I am very aware that Ambien works better on an empty stomach, however could (or do) certain foods interfere with the efficacy of Ambien even if the meal was consumed 4 hours prior to dosing. I ask this because I have never taken an Ambien and not fallen asleep even IF I thought I wasn't tired. But last night I could not fall asleep. I tossed and turned and finally began to slip off to sleep around 4:15am (my alarm goes off at 5:30am) only to be abruptly disturbed by my "sleep paralysis" that happens ONLY when I am sleep deprived. I have had episodes like this when I have been completely out of Ambien, but never while taking Ambien. Needless to say, I am exhausted this evening and looking forward to 10pm to take my Ambiem. Tonight was just my own bland NON-spicy Chicken Wings and a Salad. Last night was Chinese take-out Fried Rice and 2 Shrimp Egg Rolls. Does anyone have any ideas or personal experiences?

Sleep paralysis I know very well, and I can imagine that it would be made worse when you run out of regular meds. Once sleep onset paralysis starts, I find that it will continue through the night unless I get out of bed, do something, and try again a short while later.

Fatty foods tend to slow absorption down the most.

Nephro,
I agree with you with getting out of bed and completely waking myself up. I know that if I just lay there, it will continue and continue! I HATE that eery feeling. It is so mind boggling that something as natural and beneficial as sleep is "supposed" to be, can be so unattainable for some of us. I am getting too old, too fast (46) without my sleep and it is really effecting the quality of my life as of late (the last few years). Thanks for the "high fat" advice. I think that Chinese take-out could definitely be put into that category.

Do you hallucinate - sounds, visual or both?

Nephro,
Yes, I do! I get a loud, thunderous, pulsing sound in my head. I feel as if my whole body vibrates in like a pulsing sensation. I have never really "seen" anything other than what is really there. I will sometimes hear a door close close, or I will think that I hear someone out in the other room. Actually, last night--during my episode, I thought that the night lamp that is visable from my bedroom was off, but I KNOW that is is never off. So, I saw darkness coming from that area when I know that it was not possible. Anyhow, the whole "sleep paralysis" episodes are just so distressing and disturbing. I am a Christian, so I always pray to The Lord to help me, but during it, it feel evil. How often do you get this, and what brings it on for you?

I go through episodes, and get mostly auditory hallucinations, such as bizarre siren noises. But I have had visual disturbances, usually because I can't move my eyes, so whatever I'm looking at starts to move.

Breathing is the main struggle, and I try to breathe loudly enough for the sound of the breathing to wake me up.

I was stuck in one state for 55 mins once, when it was at its worst. Then I had very strong hypnagogic hallucinations.

At the moment I've not had an attack for a few weeks.

I have heard many people say that they feel like they cannot breath, but thankfully, I have never felt that way. I try with all my might to make some kind of loud sound, not a scream or anything but I try to yell out. I can't imagine a 55 minute attack! Bless your heart!

Tibetan monks have some interesting takes on this kind of "issue".
I too have had(and have)the same experiences.

Smoking cigs and pot as well as taking some other things that increase dopamine can also inhibit sleep meds.
(Conversely some people find raising their dopamine can help them get to,and stay asleep).

Fatty foods are definitely the worse for sleep meds and benzo etc absorption.

Sleep paralysis has been blamed for alien abductions.

Mine started when I was experimenting with lucid dreams, which was a hoot when it worked, but as usual, there's a downside. My own fault really.

Oh Nephro, do you change your dreams? If I've having a lucid dream, and I Know I'm dreaming, I'll change it all around. For instance, in one dream I was in the yard and a huge tornado was coming at me. I was holding one of my kids and realized that none of my kids were that little anymore so it had to be a dream, so I changed it up and made it into a beautiful sunshiney day and we had a picnic.

There have been many times when I knew I was dreaming, so I changed the dream around so I could be in other places or doing something else. My kids think I'm crazy.

I couldn't do it when I was younger, but somewhere around 30 I began to realize when I was in a dream and I would 'mess' with it. Lots of fun when you realize it's a dream and can do whatever you wish (I fly, jump off of cliffs, teach my brothers' and sisters' how to fly, etc.)

Yes I could change them when I was into lucid dreaming. I still have the odd one, but not quite with the control I had then, and being young, fit and male back then, I never bothered flying or jumping off cliffs. But indeed, one can definitely take control of some dreams and literally cut to a scene of choice, almost like playing a DVD.

Lucid dreamer here too... and I really think that's what got my [censored] in trouble with the sleep paralysis now. Had a real bad episode just the other night, and went into a full blown panic attack. It's bizarre that most of my anxiety comes out when I'm sleeping/trying to sleep. *shrugs* Some people say that dreaming is the subconscious getting rid of all the [censored] it takes in during the day, while shielding your conscious from it at the same time. Who knows??? All *I* know is I am a very bizarre dreamer. And I HATE being stuck in dreams. I usually bang my head on something long enough until I wake up.

Research on sleep paralysis is growing in its scope but it is still a work in progress.
Some doctors believe that an inhibition of natural melatonin triggers the episodes while others have linked the cause to narcolepsy or simply a lack of sufficient REM sleep.
It was a group of Japanese researchers who first found a link between sleep paralysis and reports of alien abduction. Repeated reports about an alien creature sitting on a person's chest and carrying them away.
I have experienced this myself and it can be a very traumatic event if you do not understand what is happening to you and why.

Vitamin C with Ambien, increases it's effects from my own research. I don't know if that's actually true or not. Also, smoking can increase it's effects as well, but if you don't smoke then obviously very unhealthy and also if you do smoke, it can be dangerous while on ambien, so either way probably unwise. Just some things I've noticed over the years.

Fatty foods like said above can decrease many medications, I would always eat four hours before like said, or a small snack after you take your ambien.

Use caution when thinking of taking Ambien when you MIGHT be hungry...
Sleep-eating is a common side effect and I can tell you that its a true story...
I have cooked full meals, eaten a whole 1/2 gal of ice cream, and cooked some things that could not be identified in daylight. No pets were missing or injured.
Once controlled or managed and the initial fear has been overcome, it can be entertaining. waking up really is an adventure and looking around to see what MIGHT have went on during the nite like gremlins in the house, is kinda fun.Until you see evidence of something truely stupid, like a goldfish in a frying pan, the empty ice cream container hidden in the ceiling fixture...etc..

after that comes sleep calling, texting and worst of all, text replying to message boards, and I can again, assure you that seeing the mess you made the night before is no fun....either in the Kitchen or on the message board !