Ambien is a brand name for the prescription medication zolpidem. Zolpidem is prescribed to help patients fall asleep and it works by decreasing the amount of time that it takes for patients to fall asleep. Despite the fact that it is safe for most people to use, Ambien can cause certain dangerous side effects, including amnesia.
Mechanism
Zolpidem is a non-benzodiazepine hypnotic notes the website Drug Abuse Help. It is less likely to be physically addictive and has a shorter duration of action, which means that it wears off more quickly. This helps reduce the chance of side effects. Because zolpidem is a hypnotic, however, it slows brain activity and this can result in an altered state of consciousness.
Ambien and Amnesia
In clinical studies, up to 1 percent of patients reported experiencing amnesia while taking Ambien, eMedTV explains. In general, the amnesia occurs a couple of hours after Ambien has been taken. Normally this is not an issue because the purpose of Ambien is to put patients to sleep before that time. If the patient is awake, however, there is the possibility that the patient may do things and not be able to recall these actions later.
Risks
The most serious risk with Ambien-associated amnesia is that the patient could engage in actions that result in injury or damage. Because patients taking Ambien are under the influence of a hypnotic, they may not be fully conscious even if they are not asleep. In some cases, this amnesia can result in sleep walking or other activities, such as driving a car. Any behavior done under the influence of Ambien can be dangerous due to the diminished consciousness of the patient.
Considerations
Patients who are traveling in a plane, bus or car and take Ambien are more likely to experience amnesia due to the increased likelihood of being awakened during the trip, eMedTV states. Patients should also avoid taking Ambien if they do not have at least eight hours allotted for sleep or if they are in an environment that could cause them to easily wake up, as this increases the risk of waking up and experiencing amnesia.
Corporate Response
Due to stories published in the media, Sanofi-Aventis, the manufacturer of Ambien, has issued responses to the concerns raised by the linkage of Ambien and amnesia, FindLaw.com reports. The company has said that the instances of amnesia or sleepwalking cannot be conclusively linked to the influence of Ambien. In addition the company notes that the prescribing information in the United States lists sleepwalking as a rare side effect which means that the information provided to physicians is accurate and that physicians are aware of the possibility of amnesia when they prescribe Ambien.
