What is Zolpidem?
Zolpidem is a prescription medication that comes in the form of an oral tablet and oral spray. There are three types of oral tablet: immediate-release, extended-release, and sublingual. The immediate-release form releases the medicine right into your bloodstream. Slowly, the extended-release form releases medicine into the body. The sublingual tablet dissolves under the tongue. All the forms are available in various brand-name drugs:
- Ambien(Immediate-release tablet)
- Ambien CR(Extended-release tablet)
- Edluar(Sublingual tablet)
- Intermezzo(Sublingual tablet)
Zolpidem Uses:
Zolpidem is used in adults to treat certain problem with sleep (insomnia). It makes you fall asleep quicker if you have trouble falling asleep, so you can get better rest at the night. Zolpidem belongs to the drug known as sedative-hypnotics. To create a soothing effect, it works on your brain. Typically, this drug is used for short treatment periods of 1 to 2 weeks or less.
Zolpidem Side Effects:
Some of the common side effects of Zolpidem are:
- Headache
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
- Dry mouth
- Chest pain
- Palpitations
- Grogginess
- Lightheadedness
- Muscle pain
Some of the serious side effects of Zolpidem are:
- Swelling of tongue
- Trouble breathing
- Obesity
- Agitation
- Hallucinations
- Slow breathing
- Irregular heartbeat
- Decreased oxygen in the blood
- Amnesia
Zolpidem can also cause some other serious side effects. Talk with your doctor if you are experiencing any unusual problems while you are taking these medications
Precautions
- Before taking Zolpidem talk with your doctor if your allergic to it or any other medications. The product may contain some inactive ingredients which can cause some serious allergic reactions or some other serious problems. Before using Zolpidem talk with your doctor if you are having any medical history such as Kidney disease, liver disease, sleepwalking, breathing problems and certain muscle disease.
- The effects of this medication will last till the next day,. You may feel alert but avoid driving if you have not had 7 to 8 hours of sleep or taken other drugs that make you tired or are more vulnerable to this drug.
How to take Zolpidem?
Zolpidem comes in the form of tablet (Ambien) and an extended-release tablet (Ambien CR) which should be taken orally. Zolpidem also comes as sublingual tablet (Elduar, intermezzo) which should be placed under the tongue and an oral spray (Zolpimist) which is sprayed in the mouth over the tongue. If you are taking tablets, extended-release tablets, sublingual tablets (Edluar) or oral spray, you should take the drug immediately before bedtime but not more than once a day.
Dosage of Zolpidem
Forms and Strengths
Generic: Zolpidems
- Form: immediate-release oral tablet (5 mg, 10 mg)
- Form: extended-release oral tablet (6.25 mg, 12.5 mg)
- Form: sublingual tablet (1.75 mg, 3.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg)
Brand: Ambien
Form: immediate-release oral tablet (5 mg, 10 mg)
Brand: Ambien CR
Form: extended-release oral tablet (6.25 mg, 12.5 mg)
Brand: Edluar
Form: sublingual tablet (5 mg, 10 mg)
Brand: Intermezzo
Form: sublingual tablet (1 .75 mg, 3.5mg)
Dosage for insomnia with trouble falling asleep
Adult dosage (ages 18–64 years): 5 mg for women and 5-10 mg for men before you go to sleep
Dosage for trouble falling or staying asleep
Adult dosage (ages 18–64 years): 6.25mg for women and 6.25-12.5 mg for men taken right before bedtime.
Missed dose
If you miss a dose, avoid taking Zolpidem tablets unless you have time to sleep for 7 to 8 hours afterwards. Skip the missed dose and go back to your daily dosing cycle if you miss a dose of this drug. Do not use duplicate doses. Using this medicinal product only when you are unable to sleep.
Overdose
Symptoms of overdose can include extreme drowsiness, confusion, lack of balance, severe muscle weakness, fainting, or shallow breathing. If you have taken more than the prescribed Zolpidem tablets there is a chance of getting a harmful effect on your body’s functions. Overdose of a medicine can lead to some medical emergency.
Warnings for some Serious Health Conditions
For people with depression:
Your symptoms of depression can get worse with this medication. If this prescription is safe for you or not ask your doctor.
For people with Myasthenia gravis:
This medicine can make your breathing sluggish or shallow. The amount of oxygen in your blood can be decreased by this. You could still have lower levels of oxygen if you have myasthenia gravis. If this prescription is safe for you, ask your doctor.
For people with Sleep apnea:
This medicine can make your breathing sluggish or shallow. The amount of oxygen in your blood can be decreased by this. You could already have lower levels of oxygen if you have sleep apnea. If this prescription is safe for you, ask your doctor.
For people with liver disease:
You may not be able to process this drug well if you have liver disorders or a history of liver disease. This can increase your body's levels of the drug and cause further side effects. A severe disorder called hepatic encephalopathy can also be caused by it. For this disease, your liver's poor function causes complications with your brain's way of functioning.
Pregnancy
Only if the potential advantage justifies the potential risk should this drug be used. If you're pregnant or intend to become pregnant, speak to your doctor. And contact your doctor immediately if you get pregnant while you are taking this medication.
Breastfeeding
In a child who is breastfed, Zolpidem can pass into breast milk and cause side effects. Speak to your doctor about your child's breastfeeding. If you want to stop breastfeeding or stop taking this drug, you will need to decide..
Storage
Direct contact with heat, air and light may damage your medicines. Exposure to medicine may cause some harmful effects. The medicine must be kept in a safe place and out of children’s reach. Mainly the drug should be kept at room temperature between 68ºF and 77ºF (20ºC and 25ºC).
Zolpidem vs Zaleplon
Zolpidem |
Zaleplon |
|---|---|
| Zolpidem is a prescription medication that comes in the form of an oral tablet and an oral spray. There are three types of oral tablet: immediate-release, extended-release, and sublingual. | Zaleplon, commonly used for insomnia, is a sedative/hypnotic. It is known as a hypnotic nonbenzodiazepine. |
| Zolpidem is used in adults to treat a certain problem with sleep (insomnia). It makes you fall asleep quicker if you have trouble falling asleep, so you can get better rest at the night. | Zaleplon is used for treating insomnia on a short-term basis (difficulty falling asleep). Zaleplon does not help you remain asleep for longer or decrease the number of times you wake up during the night. |
Some of the common side effects of Zolpidem are:
|
Some of the common side effects of Zaleplon are:
|
