Ambien CR Side Effects

Common Ambien CR side effects may include daytime drowsiness, difficulty with coordination, dizziness, and headache. Most side effects are minor and do not require medical attention, but certain problems should be reported to your healthcare provider immediately, such as slurred speech, coordination problems, and suicidal thoughts. According to research studies, up to 3.5 percent of people taking Ambien CR stopped their medicine because of side effects.

 

Ambien CR Side Effects: An Introduction

As with any medicine, there are possible side effects with Ambien CR™ (zolpidem tartrate extended-release tablets). However, not everyone who takes the sleep medicine will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate Ambien CR well. When people do develop Ambien CR side effects, they are generally minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider.
 
In previous research studies, up to 3.5 percent of people taking Ambien CR stopped their medicine because of side effects. There also appears to be a relationship between the Ambien CR dosage and side effects. This is why it is recommended that you take the smallest possible dose of Ambien CR for sleep.
 
(The Ambien CR side effects discussed below are not a complete list of side effects reported with this drug. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of Ambien CR side effects with you.)
 

Common Ambien CR Side Effects

Ambien CR has been studied extensively in clinical trials, with 3,660 people having been evaluated. In these studies, side effects are always documented and compared to those that occur in a similar group of people not taking the medicine. Based on these studies, the most common Ambien CR side effects include:
 
  • Daytime drowsiness -- up to 15 percent of people
  • Dizziness -- up to 12 percent of people
  • Headache -- up to 19 percent of people.
     
Other Ambien CR side effects (occurring in more than 1 percent of patients) that occurred more often in the group taking Ambien CR included, but were not limited to:
 
(Ambien CR Side Effects Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;