Approximately 20 percent of American adults use a sleep aid of some form, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications or alcohol, The University of Maryland Medical Center states. Ambien, or zolpidem, is a prescription sedative hypnotic that alters certain chemicals in the brain to help an individual get to sleep faster and stay asleep longer. Ambien is one of the most commonly prescribed medications for insomnia because it does not fall into the same class as benzodiazepines and has fewer side effects than benzodiazepine drugs such as diazepam and clonazepam. Before taking a prescription sleep medication it is important to talk to your doctor and be fully informed about the risks and benefits of taking a prescription sleep aid.
Proper Use
Ambien should be taken exactly as prescribed by the doctor. The Mayo Clinic warns that Ambien should never be taken for longer than prescribed, at higher doses than prescribed or more often than prescribed. Ambien should be taken before bedtime when the individual has 7 to 8 hours to devote to sleeping and never during times when he plans or needs to stay awake. Drugs.com states that Ambien should only be used for a few days and no longer than 1 to 2 weeks. Ambien is available in 5 mg and 10 mg tablets. According to the Mayo Clinic, the recommended adult dose for treating insomnia is 10 mg taken orally just before bedtime. For older individuals, the recommended dose is 5 mg.
Side Effects
Common side effects of Ambien include diarrhea, dizziness, drowsiness, headaches, nausea and stomach upset. These side effects are not life-threatening and can go away as the body adjusts to the medication. If these problems persist or become bothersome, the prescribing doctor should be contacted. Serious side effects can occur. If changes in behavior, abnormal thinking, fainting, hallucinations, fast heartbeat, mood changes, severe dizziness, vision changes or suicidal thinking occur, the prescribing doctor should be notified immediately. Ambien can cause a severe allergic reaction. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include hives, itching, difficulty breathing and swelling of the face and mouth. Severe allergic reactions are medical emergencies and immediate medical care should be sought.
Warnings
Ambien causes drowsiness and should not be combined with alcohol, muscle relaxants, medications for allergies or colds, other sedatives, tranquilizers or pain medications. Even though this medication is taken at bedtime, Ambien combined with these medciations can cause some individuals to feel less alert when they wake up. Some individuals have reported engaging in eating, driving, making telephone calls and other activities have after taking Ambien, but have no memory of doing so. An alternative sleeping aid should be discussed with the prescribing doctor if any of these things occur.
Tolerance/Dependence
Individuals who take Ambien every night for longer than a few weeks may become tolerant to the medication and notice that Ambien is not as effective for inducing sleep. Ambien is a scheduled IV controlled drug and should be carefully monitored in individuals with a history of addiction to prescription pain medications, alcohol or other illegal drugs. Individuals with a history of addiction are at greater risk for abusing Ambien and becoming dependent on Ambien, Drugs.com states. If an individual has a history of addiction, it is important to inform the doctor before taking Ambien.
Withdrawal
The Mayo Clinic states Ambien should not be stopped abruptly without first consulting a doctor. Ambien should be gradually decreased to prevent withdrawal side effects. Withdrawal symptoms include behavior changes, stomach cramps, sweating, anxiety, panic attacks, nausea, trembling and seizures. Insomnia may return after the discontinuation of Ambien. If insomnia persists for a few days after discontinuing Ambien, a doctor should be consulted.
