Learn more about usage, cautions, and possible side effects .
Chemical Name: ZOLPIDEM (zole-PI-dem)
This medicine is a sedative-hypnotic (sleep medicine) used for the treatment of insomnia (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep).
Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with this medicine. INFORM YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking. DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICINE IF you are taking sodium oxybate (GHB). ADDITIONAL MONITORING OF YOUR DOSE OR CONDITION may be needed if you are taking ketoconazole, HIV protease inhibitors (eg, ritonavir), or rifampin. DO NOT START OR STOP any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval. Inform your doctor of any other medical conditions, including kidney or liver problems, lung or breathing problems (eg, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], sleep apnea), myasthenia gravis, metabolism problems, heart or blood pressure problems, very poor health, allergies, pregnancy, or breast-feeding. Tell your doctor if you have a history of mood or mental problems (eg, depression), suicidal thoughts or behaviors, or alcohol or substance abuse or addiction, or if the patient is a child or teenager with a history of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about using this medicine.
Follow the directions for taking this medicine provided by your doctor. This medicine comes with a MEDICATION GUIDE approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Read it carefully each time you refill this medicine. Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist any questions that you may have about this medicine. TAKE THIS MEDICINE by mouth on an empty stomach at least 2 hours after a meal. SWALLOW THIS MEDICINE WHOLE. DO NOT BREAK, CRUSH, OR CHEW before swallowing. This medicine works very quickly; use this medicine right before going to sleep. Use this medicine only when you are able to get a full night's sleep (7 to 8 hours). STORE THIS MEDICINE at room temperature, between 59 and 77 degrees F (15 and 25 degrees C) away from heat, moisture, and light. Brief storage at temperatures up to 86 degrees F (30 degrees C) is permitted. Do not store in the bathroom. IF YOU MISS A DOSE OF THIS MEDICINE, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. DO NOT take 2 doses at once. DO NOT take more than your total daily dose in any 24-hour period.
DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE IF you are allergic to any ingredient in this medicine. WHEN SLEEP MEDICINES ARE TAKEN EVERY NIGHT for more than a few weeks, they may lose their effectiveness. This is known as TOLERANCE. Sleep medicines should usually be used only for short periods of time, such as a few days and generally no longer than 1 or 2 weeks. If your sleep problems continue, contact your doctor. DO NOT EXCEED THE RECOMMENDED DOSE or take this medicine for longer than prescribed. Doing so may be habit-forming. If using this medicine for an extended period of time, DO NOT SUDDENLY STOP taking this medicine without your doctor's approval. THIS MEDICINE MAY CAUSE drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, or lightheadedness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use this medicine with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it. DO NOT drink alcohol or use medicines that may cause drowsiness while you are using this medicine; it may add to their effects. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines may cause drowsiness. WHEN YOU FIRST START TAKING THIS MEDICINE, it may have a "carryover" effect the next day. Use extreme care while doing anything that requires complete alertness (eg, driving a car). SLEEP MEDICINES MAY CAUSE A SPECIAL TYPE OF MEMORY LOSS OR AMNESIA. To prevent memory problems, be sure to use this medicine only when you are able to get a full night's sleep (7 to 8 hours) before you need to be active again. Talk to your health care provider if you think you are having memory problems. SOME PATIENTS TAKING THIS MEDICINE have performed certain activities (eg, sleep-driving, making and eating food, making phone calls, having sex) while they were not fully awake. Patients often do not remember these events after they happen. Such an event may be more likely to occur if you use a high dose of this medicine or if you drink alcohol or take other medicines that may cause drowsiness while you use this medicine. Tell your doctor right away if such an event occurs. BEFORE YOU BEGIN TAKING ANY NEW MEDICINES, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. Use this medicine with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially dizziness or drowsiness. This medicine should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN; safety and effectivenes in children have not been confirmed. Children may be more sensitive to this medicine's side effects, especially dizziness, headache, and hallucinations. FOR WOMEN: IF YOU BECOME PREGNANT, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using this medicine while you are pregnant. THIS MEDICINE MAY CAUSE PROLONGED SLEEP IN THE FETUS when used during the last weeks of pregnancy. THIS MEDICINE IS FOUND in breast milk. IF YOU ARE OR WILL BE BREAST-FEEDING while you use this medicine, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.
SIDE EFFECTS that may occur while taking this medicine include dizziness; drowsiness (including daytime drowsiness); "drugged" feeling; dry mouth; headache; muscle aches; nausea; nose or throat irritation; sluggishness; or stomach upset. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY if you experience abnormal thinking; behavior changes; chest pain; confusion; decreased coordination; difficulty swallowing or breathing; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; hallucinations; memory problems (eg, memory loss); mental or mood changes (eg, aggression, agitation, anxiety, depression); severe dizziness; shortness of breath; suicidal thoughts or actions; or vision changes. AN ALLERGIC REACTION to this medicine is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; or unusual hoarseness. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your healthcare provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Drug interactions can result in unwanted side effects or prevent a medicine from doing its job. Use our drug interaction checker to find out if your medicines interact with each other. Check drug interactions
IF OVERDOSE IS SUSPECTED, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include severe drowsiness or coma.
THIS MEDICINE IS USUALLY USED ONLY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. If your symptoms do not get better within 7 to 10 days or if they get worse, check with your doctor. DO NOT SHARE THIS MEDICINE with others for whom it was not prescribed. DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE for other health conditions. KEEP THIS MEDICINE out of the reach of children and pets.
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