What is zolpidem?
Zolpidem may be a prescription that comes as an oral tablet and an oral spray.
The oral tablet comes in three forms: immediate-release, extended-release, and sublingual. The immediate-release form releases the drug into your body directly . The extended-release form releases the drug into your body slowly. The sublingual tablet dissolves under your tongue.
These forms are available because the following brand-name drugs:
Ambien (immediate-release tablet)
Ambien CR (extended-release tablet)
Edluar (sublingual tablet)
All sorts of zolpidem oral tablets also are available as generic drugs. Generic drugs usually cost but the brand-name version. In some cases, they’ll not be available altogether strengths or forms because the proprietary drug .
Why it’s used
Zolpidem oral tablets are wont to treat insomnia. Insomnia causes trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
The immediate-release tablets and Edluar sublingual tablets are used if you’ve got trouble falling asleep. The extended-release tablets are used if you’ve got trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
The low-dose (1.75-mg and three .5-mg) sublingual tablets are used once you awaken within the middle of the night and have trouble falling back to sleep.
How it works
Zolpidem belongs to a category of medicine called hypnotics. a category of medicine may be a group of medicines that employment during a similar way. These drugs are often wont to treat similar conditions.
Zolpidem increases the activity of GABA. GABA may be a chemical in your body that causes sleepiness. Increasing its activity helps you nod off .
Zolpidem side effects
Zolpidem can cause mild or serious side effects. the subsequent list contains a number of the key side effects which will occur while taking zolpidem. This list doesn’t include all possible side effects.
For more information on the possible side effects of zolpidem, or recommendations on the way to affect a troubling side effect, talk together with your doctor or pharmacist.
More common side effects
The more common side effects of zolpidem can include:
headache
drowsiness
dizziness
diarrhea
dry mouth
chest pain
palpitations (fast, strong, or irregular pulse , or feeling like your heart is skipping a beat)
grogginess
lightheadedness
muscle pain
If these effects are mild, they’ll get away within a few of days or a couple of weeks. If they’re more severe or don’t get away , talk together with your doctor or pharmacist.
Serious side effects
Call your doctor directly if you’ve got serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think that you’re having a medical emergency. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:
Allergic reactions. Symptoms can include:
swelling of your tongue or face
trouble breathing
New or worse symptoms of depression. Symptoms can include:
thoughts of suicide or of harming yourself
loss of interest in activities you normally enjoy
feelings of guilt or worthlessness
lack of energy
trouble thinking or concentrating
weight loss or weight gain
Abnormal thoughts or behaviors. Symptoms can include:
agitation
being more outgoing than normal
thinking things aren’t real or that you’re watching yourself from outside of your body
hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there)
Doing activities while you’re asleep and having no memory of the event. These can include:
driving
preparing and eating food
talking on the phone
having sex
Trouble breathing. Symptoms can include:
slowed breathing
shallow breathing
tiredness
decreased oxygen in your blood
Amnesia (memory loss)
Hallucinations (seeing or hearing something that isn’t there)
Zolpidem may interact with other medications
Zolpidem oral tablet can interact with several other medications. Different interactions can cause different effects. as an example , some can interfere with how well a drug works, while others can cause increased side effects.
Below may be a list of medicines which will interact with zolpidem. This list doesn’t contain all drugs which will interact with zolpidem.
Before taking zolpidem, make certain to inform your doctor and pharmacist about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you’re taking . Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you employ . Sharing this information can assist you avoid potential interactions.
If you’ve got questions on drug interactions which will affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Increased side effects from both zolpidem and other drugs
Taking zolpidem with certain medications raises your risk for side effects. this is often because zolpidem and these other medications can cause an equivalent side effects. As a result, these side effects are often increased. samples of these drugs include:
Drugs that decrease your alertness like imipramine and chlorpromazine. If you’re taking any of those medications with zolpidem, you’ll have more sedation and drowsiness.
Increased side effects from zolpidem
Taking zolpidem with certain medications raises your risk for side effects from zolpidem. this is often because the quantity of zolpidem in your body could also be increased. samples of these drugs include:
Antibiotics like clarithromycin and erythromycin
Drugs wont to treat fungal infections, like ketoconazole, itraconazole, and voriconazole
Ritonavir and atazanavir
Interactions which will make your drugs less effective
When zolpidem is employed with certain drugs, it’s going to not work also to treat your condition. this is often because the quantity of zolpidem in your body could also be decreased. samples of these drugs include:
Antibiotics like rifampin, rifabutin, and rifapentine
Anticonvulsant drugs like carbamazepine, phenobarbital, and phenytoin
St. John’s wort
How to take zolpidem
The zolpidem dosage your doctor prescribes will depend upon several factors. These include:
the type of insomnia you’re using zolpidem to treat
your age or sex
the form of zolpidem you’re taking
other medical conditions you’ll have, like liver damage
Typically, your doctor will start you on a coffee dosage and adjust it over time to succeed in the dosage that’s right for you. They’ll ultimately prescribe the littlest dosage that gives the specified effect.
The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, make certain to require the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the simplest dosage to fit your needs.
Forms and strengths
Generic: Zolpidem
Form: immediate-release oral tablet
Strengths: 5 mg, 10 mg
Form: extended-release oral tablet
Strengths: 6.25 mg, 12.5 mg
Form: sublingual tablet
Strengths: 1.75 mg, 3.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg
Brand: Ambien
Form: immediate-release oral tablet
Strengths: 5 mg, 10 mg
Brand: Ambien CR
Form: extended-release oral tablet
Strengths: 6.25 mg, 12.5 mg
Brand: Edluar
Form: sublingual tablet
Strengths: 5 mg, 10 mg
Dosage for insomnia with trouble falling asleep
Adult dosage (ages 18–64 years)
Ambien, Edluar, and generic formulations:
Starting dosage: 5 mg for ladies and 5 mg or 10 mg for men, taken right before bedtime. you ought to only take a dose if you’ve got a minimum of 7–8 hours before you would like to awaken .
Dosage increases: Your doctor may increase your dosage to 10 mg per day if the 5 mg dose isn’t effective.
Maximum dosage: 10 mg once per day taken right before bedtime.
Child dosage (ages 0–17 years)
This medication hasn’t been studied in children. It shouldn’t be utilized in people younger than 18 years.
Senior dosage (ages 65 years and older)
The liver of an older adult might not work also because it wont to . this will cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a extended time. This raises your risk for side effects. Your doctor may start you on a lowered dosage or a special treatment schedule. this will help keep levels of this drug from build up an excessive amount of in your body.
Ambien, Edluar, and generic formulations: 5 mg once per day taken right before bedtime.
Special dosage considerations for people with disease
Ambien, Edluar, and generic formulations: 5 mg once per day taken right before bedtime for people with mild to moderate disease . Avoid this drug if you’ve got severe disease .
Dosage for trouble falling or staying asleep
Adult dosage (ages 18–64 years)
Ambien CR and generic extended-release oral tablets only:
Starting dosage: 6.25 mg for ladies and 6.25 mg or 12.5 mg for men, taken right before bedtime. Take it only you’ve got a minimum of 7–8 hours before you would like to awaken .
Dosage increases: Your doctor may increase your dosage to 12.5 mg per day if the 6.25 mg dose isn’t effective.
Maximum dosage: 12.5 mg once per day taken right before bedtime.
Child dosage (ages 0–17 years)
This medication hasn’t been studied in children. It shouldn’t be utilized in people younger than 18 years.
Senior dosage (ages 65 years and older)
The liver of an older adult might not work also because it wont to . this will cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a extended time. This raises your risk for side effects. Your doctor may start you on a lowered dosage or a special treatment schedule. this will help keep levels of this drug from build up an excessive amount of in your body.
Ambien CR and generic extended-release oral tablets only: 6.25 mg once per day taken right before bedtime.
Special dosage considerations for people with disease
Ambien CR and generic extended-release oral tablets only: 6.25 mg once per day taken right before bedtime for people with mild to moderate disease . Avoid this drug if you’ve got severe disease .
Dosage for trouble falling asleep after waking
Adult dosage (ages 18–64 years)
Generic low-dose sublingual tablets:
Starting dosage: 1.75 mg for ladies and three .5 mg for men, taken once per night as required . Take this drug only you’ve got trouble falling back to sleep after waking within the middle of the night. Also, take this drug only you’ve got a minimum of 4 hours before you would like to awaken .
Dosage increases: If you’re a person and were started on the 1.75-mg dosage, your doctor may increase your dosage to three .5 mg per day.
Maximum dosage: 1.75 mg per day for ladies and three .5 mg per day for men.
Child dosage (ages 0–17 years)
This medication hasn’t been studied in children. It shouldn’t be utilized in people younger than 18 years.
Senior dosage (ages 65 years and older)
The liver of an older adult might not work also because it wont to . this will cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a extended time. This raises your risk for side effects. Your doctor may start you on a lowered dosage or a special treatment schedule. this will help keep levels of this drug from build up an excessive amount of in your body.
Generic low-dose sublingual tablet: 1.75 mg taken once per night only as required . Take it once you have trouble falling back to sleep after waking within the middle of the night. Also, only take this drug once you have a minimum of 4 hours left before you would like to awaken .
Special dosage considerations for people with disease
Generic low-dose sublingual tablet: 1.75 mg taken once per night as required . Only take it once you have trouble falling back to sleep after waking within the middle of the night. Also, only take this drug once you have a minimum of 4 hours left before you would like to awaken .
Zolpidem warnings
Zolpidem oral tablet comes with several warnings.
Decreased awareness and response time warning
If you’re taking zolpidem and don’t get a full night’s sleep, you’ll have decreased awareness and slower reaction times subsequent day. this might cause trouble driving. You shouldn’t drive or do other activities that need alertness if you’re taking this drug and don’t get a full night’s sleep.
If you’re taking generic low-dose sublingual tablets, you shouldn’t drive or do activities that need alertness without accessing least 4 more hours of sleep after taking it.