Ambien – What Is It?

Ambien – What Is It?

Ambien is a hypnotic agent which is also known as a sedative. The purpose of Ambien is to affect the chemicals in the brain which might be imbalanced and lead to insomnia or sleep related problems. Ambien is generally used in the short term for treating insomnia which is the difficulty of staying or falling asleep. The purpose of the medication is to make you fall sleepy through relaxation. Ambien is also used for other reasons other than the usual ailments.

Ambien Details

Ambien may lead to a serious allergic reaction and if so, you should stop taking the medication and approach emergency medical help. The reactions may include breathing problem, hives, and swelling in the lips, face, throat or tongue. As Ambien leads to sleep, you should not go for the medication when you are awake or at work. Use it only when you need to sleep for 7 or 8 hours.

Some people who have used the medicine have been involved in several activities such as eating, making telephone calls and driving and later on they have had no recollection of the act. If you have encountered such an issue, you must cease taking the medicine and consult your doctor about it or an alternative treatment.

Ambien may lead to side effects which might impair your reactions or thinking. You might even feel drowsy in the morning when you have taken the medicine. This is why it is important for you to understand the way the medication will influence you in your waking hours. You should be careful while driving, operating machines, piloting an airplane or work on anything which requires you to stay alert and awake. Taking alcohol is a strict no-no as it might increase the side effects as well as drowsiness.

The medicine can lead to habit formation and hence it should be used by the person to whom it was prescribed. Do not share Ambien with anyone else especially with those who have a drug abuse history or are prone to drug addiction. The medication should be kept in a secured place where others will not be able to access it.

You can buy Ambien online or from sellers outside the US, but before purchasing the drug check with the ingredients contained and ensure that they are sold or distributed by licensed pharmacists. If you need more details on Ambien, contact the FDA or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. You might even visit their website at www.fda.gov/buyonlineguide. Ambien is a drug which is highly effective in countering sleeplessness, but before purchase, you should know that it might have several potential dangers and how you can avoid them.

What to Ask Your Health Expert before Taking Ambien

As Ambien can make you go to sleep, you should never take the medication while you are awake. Ambien should be taken when you are ready to dedicate about 7 or 8 hours to sleep. It has been observed that the people who have taken Ambien and engaged in other activities such as talking on the phone, eating or driving have had no remembrance of the incident later on.

If you have experienced such a thing, you must immediately stop taking the medication and speak to your doctor regarding an alternative treatment to address your sleeplessness. Patients who experience allergic reactions to zolpidem should not use the medicine. Tablets of Ambien may contain lactose and this is why patients who are sensitive to the component should be careful. Before you are taking the medication, you should tell the doctor if you have allergies towards any drug or whether you have liver and kidney diseases.

Some of the patients who should avoid Ambien are those who have:

Having any of the above conditions may require a dose adjustment and special tests for taking the medicine safely.

Category C Pregnancy according to the FDA:

The harmfulness of zolpidem to the unborn baby is yet to be established and before going for the medication, you should tell the doctor whether you are planning a pregnancy or are pregnant while the treatment is in progress. The medicine might pass into your breast milk or may harm the nursing baby. It should not be used without consulting your doctor, especially in the case of breastfeeding.

The sedative or hypnotic effects of Ambien might be strong in older adults. Elderly patients taking the sedative have reported accidental falls and this is why you should be cautious in avoiding falling or incurring accidental injury. The medicine should only be taken by people aged over 18 years.

Ambien Side Effects

Ambien might lead to severe allergic reactions and this is why you should discontinue the medicine and seek emergency clinical assistance if you have allergy in the form of hives, tough breathing and swelling of the lips, throat, tongue or face. You should immediately terminate the use of the drug and call the doctor in case of the following serious side effects: