What is Zolpidem?

• Zolpidem is a type of sleeping pill medicine
• Zolpidem is prescribed to help a person suffering from a short period of insomnia
• Zolpidem is not usually prescribed for more than four weeks at a time
• Zolpidem takes around one hour to work
• Zolpidem belongs to a group of prescription drugs called Nonbenzodiazepine (Z drugs) / CNS depressants
• Zolpidem has no anticonvulsant or muscle relaxant properties
• You should avoid drinking alcohol when taking zolpidem, as the two combined may make it more difficult to wake up the following morning
• Zolpidem is sometimes known by its brand name, Stilnoct, Ambien, Ambien CR
• It is important to read the patient leaflet for a full list of side effects and cautions.

Patient Information Leaflet

For more information on the prescription medication please refer to the Zolpidem (Zolpidem tartrate) patient information leaflet.

Video: An overview of Zolpidem

Take a look at the video below to get a simple overview of Zolpidem, including what it is used for, dosages, side effects and precautions:

How Does Zolpidem Work?

Zolpidem is a prescription medicine that works by increasing the amount of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) in your brain. An increase in GABA receptors blocks certain chemicals in the brain, helping to calm your central nervous system. This, in turn, makes you feel more relaxed and sleepier. Consequently zolpidem improves sleeping health a lot.

The body can become accustomed to the effect of zolpidem, making you feel dependent on it if you take it for longer than a few weeks. This also means that stopping it can lead to feelings of withdrawal in the detox process. This is why your doctor, pharmacy or healthcare provider will only prescribe a short course of zolpidem to help you manage an acute period of difficulty sleeping to treat whatever sleep problem a patient may be experiencing. Taking it for short periods is unlikely to lead to dependence.

How is Zolpidem Taken?

Zolpidem Tablets

Zolpidem is taken at night, just before going to bed. Zolpidem will make you feel sleepy or drowsy, so it is important to only take it when you are ready to get into bed.

Zolpidem is available in tablet form. The tablets should be swallowed with some water. Zolpidem can be taken with or without food.

What is the proper dosage of Zolpidem?

Zolpidem 5mg / 10mg

Zolpidem is available in 10mg and 5mg tablets. The usual dose is 10mg at bedtime.

A 5mg dose is sometimes recommended for people aged over 65, or those with kidney or liver disease. This is because these groups may be more sensitive to zolpidem, and may therefore feel excessively sleepy the following day.

Your doctor may prescribe a zolpidem tablet once every three nights, rather than every night. You may be prescribed zolpidem but be given the medical advice to only to take it when required. It is important to take zolpidem exactly as your doctor has prescribed it. 

Are there any side effects to Zolpidem?

Like all medications, zolpidem use can have some side effects. The most common side effects include:

• A bitter or metallic taste in your mouth
• Dry mouth
• Withdrawal symptoms
• Trouble breathing
• Feeling sleepy (drowsiness) the following day – this may persist for a few days, so it is important to avoid driving or operating heavy machinery if you feel sleepy or more drowsy than usual.
• Ambien addiction
• Hepatic impairment

These side effects are likely to settle in time, but if they are particularly troublesome you should speak to a doctor or pharmacist.

Occasionally, more serious side effects can occur when taking zolpidem. These include:

• Memory loss (amnesia)
• Falling over – especially in the elderly
• Hallucinations – seeing things that are not real
• Delusions – believing things that are not true
• Feeling low or depressed.

You should speak to a doctor straight away if any of these side effects occur.

If you have a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) including breathlessness, lip or tongue swelling, call 999 immediately.

Does Zolpidem come with any warnings?

Zolpidem may not be suitable for everyone. You should tell your doctor if you:

• Have had an allergic reaction to a medication in the past
• Have liver disease
• Have kidney disease
• Have myasthenia gravis
• Have breathing problems
• Have sleep apnoea (difficulty breathing at night)
• Have ever had mental health problems
• Have alcohol or drug dependence, or have ever been dependent in the past
• Are pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding.

Some medications can interact with zolpidem or make its sedative effect greater. You may be advised that zolpidem will not suit you (due to drug interactions) if you already take:

• Other sleep medicine
• Strong pain killers including codeine, tramadol, methadone or oxycodone
• Antihistamines that make you drowsy including chlorphenamine and promethazine
• Medicines used to treat schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
• Medicines used to treat depression
• Medicines used to calm the symptoms of anxiety
• Medicines used to treat fungal infections including itraconazole and ketoconazole
• Ritonavir – a medication used to treat HIV.

You should also tell your prescriber about any herbal remedies or supplements you take. This will allow your prescriber to check that zolpidem will not interact with them.

Zolpidem is a sleeping medication, much as diazepam. Diazepam is also commonly prescribed for anxiety. If the cause behind your sleeping problems is anxiety, ask your doctor about buying diazepam.

What experiences have Zolpidem users had?

Every patient suffering from a sleep disorder / insomnia has a unique individual experience when taking Zolpidem as a treatment.

User Reviews for Zolpidem

Drugs.com user: 'Quite honestly, I think Ambien has saved my life. I have GAD pretty bad, and take quite a few meds for it. I have been taking Ambien for at least 15 years. Way back before my anxiety was under control, I used to take 15 to as much as 20 mg per night. Over the years. I've been able to gradually cut that back to as little as 5 - 10 mg, and it's still has effective as it ever was. Obviously, treating my GAD also plays a large role, but Zolpidem has been a miracle for me. I find the generic just as good as the name brand - I see no difference. I don't recommend anyone take sleep meds if you don't need them - but if you DO need them, by god take this. We all have one life - live the highest quality life you can, and mine has been very normal and wonderful due to this medication. Medication is your friend if you truly need it and use it in a way that's right for you.'

Drugs.com user: 'Sometimes I am up for days at a time, othertimes I'll sleep for 20 hours at once. My goal is to get to a normal sleep schedule so I can work and function properly. This medication Ambien has been like a godsend. I can go right to sleep whenever I need and get a normal 6-9 hours. I take it ever other day. I also regularly take melatonin, flexaril, or benadryl to help me sleep. Since I was a young kid I haven't been able to have a normal sleep schedule. Now I finally can. Before the Ambien, I would get way off track from not being able to sleep for two or three days at a time then crashing really hard. Now, I am in control of my schedule, and it is so relieving and empowering.'

There are many more Zolpidem user reviews available at Drugs.com and Web MD.

Buy Zolpidem

Where to buy Zolpidem online?

It is important that your doctor checks that zolpidem will suit your needs. To receive a doctors prescription for this medication, your doctor should complete a thorough health questionnaire and review your current medications before prescribing this medication. You can buy zolpidem for your sleep disorder at EU Meds following a successful online consultation assessment, where you will receive a prescription for zolpidem if approved.

Further information:

• Drugs.com - Zolpidem
• Drugs.com - Ambien
• Drugs.com - Zolpidem Reviews
• Web MD - Zolpidem Reviews
• NHS - Zolpidem
• Medicines.org.uk - Zolpidem Patient Information Leaflet
• ScienceDirect - Zolpidem
• Mayo Clinic - Zolpidem Oral Route
• FDA - FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA approves new label changes and dosing for zolpidem products
• BNF - Zolpidem Tartrate