Zolpidem Tartrate, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: sedative; sleeping pill

Generic and brand names: zolpidem tartrate, oral; Ambien; Ambien CR

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is used to treat insomnia (sleep problems). This medicine is for short-term use only, usually 2 weeks or less. Longer-term use must be evaluated by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• depression or thoughts of suicide
• liver or kidney disease
• lung disease or breathing problems such as asthma, COPD, or sleep apnea
• myasthenia gravis
• problems with drug or alcohol abuse.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I take it?

Take this medicine exactly as directed. Do not take more than one dose in 24 hours. Do not take more or take it for a longer time than directed by your healthcare provider. Taking too much may be habit-forming.

Adults over the age of 65 may be at greater risk for side effects. Do NOT take more than the amount prescribed.

Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval if you have taken it for a long time. You may have to reduce your dosage gradually to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

Take this medicine just before going to bed because it works quickly to produce sleep. Do not take this medicine unless you will get 7 or 8 full hours of sleep after taking it because this medicine affects you for at least 7 hours.

This medicine may come in different forms. If you have controlled-release tablets, do not break, crush, or chew them. Swallow them whole. Ask your pharmacist if you have the controlled-release tablets.

Take this medicine on an empty stomach. Taking this medicine with food or directly after a meal will delay its effects.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may continue to make you drowsy even on the day after you take it. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

Take this medicine only when you can get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep before you need to be alert. This medicine may cause memory loss or amnesia. You may not know what you are doing for several hours after taking the medicine, including driving in your sleep. If you have memory problems while taking this medicine, contact your healthcare provider right away.

You may have more trouble falling asleep for 1 or 2 nights after you stop taking this medicine. Contact your provider if your insomnia does not improve in 7 to 10 days or if it gets worse.

Avoid alcohol and other medicines that slow down your nervous system (antihistamines, tranquilizers, and sedatives) while taking this medicine. Do not take any other medicines unless your healthcare provider approves them.

This medicine has not been shown to help children fall asleep. It can cause serious side effects in children. Do not give this medicine to a child without your healthcare provider's approval.

This medicine is a controlled substance. It is illegal for you to give it to anyone else.

If taken for a long time, this medicine may become less effective. Discuss this with your healthcare provider.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider): Depression or thoughts of suicide; hallucinations; sudden mood or behavior changes; memory problems; irregular or fast heartbeat.

Other: Muscle pain, fatigue, lightheadedness, dizziness, daytime drowsiness, abnormal dreams, dry mouth, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• antianxiety medicines such as clonazepam (Klonopin), alprazolam (Xanax), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), and oxazepam
• antidepressants such as trazodone (Desyrel), amitriptyline, nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), imipramine (Tofranil), and doxepin (Sinequan)
• antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton)
• antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), valproic acid (Depakote, Depakene), primidone (Mysoline), and phenytoin (Dilantin)
• herbal remedies such as valerian, St. John's wort, kava, and gotu kola
• muscle relaxants such as tizanidine (Zanaflex), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), carisoprodol (Soma), methocarbamol (Robaxin), dantrolene (Dantrium), and baclofen (Lioresal)
• narcotic analgesics (painkillers) such as codeine, hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab), oxycodone (Percocet, Tylox, OxyContin), propoxyphene (Darvocet N-100), meperidine (Demerol), fentanyl (Duragesic, Actiq), and morphine
• other sedatives such as phenobarbital (Solfoton), amobarbital (Amytal), triazolam (Halcion), butabarbital (Butisol), and zaleplon (Sonata)
• phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Prolixin), perphenazine, prochlorperazine (Compazine), promethazine (Phenergan), thioridazine, trifluoperazine (Stelazine), and triflupromazine (Vesprin).

Do not drink alcohol unless your healthcare provider approves.

The effects of this medicine may be increased if you take it with grapefruit juice. Discuss this with your healthcare provider.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.