Ambien

— THERAPEUTIC CATEGORIES —
  • Sleep-wake disorders

Ambien Generic Name & Formulations

General Description

Zolpidem tartrate 5mg, 10mg; tabs.

Pharmacological Class

Imidazopyridine hypnotic.

See Also

How Supplied

CR tabs—100; tabs—100

Manufacturer

Generic Availability

YES

Ambien Indications

Indications

Short-term treatment of insomnia (w. difficulties in sleep initiation).

Ambien Dosage and Administration

Adult

Use lowest effective dose for shortest duration. Effects delayed if taken with or after a meal. Take once per night immediately before bedtime (with at least 7–8hrs remaining before planned time of awakening). Women: initially 5mg. Men: initially 5mg or 10mg. Both: if 5mg ineffective, may increase to max 10mg. Elderly, debilitated, or mild to moderate hepatic impairment: 5mg.

Children

<18yrs: not recommended.

Ambien Contraindications

Contraindications

Prior history of complex sleep behaviors with Ambien or Ambien CR.

Ambien Boxed Warnings

Boxed Warning

Complex sleep behaviors.

Ambien Warnings/Precautions

Warnings/Precautions

Risk of complex sleep behaviors (eg, sleep-walking, sleep-driving, engaging in other activities while not fully awake); discontinue immediately if occur. Monitor for CNS depressant effects and next-day impairment. Evaluate for co-morbid diagnoses (eg, physical and/or psychiatric disorders) prior to treatment. Reevaluate if insomnia fails to remit after 7–10 days of use. Depression. Suicidal tendencies. Evaluate any new onset of behavioral changes. Compromised respiratory function. Sleep apnea. Myasthenia gravis. Drug or alcohol abuse. Avoid in severe hepatic impairment; may contribute to encephalopathy. Avoid abrupt cessation. Write ℞ for smallest practical amount. Elderly (higher risk of falls). Debilitated. Pregnancy: monitor neonates. Nursing mothers: monitor infants (consider interrupting breastfeeding or pumping/discarding breast milk during and for 23hrs after administration).

Ambien Pharmacokinetics

See Literature

Ambien Interactions

Interactions

Concomitant other sedative-hypnotics including other zolpidem products: not recommended. Potentiates CNS depression with alcohol, other CNS depressants (eg, benzodiazepines, opioids, tricyclics); adjust dose. May increase risk of respiratory depression with opioids; limit dose/duration of concomitant use. May be potentiated by CYP3A4 inhibitors (eg, ketoconazole; consider lower zolpidem dose), sertraline. May be antagonized by CYP3A4 inducers (eg, rifampin, St. John's wort); avoid concomitant use. Decreased alertness with imipramine, chlorpromazine.

Ambien Adverse Reactions

Adverse Reactions

Headache, next-day somnolence, drowsiness, dizziness, diarrhea, drugged feelings (long-term); abnormal thinking and behavioral changes; rare: anaphylaxis, angioedema (do not rechallenge).

Ambien Clinical Trials

See Literature

Ambien Note

Not Applicable

Ambien Patient Counseling

See Literature

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