Ambien, also known as zolpidem, is a commonly used prescription sleeping aid. Ambien is designed to act relatively quickly and also to wear off after several hours, thus reducing the risk of side effects. This does not mean that the medication is completely safe, however, and there are some serious problems that can occur as a result of taking Ambien.
Side Effects
According to RxList, the most common side effects from Ambien include drowsiness, dizziness, or feeling "drugged" the next morning. The risk of this happening is greater for patients who do not sleep for several hours after taking Ambien; patients taking this medication should plan to devote 7 to 8 hours to sleep to allow the medication to be broken down by the body.
Effectiveness
Another problem that is associated with taking Ambien or other zolpidem formulations is that the medication can become less effective if it is taken for an extended period of time, MayoClinic.com observes. Patients who take Ambien regularly may find that it is less effective after two weeks if the body begins to adapt to the chemical. The extended-release formulations may be effective for longer, however.
Amnesia
Ambien is a mild hypnotic, which means that it slows down brain activity to make it easier for people to fall asleep. On the other hand, there are reports of people sleep walking or doing activities while in a trance-like state. This is significant because not only are patients in an altered frame of mind, they may also experience amnesia after the medication wears off, eMedTV explains. It can be particularly dangerous for people who are traveling as they are more likely to "wake up" while taking the medications and have amnesia about their actions while in this state.
Drug Interactions
People taking Ambien should also be aware that this medication can interact with other substances. The combination of Ambien and alcohol can severely impair a person's motor control, leading to extreme clumsiness. In addition, some medications, such as certain antibiotics and antifungal drugs, can increase the length of time that Ambien is in the body, increasing the risk of side effects and the amount of time the patient needs to sleep.
Dosing
People taking Ambien should strive to take the lowest dose possible. Not only does this reduce the risk of any lingering effects of the medication after sleeping for several hours, but it also reduces the likelihood that the brain will adjust to the effects of this medication. Patients should also try to avoid taking Ambien every night as it can cause them to become psychologically dependent on the effects of Ambien to sleep.
