Ambien Can Cause Indigestion

I have had similar problems with Ambien. I have already been diagnosed with acid reflux, but it is 10 times worse while taking Ambien. Whenever I take Ambien, I always vomit stomach acid and bile the next morning. So, now I am having to get an EGD done to make sure that my esophagus is not damaged. Anyway, I feel your pain. I would rather have sleepless nights than have the stomach problems that go along with taking Ambien.

I have been on CCBs (calcium channel blokers) for high blood pressure for the last four years, and have added Ambien since January 2007.

I developed terrible gastritis & bile reflux without warning starting in August of this year. I wonder if the combination of these two drugs is the cause of my problem. Taking Nexium 40 mgs and being on a very restricted diet has not helped!

Anybody out there in a similar situation?

Ambien was a wonderful sleep aid; however, I developed very bad heartburn symptoms that I had never had (I'm 60), and it took me a while to associate the two. I experimented by stopping the drug, and when I did, the heartburn disappeared. This side effect should be listed by the drug company, as it became severe after several months on the drug.

I was diagosed with acid reflux last year and had several tests done. The EGD, 24 hour PH Study, Upper GI series and they all came back within normal range. But I was still experiencing regurgitation as well as heartburn.

When my gastroenterologist put me on Nexium, Aciphex, Protonix, and Prilosec they all made my heartburn worse. I then stopped all medications but not the Ambien. But later I started wondering if the Ambien could be causing my reflux symptoms. So I decided to stop taking the Ambien, and sure enough after about two days my symptoms started to subside.

My doctor told me that Ambien doesn't cause gastro problems, but it did in my case. If you do experience acid reflux write down everyhing you're eating and taking and you might be suprised to find out that Ambien could be the culprit.

I have been taking Ambien for about a month. I started having severe abdominal pains and reflux since I began taking it. I thought my problem was related to increased stress, and weight gain. I tried a bland diet to help, with no improvement. I was really becoming concerned, and here I am presently with no health insurance.

It occured to me a few days ago that it might be a side effect of the Ambien, so I did an internet search about it. I didn't find it listed as an official side effect, but I found several sites like this one, and I was so excited! I have been off of the Ambien for two days and my pain is almost completely gone.

Thank you all for posting.

I started taking Ambien about 4 months ago. Almost immediately I experienced horrible heartburn and acid reflux. I have Gerds and have been on and off Nexium for several years. It was so bad I went to the gastro doctor and he increased my dosage of Nexium from 40 mg to 80 a day. When that did not work, he put me on prevacid and something else. Nothing is working. I could down an entire bottle of maalox, eat 20 bottles of antacids and rolaids and still feel horrible. I decided to go online and guess what I found? Yep, this website. I will no longer take Ambien starting tonight and can hardly wait to see if this cures my problem. In addition to the acid reflux, I have been experiencing sinus and allergy problems. Anybody else have these issues?

Yesterday evening I got online and read the entries on acid reflux caused by Ambien. I did not take Ambien last night and would you believe the heartburn and acid reflux are gone. I had my first cup of coffee in months this morning with no horrible burning. I feel like a new person.

I have spent hundreds of dollars on antacids and misc other medications, not including two trips to my gastro doctor, who probably things I was making everything up. Now we will see if my allergies and sinus nasal drip disappear.

Thank you so much for the immediate help. I will now be able to enjoy eating and living... What a relief. These side effects need to be on the labels of Ambien or any Ambien generic medications. People like myself, who already have GERDS, should never be given this medication. I am so, so happy today...

Ambien appears to be the cause of my digestive problems. I had been taking Ambien for over a year. With an excruciating sore throat and trouble breathing, I went to nine doctors in one month. I had ended up with an ambulance trip to the emergency room when my breathing became compromised. After ruling everything else out, they finally decided it was acid reflux. The gastrologist did an endoscopy and diagnosed esophogitis. I missed work for a month. I was on four prescription meds. My gastrologist began talking about surgery and I was beginning to accept any intervention that might give me my health back. I had done all the lifestyle changes with GERD and was sleeping at a 45 degree angle to try to manage my night time reflux accompanied with aspirating digestive acids into my lungs. Trying to sleep sitting up I kept taking the Ambien.

I mentioned to every doctor that I was taking Ambien and no one drew a correlation. I decided I should write down everything that was different in my life this year from last year that might have triggered my problems. Taking Ambien was one thing on the list. I went looking for information on Ambien and acid reflux and found this site. I have been off Ambien for three nights and my awful symptoms are abating. I am convinced a drug side effect has been what has been plaguing my life for four months.

I started Ambien 10 days ago. My laryngopharyngeal reflux is out of control since 4 days ago.

Ihave lost 5 pounds since I am unable to eat much due to the acid reflux, stomach pain, abdominal cramps. Had to go to ER as became severely dehydrated as a result of nausea.

Hope all of you are right and that stopping the Ambien will give me relief. I am stopping it tonight and going back on 50 mg. Trazedone which has given me no trouble in 10 yrs. other than daytime sleepiness.

Lastnight I took an ambien before bed, and this morning I woke up to the most horrible sore throat I have ever experienced. After reading this, Im positive that ambien caused this

After months of uncomfortable digestive problems and numerous tests and medications, my doctor has determined that I have very slow intestinal motility due to something blocking the nerve activity to the area. I have been taking Ambien for many months now. Does anybody have similar problems, or information about this?

I took Ambien for a month and developed nausea and severe heartburn. This side effect really needs to be on the package insert. I did not put it together right away that Ambien was the cause and even asked my doctor about the possibility (which he denied). Then I stopped taking it and now I am well again.

I have been taking Ambien for about two weeks, and the heartburn started almost immediately. Thank you for all the posts, I don't feel I'm losing my mind now :) .

I had a history of somewhat severe acid reflux before I began taking Ambien about a year ago, so when my indigestion/acid reflux took a turn for the worse, I just assumed it was unrelated to the Ambien. After reading this site, I'm absolutely certain that I was wrong. I took a Lunesta last night instead of my normal Ambien, and I'm amazed. I woke up this morning feeling great (aside from the bitter aftertaste that Lunesta is known for). I used to have "coffee grounds" vomit every single morning, but today I was fine! Hopefully this isn't just a fluke, because I'm looking forward to being able to drink a beer and eat some pizza without fear of gastrointestinal retribution.

I've been using Ambien for sleeplessness due to pain and stiffness from fibromyalgia. After many months of using it, I developed horrible stomach pain last fall and had an endoscopy, during which several small bleeding spots were cauterized. I also had some signs of acid reflux in the esophagus.

The gastroenterologist had me use Prilosec to manage the stomach symptoms, and they disappeared until last week when they started up again. I think I'll try stopping Ambien since the Prilosec does seem to be working this time. I think there's probably a correlation here.

I am so glad I found these other posts. I'm 28, and I started taking Ambien about a month ago a couple times a week and have thrown up stomach bile and acid the next morning about half the time. This stuff has to be just horrible for the stomach, I'm surprised there is not more significant warnings about this side effect.

I am having acid refulx symptoms. They came on very suddenly. The only change I can see is that I have been taking Ambien for about a month. I am going to stop the Ambien tonight. I pray that this stops the symptons. I am a yong healthy women so I can't imagine what would cause me to have GERD. Wish me luck...

Ambien has given me the ABSOLUTE WORST STOMACH PROBLEMS IN DECADES! I've been diagnosed with GERD but it comes and goes; it can be months before I have any stomach problems. After just 2 Ambien...5 days apart I am in total agony. Bloated and filled with gas my stomch hurts to touch. It hurts to move, bend, sit, lie down. IT JUST PLAIN HURTS!!!! Don't even try it!

I'm 30 years old. For two months, I have thought I had complications due to food poisoning. It wasn't until this morning that the 'light bulb' went off and I realized that it was the Ambien causing these stomach symptoms. Because, when I am off it, the symptoms quickly resolve. I have had severe diarrhea, stomach cramps, boating, indigestion, etc.

Basically, my stomach is completely screwed up. But, like other users, I am faced with either not sleeping well or stomach issues. I think I am going to investigate other options... as chronic digestive problems are not good.

its 3 a.m. and i'm still up. cant go to sleep. took an ambien the night before last and my stomach is killing me. i can barely sit still due to the hurting. i was diagnosed with gastritis in dec and i'm thinking this could be whats causing it.

i've been taking ambiem pretty consistently and each time i pay the price for it! i've gotta stop this med. my whole stomach is on fire and i'm nauseous which doesn't happen quite often (nausea). i almost wanna go to the hospital it's so bad, but that probably is just a waste of time and money.

they'll just blow it off. my gut instinct tells me its this medicine cuz when i'm on it, its horrible. my stomach doesn't start acting up till about 12 hours after i take the medicine. i know i'm not alone since i've found this site, thanks for making this site. i'm a 25 year old male. i'm officially off this med, i hope my stomach starts feeling better..

Hope this helps some of you. I've also have acid reflux. Tried many over the counters, some did nothing, a couple of them help to varying degrees but nothing totally eliminated it. Have been taking Nexium, but seems to be less effective as time goes on. So I called my Mom who is 78 yrs old & seems to be able to recall every old home remedy in the book.

To my surprise, she's had reflux also, but started taking a coffee cup of room temp water with a T. of apple cider vinegar, 1 t. of honey, or to taste to quell the taste of the vinegar, & add enough ice to get real cold & just sip the water till gone. Said she only has to take it once a week to keep the reflux at bay.

Since then, I've talked to several friends who are also taking it & ALL swear by it. A neighbor tells me now he only has to drink this once a month to keep the reflux at bay. Does anyone have any comments good or bad taking this?

I'm so happy to have found this site. I started taking Lexapro and Ambien about a month ago for anxiety-related sleep problems. I've been sleeping so much better, but have developed a persistent pain in my stomach and constant nausea.

I have been on Lexapro before with no stomach problems, but didn't think the Ambien could cause them. Then I actually slept two nights ago without the Ambien, and I felt so good yesterday, the best in a long time. Then I took Ambien last night, my usual 5mg plus another cut in half two hours later when it didn't work.

I woke up this morning with that horrible nausea again. So I think I'm finally putting the pieces together. I'll skip the Ambien a few nights and see how it goes. Thank you all for your helpful comments.

I am having terrible stomach pain, gas, bloating, indigestion. I have been on Ambien for (5+ years) I skipped it last night and did not sleep much at all. I am experiencing awful withdrawals from this drug. I usually took 5mg and switched ti 2.5 mg tonight in hopes of winging myself off this drug.

I need some sleep but I also am having a difficult time dealing with the stomach pain, especially when sitting down. Your thoughts on this subject would be greatly appreciated. Also I covet your prayers. I have a stressful sit down job and I have been battling non diabetic perphieral neuropathy since 1991. Help!!!!!!!!

i googled acid reflux and ambien and found this site. thank god. i had horrible acid reflux for many years and 5 years ago they found benign tumors in my esophagus caused by the reflux. went on acifex and have been on it for 5 years with no further acid reflux problems.

I started taking ambien about a month ago and developed horrible acid reflux. didn't put two and two together until last weekend when i thought about what was new in my life (besides stress). when i figured out ambien and googled and found the helpful comments on this site i immediately stopped the ambien. it's three days later and feel like a new person. back to normal. i appreciate everyone who has posted on this site.

I have been on ambien for the past 5 years as well. Not until recently did i become so sick i could barely compose myself. I too panicked of the thought of even trying to lay down without it, but after reading all your posts i stopped taking it as well. I mean whats worse-- being a little groggy or riddled with stomach pain?

I tossed and turned the first night but my belly was not great but not worse in the a.m. Day 2 i fell asleep around 2:45 up by 6 but total improvement of all stomach symptoms. by the third night after 5 years i fell asleep at 12 and up at 7. each night seems to get easier. So if u want to stop u can just make sure it is when u have 2 consecutive days off.

I have had acid reflux for about 6 years and ambien for about the same amount of time. I never put two and two together until about two or three months ago when I decided to come off ambien altogether and sleep naturally. I have been taking yoga which relaxes me and helps me sleep. I started weaning myself off ambien slowly, and had a little bit of a pill every other day. Until I stopped altogether about three weeks ago. I did have a 1/4 of an ambien one or two nights that I couldn't sleep and bingo! got reflux the next day both days.

Then I started thinking that maybe ambien was the culprit. When I decided to research online, I found this website. Thank you, ex fellow acid reflux sufferers! I feel my suspicions are confirmed by reading all your experiences.
(by the way, I also discovered online - no doctor ever told me in 6 years - that proton inhibitors interfere with calcium absorption, so your bones are at risk!)

I used to have horrible heartburn all the time and found out it all was due to a 20lb. weight gain. So 7 yrs. ago I lost the 20lbs. and it went completely away. 6 days ago I started taking Ambien and the outrageous pain started up the very next day after taking it. I have thought about everything I've eaten and nothing has been different except for taking the Ambien. So I did a search for Ambien and found that heartburn was not a side affect. Then I found this site and found all of you. So tonight I am not going to take it and see what happens after a few days. It's so miserable that I would rather not sleep than to have this pain. Thanks so much to all of you for this info. I write back after I know the results. S.C.

have been taking ambien for 2 years and am experiencing bloating and indigestion almost constantly. I am 66 years old and have never had stomach problems until a few months ago. Need a good nights sleep, will try lunesta or nothing at all.

Holy cow, I've got all the markers. Ambien, too much holiday celebration, stress from family illness, etc. I feel like I could take a pin and pop this nasty gas bubble right under my sternum. Question: Why is that sitting at my computer or lying down seems to trigger the gas/acid discomfort and belching? Anybody?

Like others on here, I strongly suspect that the reflux and stomach problems I have had for the past year were caused by ambien. I never had these problems until I started taking ambien. I stopped taking ambien about a month ago and I have been feeling better. The reflux is not totally gone yet but the upper-stomach pressure is practically gone. Last night was the first night in over a month that I took an ambien.

Today I had severe upper-stomach pressure. I was sitting around today for hours trying to figure out why my stomach was bothering me today for the first time in a long time. Then it hit that I took an ambien last night. I am convinced that all of my stomach problems and reflux over the past year have been caused by ambien.

I have been on ambien for about 1 1/2 years. 9 months ago i experienced a SEVERE sore throat with minor abdominal pain. I have seen 5 doctors since for my problems and have done every test possible including ultrasound, multiple ct scans, barium swallow, EGD, tons of blood and throat cultures and most recent, a septoplasty for sinusitis. I have been on 4 types of acid reflux medicines, 3 types of antibiotics, nasal sprays and the list goes on and on. Ive been in such a horrible physical and now mental state and i feel like the doctors aren't helping me. My next step WAS to get my tonsils taken out, although i have never had a problem with them, that's what the doctor recommends. Now that I've found this site...I will now stop my ambien and see what happens. Thank you all so much for your postings, wish me luck!

I have been on Ambien for about 4 months. I usually only take half a pill. I have been experiencing, tummy pain, constipation, loose stools... for the past 5 months but no heartburn or reflux. I tend to drink alcohol regularly as well.

My tummy pain is largely located on my lower left side.. sometimes the right side and sometimes around the navel. I have gained some weight and have not wanted to do any sit-ups or ab exercises for fear of bursting something. The gastro Dr. thinks it's early hernia's (I'm 33) but I think it's something else. I go for a CT scan next week and a colonoscopy next month.

Has anyone else experienced pain in the lower left quadrant of the abdomen? It might be caused by Ambien but I doubt it since I started experiencing the discomfort the month prior to starting on it.

I have been taking ambien for the past 4 months and I just started getting bad abdominal pain. I went to the ER and they did CT scan and blood work on me, it came out normal. And just reading this makes me think that I should stop taking this med! You just hear all kids of stuff about ambien...and it's never good!

I started taking ambien 10 mg about 9 months ago and at a frequency of about 3 times per week. I started having intermittent stomach pain that has been worsening. I decided to google it today and I see that I am not alone in making the connection between stomach pain and ambien.

I am so glad that I found this page. I took Ambien for almost a year and woke up throwing up stomach bile almost everyday. I took it for anxiety related sleeplessness and when I wake up nauseous and panicky It just makes it worse. I am only going to use it when I absolutely need it. I can't spend a hour every morning throwing up! Plus it makes my panic attacks worse!

I Have had acid reflux about 7 years. I have been heartburn free for 3 years on prilosec and just started to get heartburn when I took ambien. I didn't take one last night and my stomach felt great the next day!

I started taking ambien two weeks ago! I am belching have stomach cramps, heartburn and diarrhea as of tonight I will go sleepless I am already tired of these side effects of this drug. I wish their was a really good natural remedy for the sleepless nights without having to turn to such unnatural things!!!

I too have been taking the generic version of ambien (zolpidem) for the past 6 years. I've had horrific heartburn for the past three months and have been put on Nexium. I experimented three nights ago and just took myself off of the 10 mg. dose of zolpidem and haven't had any heartburn at all. Nor have I had to take Nexium. I feel much better in the morning without the hangover from this sleeping med.

I bought a bottle of "Tranquilnite" made by New Chapter and its easing the transition away from the drug. The herbs in this formula don't disagree with me and I feel much better in the AM.

Glad I bumped into this site to find out that others have had the same reaction to Ambien and its generic equivalent, Zolpidem.

amazing...started taking ambien to help sleep 3 months ago...developed acid reflux and irregular heartbeat...tons of tests....had to go off ambien for a minor surgery and every issue cleared up. Took an ambien when done with pain meds and it was as if the flood gates of hell broke loose...went off of ambien and all is well.....why is there not a warning on the bottle?

I took Ambien (brand) and found it very helpful. I refilled the prescription with the TEVA generic; I experienced severe gastric symptoms. I did not connect the problems to Ambien at first, because I had taken it before without incident. I stopped taking the TEVA generic, but it took almost a week to feel any better.

Several months later, longing for some sleep I refilled the Rx at a different pharmacy. They filled it with an Actavis generic. I did not experience any digestive symptoms, so I figured the first episode might not have been related to the ambien. When the Actavis ran out, I went back to the TEVA generic without much thought and sure enough the same weird gastric symptoms returned. I am certain that there is something wrong with the TEVA formulation, but it is very difficult to prove. If you have had a similar experience, please report it.

Thank goodness I visted this web site. I have always had an iron stomach. Six months ago, I started taking Ambien to sleep through my hot flashes--it worked beautifully.

Unfortunately, during a routine endoscopy four months after I started taking Ambien, it was discovered that my stomach was very inflammed. I was experiencing acid-like symptoms at the time, but I never thought it could be the Ambien because my doctor said Ambien does not have that side effect.

As a result of the endoscopy, and without determining the cause for the inflammation, the doctor put me on Nexium and over the shelf antacids--neither of which helped. I finally put myself through an elimination diet--coffee, sodas, alcohol, salt, spices, et al, one at a time. Nothing helped and I was getting sicker by the day.

Finally, in deparation, I stopped taking Ambien. Within 72 hours, I felt like a new woman. Every day since then, I feel better and better. Why aren't the doctors listening? This could be a pretty serious complication for some people. Thank you all for sharing your stories. They confirm what I had already concluded.

I too have been having strange feelings in my stomach since taking Ambien. Shortly after taking the first pill... I noticed a strange butterfly fluttering feeling in my stomach since taking Ambien. Though I've stopped taking Ambien... the feeling has not left.

I'm left wondering how long until the fluttering feeling of heartburn will subside?

Because of one problem... have I caused another!

Was I better off before... not sleeping?

Food nor liquids have taken away the heartburn just yet.

Now... I'm left with sleepless nights OBSESSING over heartburn.

Last week I did a googled "Ambien Reflux" and found this blog. I am an opera singer and have been on Ambien for two years. I made no correlation between the drug and my vocal issues. One day off Ambien and I don't need to take Omneprosole. I have hope for my future.

I starting taking Ambien for sleep several months ago and the more I took it the more dependent I became on it for sleep. I started having terrible reflux and severe stomach pains. I ended up in the hospital taking numerous tests only to find that I had severe gastritis and reflux. It took about 6 weeks to get it out of my system. Thanks to the website I discovered that this could have been the problem all along. I will never take this drug again. I am now able to sleep without taking anything and feel 100% better.

I'm so glad I found this site. I was just diagnosed with acid reflux. I've had it for about a year it's been terribly disabling. I've also been taking Ambien for just a little longer than that. I too had a feeling after I was finally diagnosed that Ambien might be the cause. I'm going to stay off it now and see what happens. I feel that this is probably the answer given what I've been reading here. Thanks. I'll try and post a followup in a few days.

Hi, I posted last week and indeed Ambien was the cause of my acid reflux and abdominal pain. After a year of searching for the cause I'm so glad it's finally resolved. Doctor's should be made aware of this. It would have saved so much time and effort.