Zolpidem is the generic form of Ambien. Difficulty sleeping or insomnia is treated with this hypnotic drug. Typical side effects of Zolpidem include diarrhea, tiredness, headache, sore throat or nose, general weakness and dry mouth. Severe side effects should be addressed immediately by a doctor and include allergic reactions, severe depression, poor coordination, behavior changes, irregular heartbeat and memory problems.
Memory Loss
Temporary memory loss of events that occur immediately after taking a dose of zolpidem is a relatively common side effect, according to Drugs.com. Although this memory loss is permanent, the memory loss stops as soon as the zolpidem dose wears off. Patients that are awoken during a typical sleep cycle will often experience additional memory loss, dizziness and drowsiness. If a patient is unable to sleep a solid 8 hours, zolpidem should be avoided.
Amnesia
Clinical trials reported on Drugs.com indicated that roughly 0.5 percent of patients taking zolpidem discontinued use due to prolonged amnesia the day after taking it. MayoClinic.com describes amnesia an amnestic syndrome as lucid with "trouble learning new information and forming new memories." Long-term studies were not completed to determine if amnesia continued or if memories eventually returned, since the patients withdrew from the clinical trials completely.
Hallucinations
Vivid hallucinations can not only alter perception but also affect memory. Hallucinations may take many forms. Patients suffering from hallucinations may simply believe that dreams experienced after taking zolpidem were in fact reality. Thus, in response to questions asking patients in the clinical trial to explain their activities, many patients remembered people who were not present or events that did not occur. MedlinePlus describes hallucinations as any sensation, sound, visual pattern or smell that lacks a definitive cause. The manifestation of these hallucinations may lead to a patient developing an alternative memory to explain these associations.
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