Insomnia is a sleep disorder that makes it difficult for you to go to sleep, stay asleep, or both.
Ambien is in a class of drugs called sedative-hypnotics. They work by slowing the activity in your brain, which allows for a state of sleep.
Sanofi-Aventis makes Ambien, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1992.
Several companies make generic zolpidem, which became available in 2007.
In addition to Ambien, zolpidem is available as:
- Edluar, a sublingual tablet (placed under your tongue)
- Zolpimist, an oral spray
- Intermezzo, a rapid-acting sublingual tablet
- Ambien CR, an extended release tablet with one layer to help you go to sleep and another to help you stay asleep
Ambien Warnings
Do not take Ambien if you are allergic to zolpidem or any of its inactive ingredients.Seek emergency treatment right away if you have difficulty breathing, swelling of your tongue, throat, or face, or nausea and vomiting after taking Ambien.
Within 7 to 8 hours of taking Ambien, do not perform activities that require mental alertness or coordination, like operating machinery or driving a car.
Ambien may be habit-forming, so don't take higher doses of the medication or use it for a longer time than your doctor recommends.
Ambien is a controlled substance; be sure to keep it in a safe place to prevent misuse and abuse.
Do not sell or give away Ambien, because it may cause harm to others, and is against the law.
Before you take Ambien, be sure to tell your doctor if you have a history of any of these conditions:
- Depression
- Mental illness
- Thoughts of suicide
- Drug or alcohol abuse or addiction
- Kidney, liver, or lung disease
- Sleep apnea
People taking Ambien have sleep-walked, driven their cars, prepared and eaten food, made phone calls, and had sex while not fully awake without memory of these activities.
After taking Ambien, tell your doctor if you have abnormal thoughts or behaviors, including abnormally outgoing or aggressive behavior, confusion, agitation, hallucinations, depression, or suicidal thoughts or actions.
Call your doctor if your insomnia does not get better or gets worse within 7 to 10 days after starting Ambien.
This may be sign that your sleep problem is caused by another condition.
Ambien 'High' and Addiction
Numerous online and anecdotal reports have suggested that some people abuse Ambien for a narcotic-like "high."In addition to being addictive or habit-forming, Ambien abuse can result in:
- Hallucinations
- Nausea or vomiting
- Euphoria
- Memory loss
- Lack of coordination
- Fatigue
Ambien Withdrawal
Ambien use can cause dependence; do not stop the medication abruptly without talking to your doctor.Ambien withdrawal symptoms can result from abruptly stopping your use of the drug.
Symptoms of withdrawal may include:
- Insomnia
- Irritability or agitation
- Nervousness
- Delirium
- Cravings
- Seizures
Ambien and Pregnancy
Ambien could cause harm to an unborn fetus. Most doctors recommend avoiding Ambien during pregnancy.Before taking Ambien, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
In addition, tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding your baby, because this drug can pass into breast milk.
Ambien has not been proven to be safe or effective in children younger than 18 years of age.
Ambien Side Effects
- Hives
- Trouble breathing
- Swelling of your tongue, throat, or face
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Getting out of bed while not being fully awake and performing an activity that you are not aware you are doing, such driving a vehicle, sleep-walking, preparing and eating food, making phone calls, or having sex
- Abnormal thoughts or behaviors, such as aggressiveness, abnormal extroversion, confusion, agitation, hallucinations, worsening of depression, or suicidal thoughts or actions
- Memory loss
- Anxiety
- Sleepiness during the day
- Drowsiness
- Tiredness
- Sleepiness during the day
- Dizziness
- Drugged feelings
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Tender red bumps under the tongue
- Tingling, tickling, prickling, pricking, or burning of the tongue
Drowsiness and impairment from zolpidem may be worse in the elderly or people who are debilitated.
Ambien Interactions
Ambien and Drug Interactions
Before taking Ambien, tell your doctor about all of the medications that you take including prescription and nonprescription drugs, vitamins, and supplements.It may not be safe to take Ambien with other drugs that can make you sleepy, or the dose of your medications may need to be lowered.
Before taking Ambien, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
- Antidepressants, including Tofranil and Zoloft
- Antipsychotics, including Thorazine
- Antifungal medication Itraconazole (Sporanox)
- Rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
- Ketoconazole (Nizoral)
- Anti-anxiety medications
- Cold or allergy medications
- Pain medications
- Antiseizure medications
- Sedatives
- Sleeping pills
- Tranquilizers
Ambien and Alcohol
Do not consume alcohol while on Ambien or other forms of zolpidem.Alcohol can worsen side effects, such as drowsiness and abnormal thoughts or behaviors.
Within 7 to 8 hours of taking Ambien or other forms of zolpidem, do not perform activities that require mental alertness or coordination, like operating machinery or driving a car or truck.
Ambien Dosage
Tablets are available in strengths of 5 mg and 10 mg.
Extended release tablets are available in strengths of 6.25 mg and 12.5 mg.
If you have taken Ambien before, your doctor may now prescribe a lower dose, because the FDA lowered the recommended dose in 2013.
New information shows that levels of the drug in some patients may be high enough to cause impaired activities, especially those that require alertness, the morning after using Ambien.
The recommend Ambien dose is lower in women than men.
Here are some general rules for taking Ambien:
- Swallow Ambien tablets whole; do not crush, divide, or chew them.
- Do not take with or right after a meal.
- Take right before you get into bed and only when you are able to stay in bed for an entire night (7 to 8 hours) before being active again.
- Within 7 to 8 hours of taking Ambien, do not perform activities that require mental alertness or coordination.
Place the sublingual tablet under the tongue, where it will disintegrate. Do not swallow the tablet or take it with water.
Zolpidem oral spray (Zolpimist) is available as a cherry-flavored spray solution in a container. Each spray delivers 5 mg of zolpidem.
Zolpidem rapid-acting sublingual tablets (Intermezzo) are available in strengths of 1.75 mg and 3.5 mg.
Take the rapid-acting sublingual tablet in bed when you wake up in the middle of the night and have difficulty going back asleep.
While in bed, place the tablet under your tongue and allow it to break apart completely. Do not swallow it whole.
Ambien Overdose
An overdose of Ambien can be fatal.Symptoms of an Ambien overdose include extreme drowsiness, weakening of heart and breathing function, and coma.
If you think you have taken too much Ambien, or someone else has taken too much, seek emergency medical attention immediately to get appropriate treatment.
Missed Dose of Ambien
Ambien and other forms of zolpidem should be taken only as needed.You can take Ambien even if it is later than your usual dosage time, as long as you will be able to remain in bed for an entire night (7 to 8 hours) before being active again.
Ambien can cause dependence, so do not stop the medication abruptly without talking to your doctor.
Stopping the medication abruptly can make your insomnia worse, cause you to feel depressed, or lead to withdrawal symptoms such as stomach and muscle cramps, vomiting, sweating, tremors, and seizures.
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