Get Informed: Ambien
Active Ingredient(s)
Zolpidem
What does it do?
This product is commonly used for the treatment of insomnia. It is believed to work by acting upon GABA(A) receptors in the brain.
- Last Text Update:
- 2010-Mar-14 6:22 AM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Mar-13 9:01 PM
Other Names
- Ambien
- Ambien CR
- Zolpidem
- Zolpidem Tartrate
- Stilnox
- Edluar
- Stilnoct
- Zolpimist
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- C
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 16 Dec 1992
- Est US Patients*
- 7,931,000
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Ambien or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Ambien
There have been no iGuard.org alerts regarding Ambien during the past year.
Ambien Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
- Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Ambien interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.
What is Ambien used for?
iGuard is currently tracking more than 52,600 patients that use Ambien (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Insomnia | 94% | 
|
| Back/Neck Pain | 8% | 
|
| Fibromyalgia | 8% |
|
| Pain-Generalized | 3% |
|
| Other | 3% | 
|
How well does Ambien work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 52,600 users taking Ambien (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 83%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Ambien outweigh the bad things.
- 12%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Ambien.
Common Side Effects of Ambien
iGuard regularly polls our more than 52,600 users taking Ambien (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
27% of patients experience side-effects on Ambien
8% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Ambien
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Grogginess/Confusion
-
Memory/Speech Problems
-
Mood/Behavior Changes
-
Insomnia
-
Fatigue
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Dizziness, Drowsiness, Dryness, Headache, Restlessness, Sleep Walking, Vivid Dreams
Global Patient Feedback for Ambien (Zolpidem) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
I take generic ambien,zolpidem tartrate for apnea.I was wondering about the ringing in my ears that I have had before is any affect from this.also with it for a split second the pitch changes along with a feeling of the only way I know how to describe is maybe a little dizzyness with the focus on my eyes changing,now this very brief like of 10th of a second but several times in a row depending what I am doing but not all the time and I function normally.Also take Novalog and Lantus.
54 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-02-25 21:08:58
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Blurred vision, double vision and other nonspecific visual disturbances are reported side effects of Ambien, or zolpidem. Lantus and Novolog can also cause blurred vision. None of these are reported to cause ringing in the ears. Your symptoms could also be caused by hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. You need to make an appointment with your doctor to discuss all your medications and your symptoms. Also, try to monitor your blood glucose, especially when you are experiencing either the blurred vision or ringing in the ears.
Posted: 2010-02-26 12:58:28
Answer/Reply:
I have never heard of a person taking a sleeping pill when they have Apnea. When you have Apnea you tend to fall asleep very quickly and stay asleep but have episodes of stopping breathing which leaves you tired the next day. People are then prescribed a C-Pap machine which will keep their airways open. With a C-Pap you should sleep soundly and wake up refreshed. I would think it would be very dangerous to take Ambien with sleep apnea.
Posted: 2010-03-04 15:29:25
Answer/Reply:
I have severe obstructive sleep apnea and have been on a CPAP for 5 yrs. Due to insomnia for the past 2 months, I have recently been prescribed and am taking ambien, of which I am thankful for. I am now sleeping, waking up refreshed and ready to tackle the day.
I have no complications with taking the sleep aid and using the CPAP; if anything, it's the white noise from the CPAP that I find keeps users as well as their spouse and/or partner awake; it's rather annoying.
47 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-03-07 02:54:37
Question/Comment:
I take a sm. dose of Ambien 1/2 tab.=> 2.5..OK I don't get a full night of sleep but some is better then none, plus I have NO side effects...And my Dr. is happy...
70 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-02-19 12:18:24
Question/Comment:
I took Ambien to help me get some sleep as I've been having a hard time getting a full 8-9 -hour sleep. Worked well for me. I purchased it at www.medsheaven.com and loved the results.
26 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-02-02 01:53:08
Question/Comment:
something really weird happened to m boyfriend last night. its not the 1st time he takes stilnox and he got no side effects. but last night he experiened hallucinations, felt his body so heavy, and he started talking very very slowly! this was the 1st time he experiences this. he had fish on lunch then he had tuna 2 hrs before taking the pill! is this food related to the side effects? does anyone have any explanation?
23 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-01-10 04:56:46
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Hallucinations are a reported side effect with zolpidem, the active ingredient in Stilnox. Please have your boyfriend report this side effect to the prescribing physician. If the hallucinations continue or become worse, his doctor may want to adjust the dose or have him stop taking the medication. The food is not a likely factor in causing the hallucinations.
Posted: 2010-01-10 22:46:23
Question/Comment:
I have heard that you can build a resistance to Ambien Cr and that eventually it willl not work. Is this true? If so how long after continued use(every day) would this occur?
Thank You
55 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-20 14:57:05
Answer/Reply:
I cannot break the ambien cr habit. I plan to retire soon and will make a concerted effort to stop taking this habituating drug. I am told it will take 3 to 6 months to titrate down and regulate my sleep habits, if it can be done at all.
I am a 67 year old male.
68 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-25 01:40:31
Answer/Reply:
How long have you been on it? What dose do you take. I have been on 12.5mgs for about four months and I have found it to be very helpful.
55 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-30 12:27:28
Answer/Reply:
I can no longer sleep without it. I am having mood changes/depression and migrain headaches. I am having stomach problems and after eliminating many medications; this is the only one left that can be causing all my problems. Doctors are not educated enough to know the side effects from these types of meds. I do not know how to stop taking this. I will consult with my doctor again who was not able to figure out what is wrong with me. He wants to pass everything off as anxiety.
69 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-12-23 21:15:36
Answer/Reply:
I have very restless sleep due to the several meds I am taking for my chronic asthma. I have been taking Ambien CR (20mg bedtime) for about 3 months. At first I thoought it worked quite well. Lately, I have noticed that it no longer works as well as it used to. No longer do I sleep a solid 6-7hrs.
I find myself waking at least 1-2 times during the night.
I didn't realize until recently that taken with my High Blood Pressure meds can make for a very "High Risk" scenario. Doctor never mentioned the risks!
I am going to ask for an alternative med (I'm throwing Ambien AWAY).
You may want to ask your doctor that you want to have a Sleep Study done, or try an alternative: Psychologist, Hypnotist.
I almost forgot - Marijuana! I'm serious, this is a much better and Natural
JUST...
Get Off the Ambien! You can do it! Both you and I, can and will live without it.
53yo male, U.S.
53 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-12-29 18:14:56
Answer/Reply:
Ambien is an excellent sleeping aid, if only taken when need it. and you can try Sleepy Time Herbal Tea to help relax your body and send you off to lala land.
Any sleeping aid can become addictive. So i advise you to always consult with your physician first and follow his or her instructions.
64 year old female
64 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-26 21:53:31
Answer/Reply:
I took Ambien for over a year and then switched to Zolpidem. The first couple of times I took Ambien, I felt the fog of drowsiness sweep over me. If I took the pill, intending to go to bed right away, then remembered I had clothes in the dryer or something, I could really feel the effects of the Ambien. This didn't last long. I could take Ambien and stay awake and functioning for another 30 minutes. When I did turn in, I fell asleep almost immediately.
After 3 years on sleeping meds, I decided to go to a behavioral psychologist to see if I could learn to sleep without the pills. I quit "cold turkey" with no side effects. In a month, I've only had two nights when I've experienced difficulty in falling asleep.
49 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-12-06 17:53:13
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Although you did not experience problems from stopping Ambien "cold turkey," it is better to talk to your doctor before suddenly stopping medications in the future. Some medications can cause withdrawal side effects and your doctor can tell you what to watch for and how to manage any withdrawal side effects. For some medications, you will need to slowly decrease your dose over time to avoid problems.
Posted: 2009-12-10 00:08:06
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Patient Comments about
Ambien