Ambien (Zolpidem Tartrate) Patient Information: Missed a Dose and What Should I Avoid at RxList

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May 24, 2012

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Insomnia »

What is insomnia?

Insomnia is defined as difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, or both, despite adequate opportunity and time to sleep, leading to impaired daytime functioning. Insomnia may be due to poor quality or quantity of sleep.

Insomnia is very common and occurs in 30% to 50% of the general population. Approximately 10% of the population may suffer from chronic (long-standing) insomnia.

Insomnia affects people of all ages including children, although it is more common in adults and its frequency increases with age. In general, women are affected more frequently than men.

Insomnia may be divided into three classes based on the duration of symptoms.

Insomnia lasting one week or less may be termed transient insomnia;
short-term insomnia lasts more than one week but resolves in less than three weeks; and
long-term or chronic insomnia lasts more than three we...

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Ambien Patient Information including If I Miss a Dose

What happens if I miss a dose (Ambien)?

Since zolpidem is usually taken as needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. Never take this medication if you do not have a full 7 to 8 hours to sleep before being active again. Do not take extra medicine to make up a missed dose.

What happens if I overdose (Ambien)?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of zolpidem can be fatal when it is taken together with other medications that can cause drowsiness.

Overdose symptoms may include sleepiness, confusion, shallow breathing, feeling light-headed, fainting, or coma.

What should I avoid while taking zolpidem (Ambien)?

Zolpidem can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. 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, pilot an airplane, or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Avoid taking zolpidem during travel, such as to sleep on an airplane. You may be awakened before the effects of the medication have worn off. Amnesia (forgetfulness) is more common if you do not get a full 7 to 8 hours of sleep after taking zolpidem.

Do not drink alcohol while you are taking zolpidem. It can increase some of the side effects of zolpidem, including drowsiness.

What other drugs will affect zolpidem (Ambien)?

You may need a lower dose of zolpidem if you take other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold medicine, pain medication, muscle relaxants, and medicine for depression or anxiety). Tell your doctor if you are currently taking any of these medications.

Before taking zolpidem, tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:

chlorpromazine (Thorazine);
itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral);
rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater); or
antidepressants such as imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), or sertraline (Zoloft).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with zolpidem. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about zolpidem.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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