I used to take plain ambien, and never experienced this. The last few times i've taken ambien CR i've slept fine I took 1 6.25mg ambien CR about 2 hours after taking an ativan/lorazepam.
Had wierd muscle feeling/jerks as I was dozing off (only after taking the ambien), then woke up an hour later in a panic/fearstricken state, heart pounding, sweating, adrenealine rushing, not knowing what i should be afraid of! Might have been nightmares, but I woke up so fast i didnt catch any. I want to sleep but I'm afraid to take a second 6.25mg ambien. My muscles also got really flakey right after taking the first dose. If I tense up my leg muscles they'll like start trembling. The last time i took 2 6.25mg's and a 1/2 ativan and i slept fine. Is this a side effect of the ambien, but my body is fighting it? Would the ativan have anything to do with this?