Ambien

Ambien is a medicine that is prescribed for the treatment of short-term insomnia in adults. The sleep medicine, which comes as a tablet that is taken once a day immediately before bedtime, has proven to be effective in helping people fall asleep faster, sleep longer, and establish a higher quality of sleep. Potential side effects of Ambien may include difficulty with coordination, daytime drowsiness, and dizziness.

 

What Is Ambien?

Ambien® (zolpidem tartrate) is a prescription medication that has been licensed to treat short-term insomnia in adults.
 

Who Makes Ambien?

Ambien is manufactured by sanofi-aventis.
 

What Is It Used For?

Ambien is used to treat insomnia. This includes a number of sleep difficulties, including:
 
  • Difficulty falling asleep
  • Waking up often during the night
  • Waking up too early in the morning.

 

(Click Ambien Uses for more information on what it is used for, including some possible off-label uses.)

 

How Does It Work?

Ambien is part of a class of medications called sedative/hypnotics, which are known more commonly as sleep medicine. Based on clinical studies, when compared to people who did not take Ambien, people who took Ambien:
 
  • Fell asleep faster
  • Slept longer
  • Had higher-quality sleep
  • Had fewer awakenings.
     

When and How Do I Take Ambien?

Some general considerations for when and how to take the medication include:
 
  • Ambien comes in tablet form and is taken once a day, immediately before bedtime.
     
  • It is recommended that you take your dose with a glass of water, not after a meal, and not with food.
     
  • It works very quickly; make sure that you are ready for sleep before taking Ambien. Do not take it before driving or performing any tasks that require concentration.
      
  • For the medication to work properly, you have to take it as prescribed. It will not work if you take it differently than how your healthcare provider has prescribed.
     
  • In general, the drug is used for only one to two days. It should not be used for more than one to two weeks. If you are still having trouble sleeping after one to two weeks, make sure to let your healthcare provider know.
     

Dosing Information

The dosage that your healthcare provider recommends will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • Your age
  • Other medical conditions you may have
  • Other medications you may be currently taking.
     
As is always the case, do not adjust your dosage unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 
(Click Ambien Dosage for more information.)
 

Side Effects of Ambien

(The side effects listed below are NOT a complete list of possible side effects of this drug. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of side effects with you.)
 
As with any medicine, there are possible side effects with Ambien, but not everyone who takes the drug will experience problems. In fact, most people tolerate it well. When side effects do occur, in most cases they are minor, meaning they require no treatment or are easily treated by you or your healthcare provider.
 
The most common side effects include:
 
  • Daytime drowsiness
  • Dizziness
  • Diarrhea
  • Difficulty with coordination
  • Lightheadedness.
     
There are also a number of less common and more serious side effects that can occur.
 
(Click Ambien Side Effects to learn more about the specific side effects of this drug.)
 

Drug Interactions

Ambien has a number of medicines that it can potentially interact with.
 
(Click Ambien Drug Interactions for more information about these possible interactions.)
 

What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

Prior to taking Ambien, you should notify your healthcare provider if you have:
 
Let your healthcare provider know if you:
 
  • Are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant (see Ambien During Pregnancy)
  • Are breastfeeding
  • Drink alcohol.
     
Also, tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you may also be taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
 
(Click Ambien Precautions and Warnings for more information on this topic, including information on who should not take Ambien.)
 

Who Should Not Take Ambien?

You should not take this medication if you are allergic to Ambien or any component of zolpidem tartrate. Your healthcare provider or pharmacist has a list of the inactive ingredients.
 

Overdose

There have been a limited number of cases of people overdosing on this drug. An Ambien overdose could produce a variety of reactions -- from excessive tiredness to light coma. If you happen to overdose, seek medical attention immediately.
 
(Click Ambien Overdose for more information.)
 

Storage Methods

This medication should be stored at room temperature.
 
Keep Ambien and all medications out of the reach of children.
 

Strengths

There are two strengths of Ambien tablets available:
 
  • Ambien 5 mg
  • Ambien 10 mg.
     

Generic Ambien

Currently, both brand-name and generic versions of the medication are licensed for sale.
 
(Click Generic Ambien for more information.) 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;