties.

Puts you to sleep immediately

Take your time to sleep
 

Have to sleep instantly.
 

Disturbed sleep
 

Worry-free, Uninterrupted sleep.

Interrupted sleep
 

Bad after taste
 

No after taste
 

Strong and unpleasant after taste in mouth

Addictive

Not addictive

Forms a habit

Causes withdrawal symptoms when discontinued.
 

No withdrawal symptoms if discontinued
 
 

Leads to withdrawal symptoms when the course is stopped.
 

Interferes with other medicines like birth control pills, anti-histamines etc. Need to be careful in case you are on vitamins, supplements and herbals.

No interaction with other medicines.
 
 
 
 

Adverse reaction to anti- depressants, anti- fungals etc.
 
 
 

Not advisable for pregnant women, lactating mothers
 

Advisable for everyone, causes no harm when consumed.

Strictly not advisable for pregnant women and feeding mothers.

Interferes with normal body mechanism.

Boosts natural body mechanism.

Interrupts regular body mechanism.

Weakens body system
 

No interference with body mechanism

Slows physical and mental activities.

Numerous side effects: listed below

Side effects: negligible
 

Multitude of side effects: explained below

Altered thought pattern
 

No effects on thought pattern
 

Affects reasoning/ judgment

Lack of concentration and memory loss at an early stage.
 

No harmful effects on memory
 
 
 

Unable to recall events just moments ago.
 
 

Hallucination persists for a longer time after consuming these pills

No hallucination
 
 

Experience hallucination frequently.
 

High level of depression, aggression and restlessness.
 
 
 

No aggression, depression and confusion.
 
 
 
 

Raises level of depression, impulsiveness and sometimes lead to hurt oneself
 

Harmful for people suffering from pain in the joints, back and cramping muscles.
 

Advisable for people suffering from arthritis and muscle cramps.
 

Causes joint pains and headaches etc.
 
 

Changes appetite

No effects on appetite

Lose appetite

Mixing with alcohol might be dangerous.

Doesn’t interfere with alcohol.
 

Causes high reaction if mixed with alcohol.

Vision problems

No impaired vision

Distorts vision

Rebound of insomnia possible

Sleep problems are taken care of once and for all

Insomnia may reoccur