SleepLikeTheDead.com gathered Ambien reviews and Lunesta reviews from hundreds of users of the drugs.
The sources of this data include dozens of online message boards in which Ambien and Lunesta users share with others their experiences regarding their use of the medications.
Our research has found that both user experiences with Ambien and Ambien CR are virtually the same. As a result, user data for both drugs is grouped together in the Ambien findings below.
All collected data was spontaneously volunteered by users and was not the result of any organized, scientific data gathering effort.
Numbers below indicate percentage of users indicating "yes."
| Effective | 65% | 49% |
| Works OK | 25% | 28% |
| Ineffective | 10% | 23% |
| e | ||
| Developed dependence | 39% | 5% |
| e | ||
| Developed tolerance | 19% | 8% |
| e | ||
| Side effects | 51% | 47% |
| Sleepwalking | 23% | 0% |
| Anxiety / panic attacks | 6% | 15% |
| Bad taste in mouth | 0% | 46% |
| Can't be woken | 2% | 0% |
| Drugged feeling | 6% | 2% |
| Drowsy next day | 9% | 11% |
| DUI with no memory | 2% | 0% |
| Ear ringing | 0% | 4% |
| Hallucinations | 10% | 1% |
| Headache | 2% | 8% |
| Indigestion | 0% | 2% |
| Memory loss / amnesia | 18% | 2% |
| MS-like symptoms | 0% | 4% |
| Nausea | 1% | 4% |
| Nightmares | 3% | 6% |
| Personality change | 2% | 0% |
| Sleep driving | 4% | 0% |
| Sleep eating | 12% | 0% |
| Sleep injury | 3% | 0% |
| Sleep sex | 3% | 0% |
| Sleep talking | 12% | 0% |
| Sleepwalking | 0% | 1% |
| Strange, vivid dreams | 3% | 8% |
| Thirsty | 0% | 3% |
| Violent | 1% | 0% |
Effectiveness
As a group, users report that Ambien has significantly higher
effectiveness than Lunesta. However, as you will see below,
the increased effectiveness of Ambien potentially comes with
more serious side effects as well as the risk of developing
dependency.
Dependence
Addiction was reported by over one-third of Ambien users in
our research, compared to just 5% for Lunesta. Dependence was
reported largely by those who use the drugs at least fairly
regularly. However, some users report becoming dependent in
a short amount of time.
Becoming addicted means that the user develops a dependence
on the drug to sleep well or even get any sleep at all. In addition,
stopping use of the drug can result in withdrawal symptoms,
such as aches, pains, anxiety, sweats, irritability, depression,
rashes, etc. according to Ambien users.
Tolerance
About one-fifth of Ambian users report developing a tolerance
to the drug, a significantly higher number than is the case
with Lunesta. Developing tolerance means that the drug loses
at least some of its effectiveness and that increasing the dosage
is required to maintain its effectiveness. Tolerance was reported
largely by those who use the drugs at least fairly regularly,
however some users report developing tolerance in a short amount
of time.
Side effects
Ambien has a somewhat higher number of reported side effects
than Lunesta. More importantly, Ambien's side effects tend to
be potentially more serious than Lunesta's.
Lunesta's main side effect, by far, is that it can leave a metallic
or bitter taste in the mouth. Some Lunesta users have stopped
taking the drug for this reason alone. Experiencing anxiety
or panic attacks is another significantly reported side effect
of Lunesta. Ambien, however, arguably has more serious potential
effects, especially sleep walking / acting with little or no
memory of the event.