Q. I have been taking Ambien for about six months. It really helps me get a decent night’s sleep but now I have heartburn.
Can Ambien cause reflux? I hate to take Nexium to counteract indigestion that might be caused by Ambien.
A. Ambien (zolpidem) can cause indigestion or reflux. Here is another reader’s experience: “Ambien gave me a great night's sleep after years of wakefulness. The cost was disabling digestive problems: bloating, pain and acid reflux.
“After a year of pain, more than $20,000 in uncomfortable testing and drugs for reflux, I took myself off Ambien. Two doctors had insisted that my digestive woes were not related to Ambien but after three nights of sleeplessness, the digestive problems went away.”