Approximately 30 percent of adults suffer from insomnia. Zolpidem (Ambien) belongs to a class of drugs known as sedative hypnotics and works to treat short-term insomnia. Ambien works by slowing activity in the brain to allow users to sleep. While Zolpidem has shown great effectiveness in helping patients sleep longer, potential risks exist as well.
Dosing
Zolpidem comes in tablet and extended release tablet forms. Patients should take medication without food for maximum effectiveness. Users should follow instructions carefully and plan to sleep immediately after taking the medication. Zolpidem should only be taken if patients intend on staying in bed for seven to eight hours. Patients who awakened too soon have experienced problems with memory.
Side Effects
Side effects of Zolpidem may include drowsiness, weakness, headache, dizziness, unsteady walking, constipation, gas, diarrhea, a drugged feeling, eye redness, muscle aches, heavy menstrual bleeding and difficulty with balance. More serious side effects may occur as well, including shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, chest pain and hoarseness. If users experience any of these effects, they should alert a physician immediately in case there's an allergic reaction. Symptoms such as rash, hives, itching, swelling or a feeling that the throat may be closing require immediate medical attention.
Special Warning
Zolpidem has been shown to cause users to get out of bed while not fully awake and perform activities that they have no memory of doing. Patients have reported making and eating food, talking on the phone, sleep-walking, driving a car and having sex all while not fully awake. A higher potential for this side effect exists for those who take Zolpidem with other medications or alcohol. Patients should alert health care professionals immediately if they have experienced any of these effects.
Precautions
A potential exists for interactions with other medications. Physicians should be alerted if patients are already taking any medications, including herbal supplements and over-the-counter drugs. Patients who are breastfeeding or pregnant should not take Zolpidem. A patient's mental health may change while taking this medication. If a patient begins to experience any changes in mood or affect, he should consult health care providers immediately for evaluation.
Considerations
While it's not likely that patients will become dependent on Zolpidem, patients should only use the medication as needed and not as a long-term solution. Experiencing insomnia for more than 7 to 10 days may mean another problem exists that needs further examination. Dr. Eric Olsen of the Mayo Clinic explains that while sleep medications may be useful in the short term, the best approach is to address the underlying issue that is causing the illness in the first place.
