# Tell me about your Ambien (and other sleep aids) experiences... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 3, 2010, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-ambien-and-other-sleep-aids-experiences/534795 "2010-04-03T01:05:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-ambien-and-other-sleep-aids-experiences/534795/81 "2013-03-05T06:40:22Z")
The directions said to take it RIGHT before bed, so I did the first night. I was out like a light and woke up refreshed about 8 or so hours later. The next night I took it, went to bed and had to pee shortly after. I got up, in the dark, and looked toward my entertainment system (TV, speakers, playstation etc). I saw a mound of elves or trolls that comprised the profile of my entertainment system. They weren’t threatening or scary, so I just went and peed. On my way back I looked to see if they were still there, and they weren’t, but I could see the shapes I misinterpreted. Months later I was taking 3 Ambien a night and had to come in for the day shift. I hit a curb and had a hell of a time changing a wheel in the cold. That was a very bad day. ---
**Author:** ![DrumBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@DrumBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrumBum)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-ambien-and-other-sleep-aids-experiences/534795/82 "2013-03-05T14:09:35Z")
My need for sleep aids are when I am taking a long ( \> 6 hours ) flight. I have tried pretty much everything but the only sure thing for me is a swig of NyQuil. This gives me 8-10 hours of deep sleep and I wake up refreshed and alert. It tastes awful but it works great. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2026, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-ambien-and-other-sleep-aids-experiences/534795/83 "2026-07-22T00:55:53Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Dunno about Benadryl - it’s Benadryl is not advised for seniors any longer because of potential for cognitive fogginess in the daytime and increasing the likelihood of falls, which can be life-changing for seniors. > [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > wouldn’t even do the half-shot of brandy… might help the wife fall asleep, but it messes up the sleep patterns later in the night True. It just _seems_ to help you fall asleep then later screws up the restorative part of your sleep cycle. Like robbing Peter to pay Paul. From the NY Times: [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/15/well/benadryl-health-risks.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/15/well/benadryl-health-risks.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share) ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2026, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-ambien-and-other-sleep-aids-experiences/534795/84 "2026-07-22T02:55:59Z")
This thread is sleepwalking. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2026, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-ambien-and-other-sleep-aids-experiences/534795/85 "2026-07-22T18:36:14Z")
Nah, it just woke up again after a 13-year nap, is all. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-ambien-and-other-sleep-aids-experiences/534795.md?page=4)