Of all the strange nocturnal behaviors that have been reported with the use of Ambien and other prescription sleep drugs—acting out, sleep walking and talking, and even driving while asleep—the most prevalent by far is sleep eating. Though the side effect is rare overall, most sleep doctors have heard a few stories of refrigerators being raided, ovens left on through the night, or strange food appearing in the bedroom.

Many of these sleep-eating patients take Ambien, although it’s not clear whether this particular drug really is more likely to cause sleep eating, or if it’s just that more cases are reported because so many more people take Ambien than any other sleep medications.

For some, the strange side effect is unacceptable: They may gain a significant amount of weight, or worry about operating kitchen appliances while sleeping. For others, like Rebecca Wiseman, 26, of Sumter, S.C., sleep eating happens only occasionally—and it’s a small price to pay for the relief that medication can bring.

Relief from hospital-induced insomnia
Wiseman starting taking Ambien while she was in the hospital on bed rest during her second pregnancy. She was grateful for the full eight hours of sleep it got her, and took a pill just about every night for six weeks.