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Overview
Ambien is the first in a new class of sleeping medicines. It is prescribed for the short-term treatment of insomnia.
Studies indicate that the stages of sleep approach normal in patients on Ambien, and there is a low incidence of next-day hangover.
Side Effects and Interactions
People on Ambien may experience daytime drowsiness, dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting or headache.
Other side effects reported include lethargy, weakness, drugged feelings, amnesia, dry mouth, constipation, allergy and sinusitis.
Because this medication is still quite new, some rare reactions may not yet have shown up. Be sure to report any symptoms to your physician promptly.
Relatively few studies have considered Ambien in combination with other medications.
Ambien interacts with alcohol, which should generally be avoided by everyone taking sleeping pills.
Antianxiety medicines like Xanax and other sleeping pills, such as Dalmane or Halcion, might magnify the effects of Ambien.
This sleeping pill can reduce peak blood levels of Tofranil (imipramine) by 20 percent and decrease alertness.
Increased impairment has also been reported when Thorazine is combined with Ambien.
Because of the animal research showing that lemon balm extract can potentiate barbiturate action, the herb should be used only with caution, if at all, in combination with Ambien.
Check with your doctor and pharmacist to make sure Ambien is safe in combination with any other drugs or herbs you take.
Special Precautions
Older people are more sensitive to Ambien and usually require a lower dose.
Insomnia often occurs as a result of physical or psychological illness. While Ambien can shorten the time it takes to fall asleep and lengthen the time a person sleeps, it can't help correct any underlying problems, which should be diagnosed and treated appropriately.
Although there is no evidence that Ambien produces physical dependence or addiction, anyone with a history of substance abuse should be monitored carefully while on this or any other sleeping pill.
Taking the Medicine
Ambien works very quickly. It should be taken on an empty stomach immediately before going to bed.
Did this drug work? Average rating: 3.5/5 (23 votes)
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I take the generic form of Ambien and find that it does not work nearly as well. Has this been a problem for other people?
I'm an 'older person' (mid-60s) and still need the full dose to fall/stay asleep.
The only doctor's opinion I'd trust is one who has "walked a mile in my shoes."
I recently took the generic zolpidem (about 6 mg) for the first time. After 1 1/2 hours of taking the drug, I felt little effect. However, I was groggy the next morning -- so maybe it takes longer to be effective ??
At this point, I'd definitely prefer the name brand (also much easier to break).
Ambien CR is unpredictable for me. As I type this I have taken Ambien CR about two and a half hours ago with no effect whatsoever. No, I am not having amnesia!. Wide awake. Happens on this medication frequently. I never know what to expect. I also wake up several times in the night which was one of the selling points of Ambien CR (continual sleep) HA! Any ideas out there in dreamland?
I recently received a refill on my generic Ambien. It's now a small yellowish pill with 10 on one side and ZPL on the other. It has VERY little effect on me what so ever!! I called around to find a pharmacy that has my original generic and I will have them refill.
I've found that the generic version of Ambien has very little effect on me, and I insist on the brand name product, even though I have to pay full price, which is very expensive for me. My insurance company, Blue Cross of Ca will only cover the generic version of a drug, and I feel that this practice is unethical. I also want to say that I have to take the pill and go to bed right away, or else I suddenly feel like eating, then binge on whatever's around. In the AM I will have little or no memory of the binge.
I've taken Ambien for several years. I was able to stop taking it for several weeks, it was a little harder to get to sleep, but I didn't "crave" it.
I do have "Ambien moments". If I have a conversation while drowsy after taking Ambien, I frequently do not remember it. We finally figured out why I didn't remember my husband informing me of appointments, etc.. We now know not to discuss important topics while I'm starting to doze off.
I have taken Ambien for 5 years, was happy to try the
much less expensive Zolpidem. Unfortunately, the Zolpidem didn't work anywhere near as
well as the Ambien. Ambien $200, Zolpidem $10. The
Ambien even helps my chronic pain, completely disappears.
I have been taking Ambien for 5 years and tried the generic. It did nothing. I also tried Ambien CR and it, too, was useless for me. Only brand name Ambien for me. If my doctor specifies "Brand name only" on the Rx then I only have to pay $25. Jane
The generic ambien did nothing for me. I had never taken a sleep aid and tried the generic. It was useless. The name brand did the trick. Only half a pill.
I had been taking name brand Ambian for about 7 years for restless legs syndrome, I have Medo Ins and at once they refused to pay for the brand name and began sending the generic drug. It does not work for me at all, my question is what is the difference? because I know there is.
I switched from Ambien to generic zolpidem a year ago. There are several generic manufacturer's of this medicine. Teva's generic (the most common) did nothing for me. I shopped different pharmacies trying other generics until I found one that works nearly the same as Ambien. Also, the maker of Ambine (Sanofi) also markets generic zolpidem - made in the same facility with exactly the same formulation is Ambien - you may be able to find the Sanofi generic is you check enough local pharmacies.
Generic drugs are not identical to the branded version (except if manufactured by the same company as noted above). Bioequivalence (the amount in of drug in your blood) can be different and the formulation (additives to help form the tablet for example) is usually different. For many patients, this make no difference - but for some it does effect how the drug controls their symptoms.
I take the Zolpidem 10g, and it helps me fall asleep but not stay asleep. And I have awful dry mouth. Have never tried the name brand, but my MD recommended taking Melatonin with the Zolpidem to prolong the time I stay asleep. I haven't tried it yet... sounds like too much!
Has anyone else tried the Melatonin?
I've taken hypnotics since the days of chloral hydrate, Seconal, Nembutal, Placidyl and, oh God, please bring it back, Quaalude. Ambien has always been a really good second-tier sleep aid but, like everyone seems to note, since the insurance co.-enforced use of (generic) zolpidem, it has really been hit-or-miss in its effectiveness. Many thanks to JSL for the tip about trying to search out the Sanofi-made form of generic Ambien.
Now, if I can just convince Medi-Cal to let my pharmacist do the hunting. (I'm laughing semi-hysterically as I type this, since Medi-Cal, even Medicaid, is becoming less and less a provider of anything except a lot of trouble for its users/captees.)
In answer to KLG: melatonin and its pharmaceutical brother, the melatonin receptor agonist, Rozerem, are both quite effective (approaching Quaalude-like hypnotic effects, for me at least), but give me a gawdawful hangover the next day, so neither has proved to be worth the trouble or expense. (Naturally, insurance co.'s and Medi-Cal pay for it-Rozerem-without a whimper. :) )
I'd like to know if anyone else has tried Lunesta and had the same 24-hour crappy/bitter-taste-in-the-mouth side-effect that I experienced. The drug maker claims about 34% of users experience an "unpleasant taste" when using the 3 mg. form of it. Boy! I sure did!
Many thanks
Zolpidem does not work for me at all. Ambien worked very well.
I was prescribed Zolpidem once. I got extremely dizzy and threw up about 10 minutes after taking it... that was the last time I tried that... And in response to KLG above, I have taken Melatonin and it helps me fall asleep and stay asleep. IT gives me an extremely lethargic feeling before falling asleep, but when I wake up I feel great... Have never tried mixing it with anything else though.
Yes.... having a big time problem with the generic version, Zolpidem (manufacturer: Torrent). The pharmacy recently switched from another manufacturer and it DOES make a difference. The active ingredient may be the same, but not the other chemicals that make up the medication. I am going to call the pharmacy about this. Can't sleep for the life of me and that just isn't going to cut it. Good luck with your situation. Look to see if the manufacturer (on the bottom of your bottle) has changed.