Ambien is  a sedative. It produces hypnotic action. Ambien affects the reuptake of chemicals in the brain the unbalance of which may cause insomnia (sleeping problems).

Brand Name: Ambien, Edluar

Generic: zolpidem

Availability: prescription

Medical forms: 5 mg tablets

Ingredients: Ingredients: active ingredient: zolpidem tartrate;

inactive ingredients:

• hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
• lactose
• magnesium stearate
• micro-crystalline cellulose
• polyethylene glycol
• sodium starch glycolate
• titanium dioxide
• FD&C Red No. 40
• iron oxide colorant
• polysorbate 80.

Indications

Ambien is used to treat insomnia. It may be prescribed for a short-term used for patients having sleeping problems whether it is going to sleep or staying asleep. Ambien may be also used for other purposes if prescribed by a doctor.

Mechanism of Action

Ambien active ingredient is zolpidem. Its structure is similar to benzodiazepines which are the medications of another class of drugs. Benzodiazepines are able to produce a variety of effects on a human body. They are used to reduce anxiety, prevent seizures and also have a sedative effect. Zolpidem binds to the receptors in the brain that are responsible for sedative properties which results in sedation.

Ambien is indicated for a short-term use only. It should not be taken for more than 4 or 5 weeks unless a doctor prescribes it. Ambien should be used exactly as prescribed by a doctor. The medication should not be used in larger or smaller amounts or for a longer period than written on a prescription label. A patient should not change the dosage or the way of taking Ambien without consulting a doctor. Ambien should not be taken before a patient should stay awake unless he or she has a 7 or 8 hours’ period to be dedicated to a full normal sleep.

Ambien should not be taken for the purposes such as to sleep during an air-travel as an air-travel may last for a smaller period than the effect of Ambien.

Ambien should be taken with a full glass of water. An extended-release tablet of Ambien should be swallowed without biting, chewing, breaking, or crushing it, unless a doctor prescribes to take only a half of extended-release dose. In this case a patient should break an extended-release dose and follow the doctor’s prescriptions. A tablet should be swallowed whole with a big amount of water. A patient should avoid taking Ambien with a meal or just after a meal otherwise it may take a patient sleep for longer.

A patient should tell a doctor of the symptoms of sleeping disorder do not improve or if insomnia gets worse after having followed the administration of Ambien for 7 or 10 nights in a row.

A patient may have withdrawal symptoms after he or she suddenly stops taking it if Ambien has been taken for a few days in a row. A patient should not suddenly stop taking the medication without a doctor’s prescription. Withdrawal symptoms may include:

• behavior changes
• stomach pain
• muscle cramps
• nausea, vomiting
• sweating, anxiety
• panic
• tremors
• seizures (convulsions). Continue reading →

Ambien may cause severe allergic reactions. A patient should immediately stop taking Ambien if any of the signs of allergy occur. In this case a patient should immediately get emergency medical help. The signs of allergy may be as follows:

• hives
• difficulty breathing
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.

A patient should stop using Ambien and consult a doctor if any of serious side effects appear:

• depression
• thoughts about hurting yourself
• unusual thoughts
• risk-taking behavior
• decreased inhibitions
• no sense of fear or danger
• anxiety
• aggression
• feeling restless or agitated
• hallucinations, confusion
• loss of personality.

The following side effects of Ambien are less serious but they still be unpleasant: Continue reading →

Ambien overdose may be life threatening or cause unpleasant side effects. A person should immediately get emergency medical help in case of overdosing. Ambien overdosing may by fatal if taken with other medications having drowsiness a side effect. The most common signs of Ambien overdose may include:

• sleepiness
• confusion
• shallow breathing
• feeling light-headed
• fainting
• coma.

Ambien should be stored at a room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 to 30 degrees C)  away from moisture and heat. The medication should not be stored in a bathroom because of the high humidity. Ambien should be kept out of reach of children and pets. Ambien should not be flushed down the toilet or poured into a drain. Ambien should be properly discarded when it is no more needed or it is expired. On how to dispose Ambien after it expires or is no more needed a patient should consult a doctor or a pharmacist.

A patient may need to be indicated a lower dosage of Ambien if he or she also follows the administration of sedatives or other medicines that have sleepiness as a side effect (e.g. cold medicine, pain medication, muscle relaxants, and medicine for depression or anxiety). A patient should tell a doctor in case of following administration of any other medications especially including:

• chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
• itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater)
• antidepressants such as imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil) or sertraline (Zoloft).

The list of the medications interacting Ambien is incomplete. A patient should report his/her doctor about undergoing any treatment for the doctor to prescribe a certain amount of Ambien or examine the patient in order to reveal any contraindications which the patient may have as a result of following the administration of any other medications.

Ambien has proved to be effective in treating the symptoms of insomnia, though it may cause a few side effects. To avoid severe allergic reactions or other side effects which were revealed as a result of the studies a patient should strictly follow the doctor’s recommendation and prescriptions on the label.

Ambien is to treat short-term insomnia in adults. Though in some patients it may work inadequately or may be not that effective. In such case a doctor may indicate some other alternatives for Ambien including:

• Eszopiclone (Lunesta)
• Zaleplon (Sonata)
• Ramelteon (Rozerem).

A patient may need to undergo some special tests to reveal some certain factors before treating insomnia. Important factors include the duration of insomnia, the cause of the disease, the age of the patient and general health condition. In some cases to get rid of insomnia a person should treat some underlying problems.
The most popular alternatives for Ambien include:

• prescription medications
• over-the-counter medications
• herbal remedies
• behavior therapy.

Non-benzodiazepines hypnotics which action is quite similar to the one of Ambien include:

• Lunesta
• Sonata
• Rozerem.

All non-benzodiazepines hypnotics may cause side effects including:

• severe allergic reactions
• unusual behavior
• fatigue
• headaches
• morning sedation. Continue reading →

Peter Crashwood, 43, says: I’ve been having sleeping problems for about a year or so. I don’t quite feel that Ambien makes me sleepy or something but it helps me relax which is the main problem for me which causes sleeplessness. Now I feel better as I can relax before going to bed which helps me fall asleep quite quickly.

David Pottery, 37, says: Once I had to administer a medication for allergic reaction after I took a tablet of Ambien the day before, and I’d say I almost fell asleep while driving. I forgot then that taken together with other medication which may produce sedative effect Ambien’s effect just doubles. Other than that, haven’t noticed any side effects.

Sandy Moore, 37, says: I’ve been taking Ambien for 5 days already. Now I feel that I sleep much better and wake up much more seldom than before I started the course. I have 2 more days to see what will happen. My doctor said that the effect of the medication may pass away as long as I stop taking it. After the Ambien administration which is to reduce my severe insomnia symptoms I’m going to take a course of behavior therapy which, my doctor says, may be helpful.

Terry Crownwood, 54, says: I’d like to say that Ambien is really helpful though for the first 2 days of its administration I felt a bit of light-headed, but I’m not sure whether I can associate it with Ambien administration. The only thing I am sure about is that solves my main problem, insomnia.