Zolpidem
Brand Names: Ambien, Edluar, Intermezzo, Zolpimist
Related Medications: Ambien CR, Ativan Injection, Dalmane, Doral, Edluar, Elavil, Halcion, Hetlioz, Lunesta, Phenobarbital, Prosom, Restoril, Rozerem, Seconal Sodium, Silenor, Sonata, Trintellix, Valium
Zolpidem: Effective Drug to Manage Sleep Problems
For over 15 years Zolpidem has been only available as Ambien that was first released in 1991. Zolpidem, the generic of Ambien, was approved by the FDA in
2007. This made this medication available for more customers at a lower price. Today, it is one of the most popular medications prescribed for treating
insomnia.
Indications
Zolpidem belongs to sedatives drugs. It is prescribed to manage insomnia when a patient regularly experiences problems with falling asleep. The medication
is able to act on GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) receptors in the brain, which releases a GABA neurotransmitter. Insufficient GABA leads to
hypersensitivity, distress, unnecessary fatigue, which may result in occurrence of sleep problems.
Zolpidem should be taken orally without crushing or chewing on an empty stomach. Usually this medication is used once a day before sleep because it works
pretty quickly. You should dedicate at least 7-8 hours for your sleep in order to take Zolpidem.
Warnings and Precautions
The medication is not suitable for people who have a severe allergic reaction to its components, including the following:
The drug is not approved for children. Misuse of Zolpidem may lead to harmful consequences. Zolpidem may impair reactions or thinking. You should not take
it if you have had an episode of memory loss due to its use. The drug should never be take longer or in higher dosages than prescribed by a healthcare
provider. It should not be mixed with alcohol that is why you should avoid taking this drug if you have consumed some alcoholic drink during the day.
Do not stop using this medication suddenly because it may lead to occurrence of withdrawal reactions, including:
The use of Zolpidem should be discontinued gradually. Addiction is one of the risks associated with the use of Zolpidem, especially if it is used not
according to doctor’s recommendations.
Drug Interactions
There are 735 drugs that are able to interact with Zolpidem, with 7 of them causing major drug interactions, including:
Side Effects
The following are common side effects that you may experience after taking Zolpidem:
Zolpidem may also cause severe side effects. If you have one of the following side effects after using the drug, you should contact your healthcare
provider immediately: