<b><font color = "red">AMBIEN IS A PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION </font></b> AMBIEN (zolpidem) can be very effective in the short-term treatment of insomnia. While natural sleep is best, AMBIEN (zolpidem) can help you fall asleep, stay asleep, and not awaken prematurely. AMBIEN (zolpidem) works with a natural brain chemical called GABA. GABA is one of at least 18 major brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters control communication among neighboring brain cells by either increasing or decreasing their electrical activity. Once released from a brain cell, it is hypothesized that GABA dampens the electrical activity of neighboring brain cells and that AMBIEN (zolpidem)works with GABA to further reduce the possibility of certain brain cells becoming electrically active. AMBIEN (zolpidem) is not chemically related to many older sleep drugs that work with GABA. Laboratory studies have shown that unlike these older sleep drugs, AMBIEN (zolpidem) targets a specific area of the brain cell. This specific targeting may result in fewer side effects. If taken as prescribed, AMBIEN(zolpidem) can give you the good night's sleep your body demands without lingering drowsiness the following day.
Ambien side effects in controlled clinical trials were drowsiness (2%), dizziness (1%), and diarrhea (1%). Taking alcohol during medication might trigger Ambien side effects. People taking sleep medicines have some risk of becoming dependent on the medicine. When you first start taking AMBIEN, use extreme care while doing anything that requires complete alertness until you know how you will react to this medication.