What is Ambien?
Ambien is a brand name for the nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic zolpidem, which is used as a short-term solution for insomnia and in certain disorders of the brain. Ambien is not effective at maintaining sleep but does effectively induce sleep.
What is Ambien’s mechanism of action?
Ambien acts in a similar way to benzodiazepines by enhancing the action of gamma-amniobutyric acid (GABA).
How is Ambien presented?
Ambien is available as a round pink pill of 6.25 mg with the imprint “A~”, a round blue pill of 12.5 mg with the imprint “A~”, an elliptical pink pill of 5 mg with the imprint “AMB 5 5401” and an elliptical white pill of 10 mg with the imprint “AMB 10 5421”.
Ambien dosage
The recommended starting dosage of Ambien for inducing sleep is 10 mg taken immediately before bedtime. Elderly patients and those taking any drug which acts on the central nervous system should start with a dose of 5 mg. Ambien should never be taken with food and because it is extremely fast acting you should not take it until you are completely ready to sleep. Ambien is not intended for long-term use as a sleep medication and if you still need medication for sleep after a week or two of Ambien you should ask your doctor to prescribe another drug.
Ambien side effects
The side effects of Ambien which were most often reported in clinical trials are daytime drowsiness, vertigo, diarrhea, poor coordination and dizziness. Less commonly it may cause dry mouth, allergy, bizarre dreams, palpitations and sinusitis. Dangerous side effects which occur rarely but should be reported immediately to your doctor include suicidal ideation, confusion, unusually extravert or aggressive behavior or other unusual behavior, depression, hallucinations, restlessness, fainting, slurred speech and disturbances of vision. There have been very rare occurrences of amnesia, somnambulence, erectile dysfunction and hypertension.
Ambien warnings and precautions
You should inform your doctor if you suffer from sleep apnea, emphysema, liver disease, kidney failure, depression, any history of substance addiction including alcohol or allergies to any medicines. Taking alcohol with Ambien may increase the risk of serious side effects and it is best to avoid alcohol completely while using Ambien. If you are a heavy drinker you should inform your doctor of this before beginning Ambien. If you experience any changes in behavior patterns or ways of thinking while taking Ambien you should discuss these with your doctor at the first opportunity. You should tell your doctor if you are pregnant or may become pregnant while taking Ambien or if you are breastfeeding and you should also inform your doctor of any medications you are taking, including herbal supplements.
Drug interactions with Ambien
Ambien may interact with a number of other medications including imipramine (Tofranil), chloropromazine (Thor-Prom, Thorazine), alcohol, sertraline (Zoloft), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane(, Flumazenil (Romazicon) and any other medications which act on the central nervous system. Taking any of these drugs with Ambien may result in decreased awareness and may also either potentiate or impair the action of Ambien.