Zolpidem Tartrate

💊 What is Zolpidem Tartrate used for?

• •The label says it is used for the short-term treatment of insomnia (trouble falling asleep, which the label calls difficulty with sleep initiation) in adults. The label says it is not recommended for children under 18.

How it works

The label describes zolpidem as a GABA A receptor positive modulator, a type of medicine that acts on certain receptors in the brain to help with sleep.

How it is usually taken

• •The label says to take a single tablet at night, right before bedtime, and not to take a second dose during the same night. Take it exactly as prescribed and do not change the dose on your own. Do not take it with or right after a meal, because food may slow its effect. The label says it may help you fall asleep faster on an empty stomach. Only take it if you can stay in bed a full night (7 to 8 hours) before you must be active again. The label says it is for short-term use only, and long-term use is not recommended. Call your healthcare provider if your sleep problems get worse or do not get better within 7 to 10 days.

Comes as

• •5 mg tablets: pink, round, film coated, debossed "IT 117" on one side (not scored)
• •10 mg tablets: white, round, film coated, debossed "IT 118" on one side (not scored)

⚠️ Zolpidem Tartrate side effects

🛑 Who should not take Zolpidem Tartrate, and who should be careful

The label says not to take it if

• 🚨You have had complex sleep behaviors after taking zolpidem in the past.
• 🚨You are allergic to zolpidem or any of the ingredients in the tablets.
• 🚨You are not able to stay in bed for a full night (7 to 8 hours) before you must be active again.
• 🚨You drank alcohol that evening or before bed.

Tell your doctor before taking it if

• •Tell your healthcare provider about any history of depression, mental illness, or suicidal thoughts or actions.
• •Tell your provider about any history of drug or alcohol abuse or addiction.
• •Tell your provider if you have kidney or liver disease, a lung disease or breathing problems, sleep apnea, or myasthenia gravis.
• •Tell your provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, or if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
• •Tell your provider about all medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
• •The label says the medicine can make you sleepy or dizzy, so do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how it affects you.

🔀 Zolpidem Tartrate with other medicines, food and alcohol

The label says to discuss these with your doctor or pharmacist

• •Alcohol and other CNS depressants: may increase drowsiness, slowed thinking, and impaired driving ability.
• •Benzodiazepines and other sleep medicines (including other zolpidem products): the label says use with these is not recommended at bedtime or in the middle of the night, and combined use can increase CNS depression.
• •Opioids: may increase the risk of breathing problems (respiratory depression). The label says to limit dosage and duration of combined use.
• •Tricyclic antidepressants, imipramine, and chlorpromazine: may add to decreased alertness and impaired psychomotor performance.
• •Sertraline: increases the amount of zolpidem in the body.
• •Fluoxetine: increased the half-life of zolpidem by 17% in a study, with no evidence of an additive effect on psychomotor performance.
• •Rifampin or St. John's wort: may decrease the effect of zolpidem.
• •Ketoconazole: may increase the effect of zolpidem.
• •Haloperidol: a study showed no effect of haloperidol on zolpidem in single-dose use. The label notes that single-dose results do not predict the effect of long-term use.
• •Ask your pharmacist for a list of medicines that interact with zolpidem.

Alcohol and food

The label says not to take zolpidem with or right after a meal. It also says not to take it if you drank alcohol that evening or before bed. Alcohol can add to its effects on alertness and psychomotor performance.

🤰 Zolpidem Tartrate in pregnancy and breastfeeding

Pregnancy

The label says taking zolpidem in the third trimester of pregnancy may harm an unborn baby. Babies born to mothers who took it late in pregnancy may have breathing problems and sedation, such as sleepiness or low muscle tone. Published observational data have not shown a clear link between zolpidem and major birth defects. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Breastfeeding

The label says zolpidem passes into breast milk and may harm a baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby during treatment.

🗓️ Storage, missed doses and taking too much

Storage

The label says to store at controlled room temperature, 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F). Because zolpidem is a federally controlled substance (C-IV), the label says to keep it in a safe place to protect it from theft. The label also says never to give it to anyone else, because it may cause death or harm them, and that selling or giving it away is against the law.

If a dose is missed

The label does not say.

If too much is taken

The label says that overdose with zolpidem, alone or with other CNS-depressant medicines, has caused impaired consciousness ranging from sleepiness to coma, cardiovascular and/or respiratory problems, and deaths. If you take too much, the label says to call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.

🗒️ Questions to ask about Zolpidem Tartrate

• Is zolpidem right for my kind of sleep problem, and how long should I expect to use it?
• What should I do if I wake up during the night and find I have done something I do not remember?
• How many hours of sleep do I need to have before I must be active again?
• Which of my current medicines, supplements, or alcohol use could affect how zolpidem works?
• What should I do if my sleep problems do not get better within 7 to 10 days?
• Are there any signs of mood changes or depression I should watch for while taking this medicine?
• How should I store and keep this medicine safe at home?

❓ Zolpidem Tartrate: frequently asked questions