What Is Ambien (Zolpidem) Used For?

Ambien is a member of the drug class sedatives, hypnotics, and anxiolytics. It is classed with other anxiolytics (drugs that reduce Anxiety), sedatives, and hypnotics that have different mechanisms of action from other medications in their respective classes.

The prescribing practices for insomnia were altered when zolpidem tartrate (marketed under the name ambien) and imidazopyridine hypnotics were introduced in the early 1990s. An estimated 26.5 million zolpidem prescriptions were dispensed in 2005.

Zolpidem also finds use in neurologic conditions, Anxiety, jet lag, and other movement disorders. A person who has insomnia can use ambien as a short-term therapy. The risk of addiction increases with the duration of ambien use.

What Is the Ambien Used For?

AMBIEN is a prescription sleep aid for short-term treatment of adults with problems falling asleep (insomnia). It is a controlled substance (C- IV) because it can be abused or lead to dependence. It is a rapid and short-acting sedative and hypnotic. It has mild anti-anxiety, anticonvulsant, and muscle relaxant properties. 

Zolpidem was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1993, after which it quickly became the most popular sleep aid in the country. Marketed as Ambien, Zolpidem is a sedative-hypnotic used to treat insomnia.

Zolpidem has a quick 15-minute onset of action. It has a short half-life of 1.4-4.5 hours. Ambien slows down the brain and central nervous system by stimulating the neurotransmitter GABA (CNS). It is the most prescribed hypnotic drug in the world. According to reports, Belbien contains zolpidem.

Uses of Ambien(Zolpidem)

• Recommended for sleep maintenance as well as sleep beginning initiation.
• It has modest anxiolytic properties.

Forms of Ambien

Ambien comes in two different dosages: a quick-release form that aids in initiating sleep and an extended-release form that aids in maintaining sleep.

Zolpidem is available as a tartrate salt in sublingual, normal-release, extended-release, and oral spray dosage forms.

Things To Know Before Using Ambien

• Refrain from using Zolpidem tablets if you have experienced difficult sleep habits following the use of Zolpidem in the past.
• Before using Zolpidem Ambien, make sure your doctor is aware of any of your health issues, especially if you:
• have a history of mental illness, suicidal thoughts or actions, or depression
• have a lung disease or breathing difficulties
• have sleep apnea
• have myasthenia gravis
• have kidney or liver disease
• Before using Zolpidem Ambien, be sure to let your doctor know if you have ever used drugs or alcohol or have a history of addiction.
• Let your doctor know if you plan to get pregnant while taking Zolpidem. Symptoms of respiratory issues and sedation may be seen in newborns whose mothers used Zolpidem during the third trimester of pregnancy.
• As Zolpidem crosses into breast milk, inform your doctor to know if you're breastfeeding.
  Inform your doctor about all your medications (including prescription and non-prescription drugs, vitamins, and herbal supplements).
• Do not take AMBIEN along with other sedatives.
• Zolpidem and other medicines can interact with each other causing side effects.
• Inform your doctor if you take benzodiazepines or opioids because these may worsen respiratory depression.
• Avoid taking alcohol while taking Ambien.
• Avoid using medications that may cause drowsiness or interfere with breathing when you are on Zolpidem.
• Inform your doctor if you are taking tricyclic antidepressants.

Different Uses of Ambien

• Zolpidem improves sleep in patients with insomnia. In individuals with temporary insomnia, it reduces the number of awakenings and increases sleep latency and duration.
• It also improves sleep quality in patients with chronic insomnia and acts as a minor muscle relaxant.
• It relieves Anxiety and stress in patients with troubled sleep.
• Zolpidem has been used off-label to treat neurological conditions for the past 20 years.
• Used to treat disorders of consciousness and movement disorders
• It has also been used off-label to relieve stress, Anxiety, and migraine headache discomfort.
• Ambien and its generic equivalent, Zolpidem, are occasionally used to help people with migraines, and other severe headaches fall asleep. It reduces the symptoms of the headache. It is not intended to relieve
• headaches and does not ease the pain.

How To Properly Use Ambien?

• Take AMBIEN as prescribed.
• Take AMBIEN right before you get in bed, not sooner.
• Avoid drinking alcohol when you are taking Ambien.
• Discuss all of your medications with your doctor.
• Do not take AMBIEN unless you can stay in bed a night (7-8 hours) before you must be active again.
• Do not take AMBIEN with or immediately after a meal for fast sleep onset.
• Call your doctor if your insomnia worsens or is not better within 7 to 10 days.
• Do not drive or do other dangerous activities after taking AMBIEN until you feel fully awake.
• If you take too much AMBIEN or overdose, call your doctor, or get emergency treatment.
• Do not share AMBIEN with others, even if you think they have the same symptoms.
• Keep AMBIEN in a safe place to prevent misuse and abuse.

How To Store This Medication Safely?

• Store between 15C25C (59F77F).
• Keep AMBIEN away from children.

When Should You Stop Using Ambien?

The primary use of Ambien is the short-term treatment of sleep problems, particularly insomnia. Without medical supervision, stopping Ambien is extremely risky because withdrawal symptoms can be uncomfortable and, in rare cases, fatal. The following withdrawal symptoms may occur nausea, vomiting, delirium, shakiness, flushing, stomach pains, Anxiety, stomach cramps, nervousness, rebound insomnia,

Rebound insomnia is more likely when people abruptly stop using Ambien. When someone stops taking Ambien after becoming dependent on it, they may become unable to sleep.

A medically assisted detox can make the person more comfortable and help avoid potentially harmful side effects of withdrawal. If you have used Ambien frequently or in high doses, you may experience withdrawal symptoms. If you have any symptoms, contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Your doctor might gradually reduce your dose to help prevent withdrawal. Thus, the recovering user can slowly readjust to life without Ambien.

Bottom Line Form Practical Anxiety Solutions

Zolpidem, the first non-benzodiazepine receptor agonist was released in the United States in 1992. Although it can treat many medical conditions, Zolpidem is one of the widely prescribed drugs for insomnia due to its better safety profile and tolerability. Ambien is a non-benzodiazepine Z medication that induces hypnosis and sedation. Similar to benzodiazepines, it works by binding to the GABA receptor system.

Different oral dosage forms are available, including tablets, sublingual tablets, and oral sprays. However, some neuropsychiatric side effects related to zolpidem use are the reason for considerable worry. It is a Schedule IV controlled substance; a prescription is necessary to buy Ambien.

Avoid stopping Ambien abruptly because it can cause withdrawal symptoms. In case of any side effects or adverse effects, contact your doctor or seek emergency care.