Ambien

Pronunciation: zole-PI-dem
Generic Name: Zolpidem
Brand Name: Ambien

Ambien is used for:

Short-term treatment of insomnia (trouble falling asleep).

Ambien is a sedative-hypnotic, or sleep medicine. It works by helping to increase certain natural chemicals in the brain that cause sleep.

Do NOT use Ambien if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Ambien


• you are taking sodium oxybate (GHB)

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Ambien:

Some medical conditions may interact with Ambien. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding


• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement


• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances


• if you have kidney or liver problems, lung or breathing problems (eg, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], sleep apnea), myasthenia gravis, metabolism problems, heart or blood pressure problems, or very poor health


• if you have a history of mood or mental problems (eg, depression), suicidal thoughts or behaviors, or alcohol or substance abuse or addiction


• if you are a child or teenager with a history of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Ambien. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• HIV protease inhibitors (eg, ritonavir), ketoconazole, or sodium oxybate (GHB) because they may increase the risk of Ambien's side effects


• Rifampin because it may decrease Ambien's effectiveness

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Ambien may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Ambien:

Use Ambien as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Ambien comes with an extra patient information sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it carefully. Read it again each time you get Ambien refilled.


• Take Ambien by mouth on an empty stomach at least 2 hours after a meal.


• Ambien works very quickly; use Ambien right before going to sleep.


• Use Ambien only when you are able to get a full night's sleep (7 to 8 hours).


• If you miss a dose of Ambien, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once. Do not take more than your total daily dose in any 24-hour period.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Ambien.

Important safety information:

• Ambien may cause drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, or lightheadedness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Ambien with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.


• Do not drink alcohol or use medicines that may cause drowsiness (eg, sleep aids, muscle relaxers) while you are using Ambien; it may add to their effects. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines may cause drowsiness.


• When you first start taking Ambien, it may have a "carryover" effect on you the next day. Use extreme care while doing anything that requires complete alertness (eg, driving a car).


• Ambien is usually used only for a short period of time. If your symptoms do not get better within 7 to 10 days or if they get worse, check with your doctor.


• Sleep medicines may cause a special type of memory loss or amnesia. To prevent memory problems, be sure to use Ambien only when you are able to get a full night's sleep (7 to 8 hours) before you need to be active again. Be sure to talk to your health care provider if you think you are having memory problems.


• Some patients taking Ambien have performed certain activities while they were not fully awake. These have included sleep-driving, making and eating food, making phone calls, and having sex. Patients often do not remember these events after they happen. Such an event may be more likely to occur if you use a high dose of Ambien. It may also be more likely if you drink alcohol or take other medicines that may cause drowsiness while you use Ambien. Tell your doctor right away if such an event happens to you.


• Use Ambien with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially dizziness or drowsiness.


• Ambien should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed. Children may be more sensitive to Ambien's side effects, especially dizziness, headache, and hallucinations.


• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Ambien while you are pregnant. Ambien may cause prolonged sleep or severe breathing problems in the newborn if you take it during the last weeks of pregnancy, especially if you take it with certain medicines. Ambien is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Ambien, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.

When sleep medicines are used every night for more than a few weeks, they may lose their effectiveness to help you sleep. This is known as TOLERANCE. Sleep medicines should usually be used only for short periods of time, such as a few days and generally no longer than 1 or 2 weeks. If your sleep problems continue, contact your doctor.

When used for longer than a few weeks or at high doses, some people develop a need to continue taking Ambien. This is known as DEPENDENCE or addiction. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have been dependent on alcohol, prescription medicines, or street drugs in the past.

If you stop taking Ambien suddenly, you may have WITHDRAWAL symptoms. This may include unpleasant feelings. In more severe cases, you may have stomach and muscle cramps, vomiting, sweating, and shakiness. Seizures may rarely occur. If you take Ambien for more than 1 to 2 weeks, do not stop taking it without talking to your doctor.

Possible side effects of Ambien:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness (including daytime drowsiness); "drugged" feeling; dry mouth; headache; nausea; nose or throat irritation; sluggishness; stomach upset; weakness.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the hands, legs, mouth, face, lips, eyes, throat, or tongue; throat closing; unusual hoarseness); abnormal thinking; behavior changes; chest pain; confusion; decreased coordination; difficulty swallowing or breathing; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; hallucinations; memory problems (eg, memory loss); mental or mood changes (eg, aggression, agitation, anxiety); new or worsening depression; severe dizziness; shortness of breath; suicidal thoughts or actions; vision changes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

See also: Ambien side effects (in more detail)

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include severe drowsiness or coma.

Proper storage of Ambien:

Store Ambien at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Ambien out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Ambien, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.


• Ambien is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.


• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.


• Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.

This information is summary only. It does not contain all information about Ambien. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

Issue Date: February 1, 2012

Database Edition 12.1.1.002

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

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