Ambien Man

            I read an article sent out by the Today Show on Face Book regarding the sleep aid Ambien.  It highlighted the odd behavior patterns people display while asleep who take the drug.  The woman who was the focus of the piece would sleep walk, eat, and shop online all while under the influence of Ambien.  These behaviors presented while she was in a different state of consciousness.  Disturbing enough but it gets worse, for she didn’t recall any of these actions in the morning. 

            Several years ago, I have had personal experience with Ambien.  A man I was seeing at the time was taking the drug.  It slowly became clear to me that I was involved with two different men: one pre-Ambien and one post-Ambien. 

            In the early stages of the relationship, what we call a “honeymoon phase,” things were close to perfect.  Naturally this changes over time.  However, I began to grow confused by his conduct as he frequently displayed contrasting behavior.  A clear picture began to emerge one evening when I spent the night.  He decided we should watch a movie in bed.  I watched as he made popcorn in the kitchen, went over to a cabinet, popped a pill in his mouth, swallowed the remains of a glass of wine and made his way to the bedroom.  We were in the bed with the popcorn conversing when he nodded off for a moment and then popped open wide-awake.  It was like a computer rebooting itself.  After this, he started to talk differently.  His tone and attitude completely changed.  Suddenly, he was open, confessing that he was “crazy about me” and that I should consider “moving in with him.”  It was so unlike him – he was generally guarded emotionally and didn’t share what he was thinking.  I questioned him cautiously at that point.  I asked the one question I thought would answer all of this; “Did you take an Ambien?”  His response was yes that he had taken one before the movie started, noting that I was in the room when he had done so.  I asked him why and he stated that it takes a while to work.  Clearly, he was wrong. 

            The drug Ambien took away his guarded behavior.  He spoke openly and freely about his feelings toward me as well as life in general.  Additionally, he became an insatiable lover who focused on my needs.  He made sure these were met before he completely passed out.  I must admit, this side effect was a well-received pleasure for me. 

            The problem was when morning came he didn’t remember any of this.  He would accuse me of making up stories when I told him things he had said and done the night before.  Sadly he returned to his normal state of guarded, defensive behavior with the sunrise.  I began to recognize that I preferred the Ambien man to the Awake guy.  Ambien man was a dream: sweet, giving and emotionally available.  Awake guy turned out to be a self-absorbed, arrogant ass.  It was a twisted play on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde minus murder.  Eventually, I ended the relationship. 

Although doctors state Ambien is for short-term use it appears to be an easy drug to become addicted to.  As in the story from Today, people can switch doctors to extend the use of sleep aids.  I have not been Mr. Ambien Man’s life for quite some time and I have no idea if he continued to use the drug.  Clearly this powerful sleep aid has many odd effects on the human body and should be studied further.