Zolpidem
Ambien®; Ambien CR™
Zolpidem
(zole PI dem)U.S. Brand Names
Ambien®; Ambien CR™Pharmacologic Category
Hypnotic, NonbenzodiazepineReasons not to take this medicine
- If you have an allergy to zolpidem or any other part of this medicine.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.
What is this medicine used for?
- This medicine is used to treat sleep disorders.
How does it work?
- Zolpidem calms the brain.
How is it best taken?
- This medicine should be used for short periods of time (7-10 days).
- Take this medicine at bedtime.
- Take this medicine on an empty stomach. Take 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals.
What do I do if I miss a dose? (does not apply to patients in the hospital)
- If you have been taking this medicine every night for more than 2 weeks, do not stop medicine. Wean yourself off over several nights.
- Many times this medicine is taken on an as needed basis. Do not take more often than every 24 hours, unless instructed by healthcare provider.
What are the precautions when taking this medicine?
- This medicine may be habit-forming with long-term use.
- If you are 65 or older, use this medicine with caution. You could have more side effects.
- If you have liver disease, talk with healthcare provider.
- If you have lung disease, you may be more sensitive to this medicine.
- If you have mental illness, talk with healthcare provider.
- If you wake up in the early morning, this medicine will not help.
- Do not nap.
- Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.
- You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities until you see how this medicine affects you.
- Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice.
- Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) or other medicines and natural products that slow your actions and reactions. These include sedatives, tranquilizers, mood stabilizers, antihistamines, and other pain medicine.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding.
What are some possible side effects of this medicine?
- Feeling lightheaded, sleepy, having blurred vision, or a change in thinking clearly. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that require you to be alert or have clear vision until you see how this medicine affects you.
- Change in balance.
- Headache.
- Feeling tired or weak.
What should I monitor?
- Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?
Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately
- If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center immediately or dial 911.
- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Signs or symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts, nervousness, emotional ups and downs, abnormal thinking, anxiety, or lack of interest in life.
- Significant change in thinking clearly and logically.
- Any rash.
- No improvement in condition or feeling worse.
How should I store this medicine?
- Store at room temperature.
- Protect from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.
General statements
- If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.
- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.
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