Ambien (zolpidem) is a prescription sleep medicine used to treat insomnia. It can cause dangerous sleepwalking and sleep-driving, leave you impaired the next day, and become habit-forming with regular use. Most people are meant to take it only for a short time, and stopping after regular use should be planned with a doctor.
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Advertise hereWhat Ambien Is and What It Is Approved For
Zolpidem belongs to a class of medicines called sedative-hypnotics. It works by slowing activity in the brain to allow sleep. It is approved to treat insomnia, meaning trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. It comes in regular and extended-release forms.
Zolpidem is a Schedule IV controlled substance under federal law because it can be misused and can lead to dependence. MedlinePlus notes that it should normally be taken for short periods. After about two weeks it may not work as well, so talk with your doctor about the risks of longer use. If your sleep does not improve within 7 to 10 days, or gets worse, call your doctor.
How Ambien Affects the Brain and Body
Because zolpidem slows brain activity, its effects reach beyond sleep. Common side effects include:
- drowsiness and tiredness
- headache and dizziness
- unsteady walking
- nausea and dry mouth
- unusual dreams
Get medical help right away for rash, hives, swelling of the face or throat, trouble breathing or swallowing, yellowing of the skin or eyes, chest pain or vision changes.
Short- and Long-Term Risks
Complex sleep behaviors
In 2019, the FDA added a boxed warning, its strongest warning, to zolpidem and two similar insomnia medicines, eszopiclone and zaleplon. People taking these medicines have:
- sleepwalked
- driven a car while not fully awake
- prepared or eaten food
- made phone calls or had sex
Often they had no memory of it afterward. These events are rare, but they have caused serious injuries and deaths. If it happens to you even once, stop taking the medicine and contact your doctor right away. The FDA advises doctors not to prescribe these medicines to anyone who has had such an episode before.
Next-day impairment
Zolpidem can still affect you the next morning even when you feel awake. Drowsiness, slower reactions and poor coordination can make driving unsafe and raise the risk of falls. Do not drive or operate machinery the day after taking an extended-release form, and ask your doctor about driving after other forms.
Alcohol
Do not drink alcohol while taking zolpidem. Alcohol makes its side effects stronger. Tell your doctor and pharmacist about every other medicine you take so they can check for combinations that add to drowsiness.
Overdose: Signs and What to Do
Signs of a zolpidem overdose include:
- extreme drowsiness
- slowed breathing
- a slowed heartbeat
- coma
Call 911 if someone has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing or cannot be woken. The risk is higher when zolpidem is mixed with alcohol or other drugs. If an opioid may also be involved, give naloxone (Narcan) if you have it and stay with the person until help arrives. For questions that are not emergencies, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
Is Ambien Addictive? Dependence and Withdrawal
Zolpidem may be habit-forming. The risk is higher when it is taken in larger amounts, more often or for longer than prescribed, or when you have a history of alcohol or drug use. If you feel you cannot sleep without it, or find yourself taking more than prescribed, talk with your doctor about safer long-term options.
Stopping suddenly after regular use, especially after more than two weeks, can cause withdrawal symptoms such as:
- shakiness
- nausea and stomach cramps
- sweating
- nervousness and panic attacks
- rarely, seizures
Trouble sleeping on the first night or two after stopping is common and usually passes. Talk with your doctor before stopping so the dose can be reduced safely. If you have been taking high doses or mixing zolpidem with alcohol or other sedatives, a medical evaluation should come first, and our Florida medical detox guide explains what supervised withdrawal looks like.
Ambien and the Law
Zolpidem is a Schedule IV controlled substance under federal law. Taking it without a prescription, or selling or sharing your own, is illegal. Keep it stored securely.
Treatment for Sleeping Pill Dependence in Florida
Treatment for sedative dependence usually begins with a medical evaluation and a gradual, doctor-guided reduction. From there, the focus is on the problems underneath: insomnia itself, anxiety, depression, or alcohol and other drug use. Your doctor can talk with you about sleep approaches that do not rely on medication.
Many people can be treated in an outpatient program while living at home. If you have been mixing sleeping pills with alcohol or other drugs, a program with medical staff may be safer. You can search licensed Florida treatment programs in our directory, which lists facilities using SAMHSA FindTreatment.gov data. If a loved one is in danger and refuses help, Florida’s Marchman Act allows a court to order involuntary assessment and stabilization for substance use.
If You Take Ambien as Prescribed
These steps follow the warnings on the medicine:
- Take it only as prescribed, and only from a pharmacy.
- Do not drink alcohol while taking it.
- Do not drive the day after taking an extended-release form.
- If you ever do something while not fully awake, stop taking it and call your doctor.
- Store it securely and never share it.
What to Expect When You Reach Out
- A first conversation. A call to a program or to SAMHSA’s helpline is confidential. You will be asked about how long you have taken zolpidem, how much, and any alcohol or other drug use, your health and your insurance.
- An assessment. A licensed clinician looks at your physical health, mental health and living situation to recommend a level of care.
- A treatment plan. For sedative dependence, this usually starts with a gradual, doctor-guided reduction, followed by care for insomnia, anxiety or other conditions underneath.
- Ongoing support. Recovery continues after a program ends, through outpatient sessions, support groups and check-ins with your doctor.
If you are reaching out for someone else, you can call too. Families can ask how a program involves loved ones and what support it offers them.
Getting Help Now
- Emergency: call 911 if someone collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing or cannot be woken.
- Crisis: call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, any time.
- Treatment referrals: call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357. It is free, confidential and open 24/7 in English and Spanish.
- Poison questions: Poison Control is available at 1-800-222-1222.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions About Ambien (Zolpidem): Uses, Side Effects and Dependence Risks
What is Ambien used for?
Ambien (zolpidem) is a prescription sleep medicine used to treat insomnia, meaning trouble falling or staying asleep. It belongs to a class of drugs called sedative-hypnotics, which slow brain activity to allow sleep. Zolpidem is a Schedule IV controlled substance because it can be misused and can lead to dependence.
Can Ambien make you sleepwalk or drive while asleep?
Yes, Ambien can cause complex sleep behaviors such as sleepwalking, sleep-driving, cooking or making phone calls while not fully awake, often with no memory afterward. These events have caused serious injuries and deaths, and the FDA added a boxed warning in 2019. If this happens to you even once, stop taking it and talk to your doctor.
Can you still feel Ambien the next day?
Yes, Ambien can still impair you the next morning even when you feel awake. Drowsiness, slower reactions and poor coordination can carry over and make driving unsafe. Follow your doctor's instructions about how much sleep time you need after a dose, and do not drive the day after taking the extended-release form.
Is Ambien addictive?
Yes, Ambien can be habit-forming, especially when it is taken in larger amounts, more often or for longer than prescribed. Tolerance and physical dependence can develop with ongoing use. Your risk is higher if you have a history of alcohol or drug use. If you feel you cannot sleep without it, talk with your doctor about safer long-term options.
What happens if you stop taking Ambien suddenly?
Stopping Ambien suddenly after regular use can cause withdrawal symptoms such as shakiness, cramps, nausea, sweating, anxiety and, rarely, seizures. Talk with your doctor before stopping, especially if you have taken it for two weeks or longer, so the dose can be reduced safely. Do not mix Ambien with alcohol or other sedatives.
Where can I get help for sleeping pill dependence in Florida?
Florida has licensed treatment programs that help people safely stop sedatives such as Ambien and address the sleep, anxiety or substance use problems underneath. If you have been taking high doses or mixing it with alcohol, start with a medical evaluation. Read our Florida medical detox guide, or call SAMHSA's free helpline at 1-800-662-4357.
