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Ambien Addiction
People who develop an addiction to Ambien may experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking the medicine. Symptoms of Ambien withdrawal include insomnia, fatigue, stomach cramps, and panic attacks. Addiction to this medicine is a serious problem requiring treatment, so be sure to talk to your healthcare provider if you feel like you cannot stop taking it.
Ambien® (zolpidem tartrate) is a prescription sleeping medication that is used to treat short-term insomnia in adults. Just like with other sleeping medicines, there is the possibility of becoming addicted to Ambien. Addiction, or "dependence," is when a person feels like he or she needs to continue to take a medicine.
An addiction to this drug is more likely if the medicine has been taken daily for a longer period of time or at higher doses. It is also more likely in people with a history of alcohol or drug addictions.
When a person is addicted to a medicine, if the medicine is stopped, the body is not able to function properly and withdrawal symptom can occur. Some Ambien withdrawal symptoms can include:
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Stomach cramps
- Panic attacks.
When these problems occur, people often feel like they need to stay on their medicines just to prevent these symptoms from occurring again.
If you are taking increasing doses of Ambien or feel like you cannot stop the medicine, you need to talk to a healthcare provider. An addiction to Ambien is a serious problem that requires treatment.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD