Ambien and Trying to stay awake.?
Answer:
I wouldn't call it a translucent state of consciousness, I'd call it an opaque consciousness; but one way or another, it makes you drowsy, intoxicated etc..
Ambien is a brand name for the chemical Zolpidem. Zolpidem is very similar to the class of compounds know as benzodiazepines, like Valium (diazepam) or Xanax (alprazolam), though it is a specific chemical cousin of the sleeping aids zolpiclone and zaleplon.
All of the compounds work by modulating a protein on brain cells called the GABA-A receptor. This receptor senses the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a chemical released by brain cells, which normally inhibits other brain cells from becoming active.
Ambein (zolpidem) works by enhancing the affinity of GABA-A receptors for GABA; i.e. the GABA is essentially more strongly attracted to the GABA-A receptor. This means that your brain cells are more inhibited than normal. More inhibition means less activity, and you get sleepy.
That's also why very large doses of zolpidem are lethal, they enhance the inhibition in the brain cells responsible for breathing to such a degree that you stop breathing all together.
If you stay awake until the zolpidem has completely worn off, yes you might have some difficulty sleeping. Though of course, this would take several hours.
Also, not trying to be preachy but you need to be really careful to make sure you never drive under the influence of Ambien (zolpidem). For one, if a cop pulled you over, it is illegal to drive under the influence of drugs like zolpidem. Secondly, it really will mess with your ability to drive. Indeed, being awake on Ambien gives some people hallucinations.
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