Understand the Warnings about Ambien

Ambien, also known as Zolpidem, is used to treat insomnia (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Ambien belongs to a class of medications called sedative-hypnotics. It works by slowing activity in the brain to allow sleep. Ambien comes as a tablet and an extended-release (long-acting) tablet. Its one of the mostly widely prescribed medications in America. If you or someone you know are taking Ambien, educate yourself on its possible side effects and other warnings. Here's a summary below.

Allergic Reactions

Ambien may cause a severe allergic reaction. Ambien tablets may contain lactose. Use caution if you are sensitive to lactose. Stop taking Ambien and get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Sedation during Waking Hours

Ambien helps you fall asleep. You will probably become very sleepy soon after you take Ambien and will remain sleepy for some time after you take the medication. Plan to go to bed right after you take Ambien and to stay in bed for 7-8 hours. Do not take Ambien if you will be unable to remain asleep for 7-8 hours after taking the medication. If you get up too soon after taking Ambien, you may experience memory problems. Ambien can also cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions the next morning. You may still feel sleepy the morning after taking the medication. Until you know how this medication will affect you during waking hours, be careful if you drive, operate machinery, or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Never take this medication during your normal waking hours, unless you have a full 7 to 8 hours to dedicate to sleeping. Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

Sleep Driving and other Behavior

The Food and Drug Administration required that all manufactures of prescription sleep aids warn the public of hypnotic sleep behaviors that have occurred while taking medications such as Ambien, including sleep driving. Sleep driving is defined as driving while not fully awake after ingestion of a sedative-hypnotic product, with no memory of the event. Other complex sleep-related behaviors that have occurred while sleeping include making phone calls, and preparing and eating food (while asleep).

Increase Sedative Effect with Alcohol and Other Drugs

Do not drink alcohol while you are taking Ambien. It can increase some of the side effects of Ambien, including drowsiness. Do not take other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold medicine, pain medication, muscle relaxants, and medicine for depression or anxiety).

Habit-forming Drug of Abuse

Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it. Ambien should be used only by the person for whom it was prescribed. Ambien should never be shared with another person.

If you have a history of depression, mental illness, suicidal thoughts or a history of drug or alcohol addiction, the use of Ambien could affect your recovery and compound your illness.

Ambien is for short-term use only. That means if you use it for longer than a few weeks, you could become physically dependent on it. You could also develop a tolerance to the drug requiring you to use a higher and higher dose to achieve the same sleep assistance that you once got at a lower dose level. If you find yourself using Ambien often, talk to your doctor about the predictable consequences of continued use and how to safely cut back or stop using the medication.

Beware of Internet Sales

It is dangerous to try and purchase Ambien on the Internet or from vendors outside of the United States. Medications distributed from Internet sales may contain dangerous ingredients, or may not be distributed by a licensed pharmacy. Samples of Ambien purchased on the Internet have been found to contain haloperidol (Haldol), a potent antipsychotic drug with dangerous side effects.

FDA pregnancy category C.

This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Ambien can also pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding.

Increase Sedation with Age

The sedative effects of Ambien may be stronger in older adults. Accidental falls are not uncommon in those who take sedatives, especially those advancing in age.
 

USA MEC EAP Chairperson
Deborah A McCormick
DMcCormick@afausairways.org
401-225-1459

 

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