Ambien 5mg is a medication that’s often prescribed to help with insomnia, or trouble sleeping. It works by affecting the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor in the brain, causing you to feel sleepy.
It’s best to only take zolpidem for short periods of time, to lower the risk of becoming dependent on the medication.
Zolpidem or zolpidem tartrate is the generic name of Ambien. If your healthcare provider prescribes either zolpidem or Ambien, your prescription bottle will usually say zolpidem tartrate because the pharmacy provided the generic version of the medication.
Like all generics, zolpidem has been confirmed to be equivalent to Ambien through testing. Therefore, there isn’t any reason to be concerned about taking the generic version.
Why it’s used
Zolpidem oral tablets are used to treat insomnia. Insomnia causes trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
The immediate-release tablets and Edluar sublingual tablets are used if you have trouble falling asleep. The extended-release tablets are used if you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
The low-dose (1.75-mg and 3.5-mg) sublingual tablets are used when you wake up in the middle of the night and have trouble falling back to sleep.
How it works
Zolpidem belongs to a class of drugs called hypnotics. A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way. These drugs are often used to treat similar conditions.
Zolpidem increases the activity of GABA. GABA is a chemical in your body that causes sleepiness. Increasing its activity helps you fall asleep.
Side effects
Zolpidem can cause mild or serious side effects. The following list contains some of the key side effects that may occur while taking zolpidem. This list does not include all possible side effects.
For more information on the possible side effects of zolpidem, or tips on how to deal with a troubling side effect, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
More common side effects
The more common side effects of zolpidem can include:
- headache
- drowsiness
- dizziness
- diarrhea
- dry mouth
- chest pain
- palpitations (fast, strong, or irregular heart rate, or feeling like your heart is skipping a beat)
- grogginess
- lightheadedness
- muscle pain
Warnings
- This medication contains zolpidem. Do not take Ambien, Ambien CR, Edluar, Intermezzo, or Zolpimist if you are allergic to zolpidem or any ingredients contained in this drug
- Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately
Contraindications
- Contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to zolpidem; observed reactions include anaphylaxis and angioedema
Precautions
If you are prescribed zolpidem, there are a few precautions to be aware of:
- You should avoid driving or operating machinery after zolpidem, until it begins to wear off. This is generally about 8 hours after you’ve taken a tablet.
- If you are 65 or older, you should also use extra care when walking around the house after taking zolpidem, because of the risk of falling. It’s best to take a tablet right before you plan to get in bed.
- If you stop taking zolpidem abruptly, after taking it daily for longer periods of time, you can experience withdrawal effects, such as insomnia or vomiting. Always talk to a healthcare provider if you plan to stop taking zolpidem.
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