Don’t be fooled, Ambien is extremely strong stuff, and it can have some pretty amazing consequences.
I said it was most likely, because about 20% of users get some degree of headache from it.
There have been a lot of instances of people “extensively sleepwalking” with Ambien, some even driving for miles while unaware of it. Two members of the Kennedy family have now blamed auto accidents on the drug.
A strong possibility that Ambien make actually wake up some patients in persistent comas is now being investigated (here called by its generic name, Zolpidem):
http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/can-zolpidem-wake-people-from-coma/
The bottom line is that the “safe and effective” standards of the FDA are really inadequate with such an incredibly complex system as neurochemistry, that scientists are only starting to understand.
It’s the best sleep aid for traveling. Take one, have a beer, and you will be asleep within 1/2hr for 4-6hrs no matter what time zone. Wake up 100%