Ambien is the brand name for zolpidem tartrate, a sedative and hypnotic medication prescribed for people with insomnia and other sleep disorders. It works by correcting the chemical imbalance in the brain that interferes with a normal sleep pattern. Available in regular tablet and extended-release formulas, the latter known as Ambien CR, this medication helps people fall asleep quickly and stay asleep throughout the night.
Identification
Ambien can cause significant side effects, including complex behaviors that occur when the individual has not yet awakened completely. People on Ambien have prepared and eaten meals, engaged in sexual intercourse, talked on the phone and even driven motor vehicles while not quite awake. Sleep-driving is particularly worrisome because of the risks inherent in piloting a car or truck while still asleep.
Potential
Ambien is also associated with abnormal thinking, a loss of inhibitions, aggressive or extroverted behaviors and both visual and auditory hallucinations. When these effects are combined with sleep-driving, there's an increased risk of danger to self or others, says AmbienCR.com.
Considerations
Sleep-walking and other complex adverse effects of Ambien are more likely to occur in people who also drink alcohol or take other medicines that depress the central nervous system. These include drugs used to treat seizures, depression, anxiety and other psychiatric disorders. It's important to discuss drug histories with the doctor before starting any sleeping pills.
Prevention/Solution
To decrease the chance of sleep-driving and other undesirable behavioral effects from Ambien, take only the prescribed amount of the drug. It's best to swallow the pill whole with a full glass of water right before going to bed, and to stay in bed for 7 to 8 hours. Stop taking Ambien immediately if there are any episodes of sleep-driving, and discuss the problem with the prescribing physician.
Misconceptions
Many people believe that sedative-hypnotic drugs like Ambien work only during hours of sleep, but the reality is that their effects can linger. It's not unusual to feel sleepy first thing in the morning, and Drugs.com recommends that people avoid driving, operating heavy machinery or other dangerous activities until they know how long Ambien affects their wakefulness.
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