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Navigate: FAQ Home Page > Drugs, Specific > Side effects of misusing Ambien
Posted on: 08/28/2008
Question
what are the side effects if you were to crush and snort ambien?
Answer
Ambien is a prescription sleep medication. Crushing and snorting Ambien could be very dangerous and lead to increased side effects, including: headache, morning drowsiness, and dizziness. Ambien can also cause changes in how you think and behave, and it can worsen depression. Post-marketing data has shown that an overdose of Ambien can lead to coma, heart and/or lung failure, and fatal outcomes. Also, keep in mind that a rapid release of Ambien could lead to not only a high dose of the medicine (especially with the controlled-release formulation), but also significant withdrawal symptoms once the medication wears out. Because Ambien can affect your central nervous system and cause it to "slow down," it should not be taken with alcohol.
Answered By:
Joyce Lin, PharmD
Joyce Lin, PharmD