Ambien

Ambien

Drug Name -- Ambien

Alternate Names – Zolpidem, Edluar

Manufacturer – Sanfi Aventis Pharmaceuticals

Type – Prescription (DEA Schedule IV controlled substance)

Pregnancy Issues – Ambien is transplacental and may cause harm to the fetus. It should not be taken while pregnant. Ambien should not be taken by nursing mothers.

Addiction Potential – Moderate to strong after two weeks of use. Addiction ensues in almost all cases of extended use with significant withdrawals. This drug is to be used for short-term relief of insomnia only (two weeks or less). Abuse is indicated when an individual takes more than 10mg per day.

Maximum Prescription Duration – Four to five weeks, maximum; no more than seven to ten days without a break.

Cautions – Ambien may cause a severe allergic reaction. These include: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Some people using this drug have engaged in activity such as driving, eating, or making phone calls and later having no memory of the activity. Recent studies indicate that long-term use of Ambien damages memory storage and recall in the hippocampus. This damage may be permanent; Do not take Ambien if you have any of the following conditions: kidney disease; liver disease; lung disease such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); sleep apnea (breathing stops during sleep); myasthenia gravis; a history of depression, mental illness, or suicidal thoughts; or a history of drug or alcohol addiction.

Drug Interactions/Adverse affects – Alcohol; contains lactose and should not be used by those who are lactose-intolerant; cold medicines, pain medication, muscle relaxants, and drugs for anxiety issues; Thorazine; Sporanox, Nizoral; Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater; SSRI antidepressants. [This list is not complete. Ambien is very reactive with a large number of drugs and the user should consult a qualified pharmacist regarding interactive potential of the drug.]

Class – Hypnotic/Sedative

Purpose – Short-term insomnia relief only.

Side effects – Ambien can cause side effects that may impair logical thinking or reactions; amnesia; depressed mood, thoughts of hurting yourself; unusual thoughts, risk-taking behavior, decreased inhibitions, no fear of danger; anxiety, aggression, feeling restless or agitated; hallucinations, confusion, loss of personality; daytime drowsiness, dizziness, weakness, feeling "drugged" or light-headed; lack of coordination; amnesia, forgetfulness; vivid or abnormal dreams; nausea, constipation; sore throat; headache, muscle pain; or blurred vision. [This is not a complete list of side effects.]

Withdrawals – Behavior changes, stomach pain, muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting, sweating, anxiety, panic attacks, tremors, and seizure (convulsions); confusion; impulsiveness; potential long-term impairment of logical reasoning (some say this may be somewhat permanent); agitation; suicide or suicidal ideations; severe depression; hallucinations; delusional disorder; aggressive behavior; loss of personal identity; and insomnia (for an extended period of time). The insomnia suffered from withdrawals will likely be worse than the individual’s initial insomnia.

Sources – drugs.com, wrongdiagnosis.com, addictionsearch.com (The manufacturer’s webpage offers little or no substantial and quantitative information concern the drug).