An estimated 50 to 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep problems, or potentially 7% to 19% of the adult population, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Sleep problems can lead to cumulative long-term health effects like hypertension, diabetes, depression, obesity, heart attack and stroke. Luckily, you can use sleep aids like Ambien (zolpidem tartrate).
Sleeping medications may assist you in the short-term, but most doctors advise against them for longer than six weeks.
Long-term effects would include:
Avoid taking sleeping medication regularly. The risk of a car accident or a serious injury nearly doubles for those taking Ambien.
Most doctors only recommend the use of Ambien to treat sleep disorders in the short term. Taking Ambien over the long term may lead to addiction since some people will see it as the only solution to chronic sleep disorders. They start out taking it legitimately and then it becomes an addiction problem.
Along with potential health problems, Ambien may impact psychological well being, home life, and job performance.
The medical community classifies zolpidem tartrate as a non-benzodiazepine hypnotic medication. This medication targets the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter in the brain that impacts your sleep cycles. However, it also impacts your emotional responses and your level of consciousness.
Drug manufacturers designed Ambien to work in the same way as drugs in the benzodiazepine family, such as drugs like Valium. Many of the long-term health risks are similar to those of Valium and Lorazepam.
You would take this pill orally normally once a day, but do it as directed by your doctor. Zolpidem works 15 to 30 minutes after taking it, so you would want to take it right before sleeping. Don’t take it right after a meal because it will slow down its effects. For the capsule form, swallow it whole.
Ambien reaches its peak at the 90-minute mark, but effects should have taken full hold before that. After you take Ambien do not drive or operate heavy machinery.
If you experience unusual sleep behavior after taking Ambien, consult your doctor. You will find the tablet in two forms: 5mg and 10mg.
You should take the lowest effective dose with 7 to 8 hours of planned sleep. Taking a higher 10mg dose may increase the risk for those who drive the next day since it can harm alertness.
The total dose should never exceed 10mg. Don’t take Ambien in cases where you consumed alcohol beforehand.
The recommended dose for men differs from the recommended dose for women.
Mixing even a single drink can pose a danger of unpleasant effects. You may feel as if you drank more alcohol or took more Ambien than you truly did.
Due to the mixing of the two drugs, you may experience the following:
In some cases, taking Ambien can make you believe that you can take more alcohol and Ambien, which can lead to severe issues.
Sometimes, it leads to a condition known as parasomnia, which is an extreme form of sleepwalking.
The most common side effects that you may encounter after taking Ambien include:
Ambien also has adverse effects that would warrant an immediate doctor’s visit.
The risk of adverse effects increase with long-term users (especially women over the age of 65), higher dosages, and when combined with other benzodiazepines.
Some of the potential adverse effects include:
Signs of an overdose on Ambien include loss of consciousness, severe respiratory depression, and extreme sedation.
In some cases, Ambien may cause severe allergic reactions. Stop taking Ambien immediately and see your doctor if you exhibit any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction:
Ambien can impair reactions and thinking, which can lead to serious consequences.
Never take a larger amount of Ambien than the doctor prescribed. Pregnant women and mothers who are breastfeeding should also avoid taking Ambien since studies found how even small amounts of zolpidem can get into the breast milk. .
There is no approval for taking Ambien for those under the age of 18. You also have a few things that you should tell your doctor about to ensure that this drug will be safe for you. First, do not take zolpidem if you have had an allergic reaction to it in the past.
You should also tell your doctor if you have had a medical history with the following issues:
After a doctor prescribes Ambien, you should follow his directions exactly and as the prescription label says. If you have used Ambien long-term, don’t stop taking it immediately since it can have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. It will help you to fall asleep and stay asleep.
