Ambien (Zolpidem)

Ambien (Generic) is a powerful sedative medicine. Ambien (Generic) is a sedative medicine of imidazopiridine group. That means that Ambien (Generic) is a very effective sleeping pill of 4th generation (modern) and it acts as an agonist to omega1 subtype of GABA receptors (increases the signals that our brain gives us to sleep). Ambien is a generic name, depending on the country of origin it can have many commercial names, but is most widely known under the name of Zolpidem or Ambien.

When applied in the right dose Ambien (generic) is ruther selective – it helps you to fall asleep without causing extra anxiolytic, anticonvulsant and miorelaxant effects.  With Ambien (generic) you get exactly what you want – it interacts only with omega 1 receptors that tell your body to fall asleep and does not mess with omega 2 and omega 5 receptors that are responsible for the effects mentioned above, therefore making your sleep more comfortable, and causing less side effects.

Ambien does not cumulate, makes you fall asleep easier, the period of half elimination is only two and a half hours – in two and a half hours 50% of Ambien leaves your body, assuring there is no morning tiredness and heavy head, making Ambien perfect “no go pill” – a sleeping pill taken before important next day tasks, approved for professions requiring concentrated attention like pilots.

The period of half elimination for Ambien may be prolonged for people of elderly age, which may mean that the dosage might be corrected (to lesser amount).  Ambien (generic) is eliminated with urine 56% and feces 35%.

Most importantly, Zolpidem or Ambien (generic) is a modern, fourth generation sleeping pill that does not ruin the sleep architectonics ( to be well rested in the morning you need to go through several phases of sleep), unlike older barbiturates for example.

Avoid taking Ambien (Generic) in case if you suffer from:

Sleeping apnoe (troubles breathing when you sleep)

Myasthenia

Being under 18 years old (there were no clinical researches to either confirm or deny the risks for children)

Liver and renal dysfunctions

 Pregnancy and breastfeeding

As Ambien (generic) is a relatively new drug there was no clinical research on its effects on breastfeeding in humans. It is not recommended however to take it in the period of pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Interaction

If taken together with alcohol, antihistamines, barbiturates and tranquilizers the effects of the substances are mutually increased.

The recommended dose is 10 mg, in case with people of old age the dose can be 5 mg. In case of overdose the specific treatment is Flumazenil.