Uses: Sleeping Aid Drug
Chemical Name: Zolpidem Tartrate
Quantity: 30 tabs
What is zolpidem?
Zolpidem is a prescription drug that comes as an oral tablet and an oral spray. The oral tablet comes in three forms: immediate-release, extended-release, and sublingual. The immediate-release form releases the drug into your body right away. The extended-release form releases the drug into your body slowly. The sublingual tablet dissolves under your tongue.
These forms are available as the following brand-name drugs:
Ambien (immediate-release tablet)
Ambien CR (extended-release tablet)
Edluar (sublingual tablet)
All forms of zolpidem oral tablets are also available as generic drugs. Generic drugs usually cost less than the brand-name version.
How it works
Zolpidem belongs to a class of drugs called hypnotics. A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way. These drugs are often used to treat similar conditions. Zolpidem increases the activity of GABA. GABA is a chemical in your body that causes sleepiness. Increasing its activity helps you fall asleep.
Why it’s used
Zolpidem oral tablets are used to treat insomnia. Insomnia causes trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. The immediate-release tablets and Edluar sublingual tablets are used if you have trouble falling asleep. The extended-release tablets are used if you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. The low-dose (1.75-mg and 3.5-mg) sublingual tablets are used when you wake up in the middle of the night and have trouble falling back to sleep.
Forms and strengths
Generic: Zolpidem
Form: immediate-release oral tablet
Strengths: 5 mg, 10 mg
Form: extended-release oral tablet
Strengths: 6.25 mg, 12.5 mg
Form: sublingual tablet
Strengths: 1.75 mg, 3.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg
Brand: Ambien
Form: immediate-release oral tablet
Strengths: 5 mg, 10 mg
Brand: Ambien CR
Form: extended-release oral tablet
Strengths: 6.25 mg, 12.5 mg
Brand: Edluar
Form: sublingual tablet
Strengths: 5 mg, 10 mg
Dosage for trouble falling or staying asleep
Adult dosage (ages 18–64 years)
Ambien CR and generic extended-release oral tablets only:
Starting dosage: 6.25 mg for women and 6.25 mg or 12.5 mg for men, taken right before bedtime. Take it only when you have at least 7–8 hours before you need to wake up.
Dosage increases: Your doctor may increase your dosage to 12.5 mg per day if the 6.25 mg dose is not effective.
Maximum dosage: 12.5 mg once per day taken right before bedtime.
Dosage for trouble falling asleep after waking
Adult dosage (ages 18–64 years)
Generic low-dose sublingual tablets:
Starting dosage: 1.75 mg for women and 3.5 mg for men, taken once per night as needed. Take this drug only when you have trouble falling back to sleep after waking in the middle of the night. Also, take this drug only when you have at least 4 hours before you need to wake up.
Dosage increases: If you’re a man and were started on the 1.75-mg dosage, your doctor may increase your dosage to 3.5 mg per day.
Maximum dosage: 1.75 mg per day for women and 3.5 mg per day for men.
Senior dosage (ages 65 years and older)
The liver of an older adult may not work as well as it used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk for side effects. Your doctor may start you on a lowered dosage or a different treatment schedule. This can help keep levels of this drug from building up too much in your body.
Generic low-dose sublingual tablet: 1.75 mg taken once per night only as needed. Take it when you have trouble falling back to sleep after waking in the middle of the night. Also, only take this drug when you have at least 4 hours left before you need to wake up.
Special dosage considerations for people with liver disease
Generic low-dose sublingual tablet: 1.75 mg taken once per night as needed. Only take it when you have trouble falling back to sleep after waking in the middle of the night. Also, only take this drug when you have at least 4 hours left before you need to wake up.
More common side effects
The more common side effects of zolpidem can include:
headache
drowsiness
dizziness
diarrhea
dry mouth
chest pain
palpitations (fast, strong, or irregular heart rate, or feeling like your heart is skipping a beat)
grogginess
lightheadedness
muscle pain
If these effects are mild, they may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If they’re more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
