|
View more items in " Generic Medicines" category... Important information about Zolpidem:-
Zolpidem may cause a severe allergic reaction. Stop taking it and get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Zolpidem will make you fall asleep. Never take this medication during your normal waking hours, unless you have a full 7 to 8 hours to dedicate to sleeping.
Some people using this medicine have engaged in activity such as driving, eating, or making phone calls and later having no memory of the activity. If this happens to you, stop taking Zolpidem and talk with your doctor about another treatment for your sleep disorder.
Zolpidem can cause side effects that may weaken your thinking or reactions. You may still feel sleepy the morning after taking the medication. Until you know how this medication will affect you during waking hours, be careful if you drive, operate machinery, pilot an airplane, or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medication. It can increase some of the side effects of Zolpidem, including drowsiness. This medication may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Zolpidem should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.
It is dangerous to try and purchase Zolpidem on the Internet or from vendors outside of the United States. Medications distributed from Internet sales may contain dangerous ingredients, or may not be distributed by a licensed pharmacy. Samples of this medication purchased on the Internet have been found to contain haloperidol, a potent antipsychotic drug with dangerous side effects
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Zolpidem?
Zolpidem will make you fall asleep. Never take this medication during your normal waking hours, unless you have a full 7 to 8 hours to dedicate to sleeping.
Some people using this medicine have engaged in activity such as driving, eating, or making phone calls and later having no memory of the activity. If this happens to you, stop taking Zolpidem and talk with your doctor about another treatment for your sleep disorder.
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to Zolpidem. Zolpidem tablets may contain lactose. Use caution if you are sensitive to lactose.
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
* Kidney disease;
* Liver disease;
Lung disease such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD);
Sleep apnea (breathing stops during sleep);
Myasthenia gravis;
A history of depression, mental illness, or suicidal thoughts; or
A history of drug or alcohol addiction.
HOW TO USE:
Read the Medication Guide and, if available, the Patient Information Leaflet provided by your pharmacist before you start using Zolpidem and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions regarding the information, consult your pharmacist. Take this medication by mouth, usually once nightly immediately before bedtime on an empty stomach, or as directed by your doctor. Do not take it with food because the effect of the medication will be delayed. Dosage is based on your medical condition, age, and response to therapy. Do not take more than 10 milligrams per day. Although unlikely, this drug can infrequently cause temporary memory loss. To avoid this effect, do not take a dose of this drug unless you have time for a full night's sleep that lasts at least 7-8 hours. For example, do not take zolpidem during an overnight plane flight of less than 8 hours. This medication may cause withdrawal reactions, especially if it has been used regularly for a long time or in high doses. In such cases, withdrawal symptoms (such as nausea, vomiting, flushing, stomach cramps, nervousness, or shakiness) may occur if you suddenly stop using this medication. To prevent withdrawal reactions, your pharmacist may reduce your dose gradually. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details, and report any withdrawal reactions immediately. Though it is very unlikely to occur, this medication can also result in abnormal drug-seeking behavior (addiction/habit-forming). Do not increase your dose, take it more frequently or use it for a longer period of time than prescribed. Properly stop the medication when so directed. This will lessen the chances of becoming addicted. When used for an extended period, this medication may not work as well and may require different dosing. Talk with your doctor if this pharmacist stops working well. You may have trouble sleeping the first few nights after you stop taking this medication. This is called rebound insomnia and it is normal. It will usually go away after 1-2 nights. If this effect continues, contact your doctor. Notify your pharmacist if your conditions persist or worsen after 7-10 days.
DOSING:
The recommended adult dose of Zolpidem is 10 mg as conventional tablets or spray or 12.5 mg as extended-release tablets. In elderly patients, an initial dose of 5 mg as conventional tablets or 6.25 mg as extended-release tablets is recommended because elderly patients have decreased ability to eliminate Zolpidem from the body, and accumulating Zolpidem may cause side effects.
DRUG INTERACTIONS:
Alcohol has an additive effect with Zolpidem and the two should not be combined. Zolpidem should not be combined with other sedative drugs because of the additive effects that may increase the blood concentration of Zolpidem by reducing the activity of the enzymes that breakdown Zolpidem in the liver. Conversely, rifampin may reduce the concentration of Zolpidem by increasing the activity of the enzymes that breakdown Zolpidem.
ZOLPIDEM SIDE EFFECTS:
The most common side effects of zolpidem are drowsiness, dizziness, and a "drugged" feeling, which probably reflect the action of the drug. Other side effects include confusion, insomnia, euphoria, ataxia (balance problems), and visual changes. Zolpidem can cause withdrawal symptoms (muscle cramps, sweats, shaking, and seizures) when the drug is abruptly discontinued. Zolpidem can cause abnormal behavior with confusion, paradoxical insomnia or "complex sleep-related behaviors," which may include sleep-driving (driving with no memory of having done so). If these side effects occur, zolpidem should be discontinued.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Since Zolpidem is usually taken as needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. Never take this medication if you do not have a full 7 to 8 hours to sleep before being active again. Do not take extra medicine to make up a missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of Zolpidem can be fatal when it is taken together with other medications that can cause drowsiness.
Symptoms of Zolpidem overdose may include sleepiness, confusion, shallow breathing, feeling light-headed, fainting, or coma.
What should I avoid while taking Zolpidem?
Zolpidem can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. You may still feel sleepy the morning after taking the medication. Until you know how this medication will affect you during waking hours, be careful if you drive, operate machinery, pilot an airplane, or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Avoid taking Zolpidem during travel, such as to sleep on an airplane. You may be awakened before the effects of the medication have worn off. Amnesia (forgetfulness) is more common if you do not get a full 7 to 8 hours of sleep after taking Zolpidem.
Do not drink alcohol while you are taking Zolpidem. It can increase some of the side effects of Zolpidem, including drowsiness.
Zolpidem may cause a severe allergic reaction. Stop taking Zolpidem and get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using Zolpidem and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
Depressed mood, thoughts of hurting yourself;
Unusual thoughts, risk-taking behavior, decreased inhibitions, no fear of danger;
Anxiety, aggression, feeling restless or agitated;
Hallucinations, confusion, loss of personality.
Less serious Zolpidem side effects may include:
Daytime drowsiness, dizziness, weakness, feeling "drugged" or light-headed;
Lack of coordination;
Amnesia, forgetfulness;
Vivid or abnormal dreams;
Nausea, constipation;
Stuffy nose, sore throat;
Headache, muscle pain; or
Blurred vision.
PRECAUTIONS:
Before taking Zolpidem, tell your general practitioner if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: kidney disease, liver disease, mental/mood problems (e.g., depression), personal or family history of regular use/abuse of drugs/alcohol/other substances, lung/breathing problems (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-COPD, sleep apnea), a certain muscle disease (myasthenia gravis).This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages. Caution is advised when using this drug in children because they may be more likely to experience hallucinations, especially if they have attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).The elderly may be more sensitive to the effects of this drug, especially dizziness and excessive drowsiness. This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Infants born to mothers who have taken sedative/hypnotic drugs near the time of delivery may have undesirable effects such as withdrawal symptoms. Discuss the risks and benefits with your general practitioner. A small amount of this medication passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
DRUG INTERACTIONS:
Your healthcare professionals (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first. This drug should not be used with the following medication because very serious interactions may occur: sodium oxybate. If you are currently using this medication listed above, tell your general practitioner before starting Zolpidem. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: drugs affecting liver enzymes that remove Zolpidem from your body (such as azole antifungals-including ketoconazole, HIV protease inhibitors including ritonavir, rifamycins including rifampin).Tell your general practitioner if you also take drugs that cause drowsiness such as: anti-seizure drugs (e.g., carbamazepine), medicine for anxiety (e.g., alprazolam, diazepam), muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers (e.g., codeine), psychiatric medicines (e.g., chlorpromazine, trazodone).Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products) because they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness. Ask your practitioner about the safe use of those products. This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.
OVERDOSE:
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include slowed breathing or a deep sleep from which you cannot be awakened.
MISSED DOSE:
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember if it is still near bedtime and you have trouble falling asleep. If it is already the next day, resume your usual dosing schedule that night at bedtime. Do not double the dose to catch up.
|
