Ambien Treatment for Insomnia

People with insomnia have one or more of the following symptoms:

• Difficulty falling asleep
• Waking up often during the night and having trouble going back to sleep
• Waking up too early in the morning
• Non-refreshing sleep

There are several types of insomnia. Insomnia types are often based on how long the insomnia lasts and how often it occurs.

Short-term (acute) insomnia can last from one night to a few weeks. It is often caused by emotional or physical discomfort, and can be related to a single specific event. It is often caused by emotional or physical discomfort, and can be related to a single specific event. Causes of acute insomnia can include:

• Significant life stress (job loss or change, death of a loved one, moving, etc.)
• Environmental factors like noise, light, or extreme temperatures (hot or cold) that interfere with sleep
• Illness
• Things that throw off a normal sleep schedule (like jet lag or switching from a day to night shift)
  Transient insomnia is a type of insomnia that comes and goes, with periods of time when a person has no sleep problems.

Chronic (long-term) insomnia is when a person has insomnia at least three nights a week for one month or longer. It can be caused by many things and often occurs along with other health problems. Common chronic insomnia causes are:

• Depression
• Chronic stress
• Pain or discomfort at night

Each year, about 60 million Americans have insomnia.

How Does Ambien Help?

Ambien is part of a class of medications called sedative/hypnotics, which are known more commonly as sleep medicine. Otherwise known by its generic name, Zolpidem, it is closely related to a family of sedatives called benzodiazepines. These drugs cause sedation, muscle relaxation, act as anti-convulsants (anti-seizure) and reduce anxiety. Zolpidem has selectivity in that it has little of the muscle relaxant and anti-seizure effects and more of the sedative effect. Therefore, it is used as a medication for sleep. Based on clinical studies, when compared to people who did not take Ambien, people who took Ambien:

• Fell asleep faster
• Slept longer
• Had higher-quality sleep
• Had fewer awakenings

Some people using this medicine have engaged in activity such as driving, eating, or making phone calls and later had no memory of the activity. Ambien can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. A user may still feel sleepy the morning after taking the medication. A user must be aware of how this medication will affect them, especially during waking hours.

Be careful of driving, operating machinery, piloting an airplane, or do anything that requires one to be awake and alert. Do not drink alcohol while taking this medication. It can increase some of the side effects of Ambien, including drowsiness. This medication may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for.

Ambien vs. Ambien CR

Ambien, and its generic form, are approved to help you fall asleep. Ambien CR is considered a non-benzodiazepine and is different from older prescription sleep medications. Ambien CR is the only form of Ambien that is FDA-approved to help you fall asleep and stay asleep—so you can wake up less frequently and fall back to sleep faster. Only Ambien CR has two layers that address both problems. The first layer dissolves quickly to help you fall asleep fast, while the second dissolves slowly to help you stay asleep, so when you wake up you can concentrate on the day ahead. In fact, in clinical studies, Ambien CR was proven effective for up to seven hours. Ambien CR can be taken for as long as your healthcare professional recommends.

Ambien Addiction Treatment

If you or someone you know is struggling with an ambient addiction, we can help. Please call our toll free number at (888) 371-5716. We are available 24 hours a day to answer your questions on ambien addiction and treatment.

Ambien (generic name: Zolpidem) belongs to a class of medicines that effects the central nervous system called sedative hypnotics. Ambien is closely related to a family of drugs called benzodiazepines. These drugs cause sedation, muscle relaxation, act as anti-convulsants (anti-seizure), and have anti-anxiety properties. Ambien has selectivity in that it has little of the muscle relaxant or anti-seizure effect and more of the sedative effect. Therefore, it is used as a medication for sleep.

People experiencing an overdose may become excessively sleepy or even go into a light coma. The symptoms of an Ambien overdose are more severe if the person is also taking other drugs that depress the central nervous system. Some cases of multiple drug overdoses have been fatal. When abused, Ambien tablets are taken orally, crushed and then snorted, or dissolved in water and “cooked” for intravenous injection.

What are the Symptoms of Ambien Overdose?

People who take too much Ambien may become excessively drowsy or even slip into a light coma. The symptoms of overdose are more severe if the person is also taking other central nervous system (CNS) depressant drugs and can prove fatal. In rare cases, loss of life has been reported in people who took an Ambien overdose. These cases have involved overdoses on several medications, including Ambien.

If a person overdoses on Ambien, the symptoms can vary. Some reported symptoms include but are not limited to:

• Excessive tiredness
• Light coma
• Heart failure
• Lung failure
• Clumsiness
• Confusion
• Difficult or slow breathing
• Dizziness
• Severe nausea or vomiting
• Slowed heart rate
• Staggering
• Unconsciousness

Ambien Risk Factors

Use extreme caution when using Ambien if you have the following risk factors. These cautions put you at a great risk for overdosing:

• Alcohol abuse or drug abuse(or history of)
• Emphysema, asthma, bronchitis or other chronic lung disease
• Mental depression
• Sleep apnea
• Kidney or liver disease

Ambien and the Elderly

One of the segments of the population that is susceptible to Ambien overdose is the elderly. In fact, the recommended dosage for the elderly and disabled is 6.25 milligrams (mg); about half the recommended dose for other adults. Even with this reduced dosage, the elderly are at risk for several side effects as identified by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH):

• Motor impairments - trouble standing or walking the following day after taking the drug
• Central nervous system side effects – a pattern of dizziness while lying down and when getting up in the morning. Headaches are another common side effect, while other seniors experienced heart palpitations, impaired vision and upper respiratory infections.
• Cognitive side effects – trouble with memory, speech or other mental functions. For seniors who suffer from depression, Ambien can deepen the sadness and increase the depression. They may begin to have suicidal thoughts.
• Emotional or mental issues – common in elderly patients; includes aggravation and increasingly aggressive behavior
• Other side effects – frequent dry mouth, back pain, abnormal thirst and nausea. Some people in the research study experienced diarrhea, hiccupping and high blood sugar.

As is true for any person taking Ambien, it is recommended that you do not drink alcohol, that you allocate seven to nine hours to sleep after taking Ambien and that you do not engage in any other activity after taking the drug. In addition, there are several medications including antidepressants, anxiety medications and antibiotics that a person should not take in conjunction with Ambien.
As the elderly are typically taking more medications that the rest of the population, extreme caution should be exercised so that the senior does not inadvertently overdose.

Treating an Overdose of Ambien

The treatment for an Ambien overdose will vary. If the overdose was recent, the healthcare provider may give certain medicines or place a tube into the stomach to “pump the stomach.” However, once it has been absorbed into the body, there is no treatment that can remove it quickly. Therefore, in these cases, treatment involves supportive care, which consists of treating the symptoms that occur as a result of the overdose. Treatment for an Ambien overdose also involves closely monitoring the heart and lungs.

Ambien Addiction Treatment

If you or someone you know is struggling with an Ambien addiction, we can help. Please call our toll free number at (888) 371-5716. We are available 24 hours a day to answer your questions on ambien addiction and treatment.