About
Ambien®
What is Ambien?
Ambien is the brand name of the generic medication zolpidem. It is a sedative-hypnotic medication used for the short-term treatment of insomnia. Ambien acts to increase levels of a brain neurotransmitter (a molecule that passes messages from one nerve to another) called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). This effect on the GABA receptors results in you feeling calm and/or sleepy.
When considering Ambien (brand) or zolpidem (generic), your doctor or nurse will usually prescribe it for short-term use (typically no more than a few weeks). Ambien is also considered a controlled substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) due to the risk of abuse or dependence, which the DEA has classified as low for this particular medication. Nevertheless, no more than a 30-day supply can be dispensed at any given time.
Ambien is available in multiple forms and doses:
Ambien tablet
- 5 mg
- 10 mg
Ambien CR (extended release) tablet
- 6.25 mg
- 12.5 mg
The recommended starting Ambien dosage is 5 mg for women and 5 to 10 mg for men, taken right before bed when at least 7 or 8 hours of sleep are planned. If 5 mg is not enough to improve your insomnia symptoms, your prescribing doctor, nurse, or Minded professional may adjust your dose. The maximum recommended dose is 10 mg/day.
The recommended starting Ambien CR dosage is 6.25 mg for women and 6.25 to 12.5 mg for men, also taken right before bedtime when at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep are planned. Your prescribing doctor, nurse, or Minded professional may adjust your dose if this is not enough to improve your insomnia. The maximum recommended dose for Ambien CR is 12.5 mg/day.
Regardless of whether you are taking the immediate release (to help fall asleep) or extended release (to help fall asleep and stay asleep) of Ambien, waking up before 7-8 hours of sleep has passed may leave you feeling drowsy, and you may experience short-term (recent) memory problems because the effects of the medication have not worn off.
Your doctor, prescribing nurse, or Minded professional will provide you with instructions that include when and how often to take this medication.
Ambien should be taken on an empty stomach—not with food.
If you accidentally miss a dose of Ambien, just skip that dose and take the next dose at the next regularly scheduled time. You should not double up on doses of Ambien.
For more information:
Ambien side effects, warnings, and interactions
Ambien side effects
Common side effects of Ambien and Ambien CR include:
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness, including feeling drowsy the day after you take Ambien CR
- Grogginess
- Headache
- Sleepiness
Always let your doctor, prescribing nurse, or Minded professional know if you experience these (or any other) side effects.
Rare or serious side effects of Ambien and Ambien CR include:
- Anxiety
- A severe allergic reaction, which can include swelling of your tongue and/or throat, difficulty breathing, nausea, and/or vomiting. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience these symptoms after taking Ambien or Ambien CR.
- Short-term (recent) memory loss
- Unusual thoughts or behavior
Some people who take Ambien (or Ambien CR) will engage in activities—such as eating, driving, or making phone calls—while they are either asleep or not completely awake. They do not remember having done these things once they are awake.
Seek medical attention right away if you experience these—or any other—serious side effects while you are taking Ambien.
Ambien warnings
Ambien and Ambien CR come with an FDA “Black Box” warning. This means that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified serious safety risks that may occur from taking these medications. These are serious safety warnings—though the actual risk may be low.
The Black Box warning for Ambien states that some people who take these medications engage in activities such as walking, driving, or other behaviors while asleep or not fully awake—and that some of these events could result in serious injuries or even be fatal.
Ambien and pregnancy
Let your doctor, prescribing nurse, or Minded professional know if you are planning on becoming pregnant and/or breastfeeding. Taking Ambien during the last few months of pregnancy, especially, may be harmful to your baby. Ambien is in your breastmilk, so breastfeeding while Ambien is in your system may expose your baby to the effects of the medication.
Ambien withdrawal symptoms
Ambien can cause withdrawal symptoms if stopped suddenly. If you want to or need to stop taking Ambien, discuss a plan to do so carefully and safely with your prescribing doctor, nurse, or Minded professional.
Ambien withdrawal symptoms may include:
- Abdominal and/or muscle cramps
- Convulsions
- Sweating
- Tremors
- Vomiting
Ambien interactions
Tell your doctor, prescribing nurse, or Minded professional about all other medications and/or supplements you are taking to determine if Ambien may have any negative interactions with them.
Ambien may interact with:
- Central nervous system (CNS) depressants, such as alcohol, benzodiazepines, or opioids
- Imipramine (Tofranil)
- Chlorpromazine (Ormazine, Thorazine)
- CYP3A4 inducers, such as rifampin (Rifadin) or St. John’s wort
- Ketoconazole (Extina, Ketodan Kit, Kuric, Nizoral, Nizoral A-D, Xologel), antifungal medications used to treat fungal infections
Ambien and alcohol
You should not drink alcohol while you are taking Ambien. Alcohol can increase the effects of Ambien to the point of dangerous impairment. Because alcohol can impair judgment and memory, drinking may also increase your risk of unintentionally overdosing on Ambien.
Symptoms of an Ambien overdose include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Severe drowsiness
- Severe nausea
- Severe vomiting
- Staggering
- Coma
- Death
An Ambien overdose can be fatal—seek immediate medical attention if you are experiencing any overdose symptoms.
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