Zolpidem is used to treat insomnia (trouble sleeping). It belongs to the group of medicines called central nervous system (CNS) depressants, which slows down the nervous system. Zolpidem will help you get to sleep faster and sleep throughout the night. In most cases, sleep medicines should only be used for short periods of time, such as 1 or 2 days, and for no longer than 1 or 2 weeks.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. If too much is taken, it may become habit-forming (causing mental or physical dependence).

This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Take zolpidem just before going to bed, when you are ready to go to sleep or when you are having trouble falling asleep. This medicine works very quickly to put you to sleep.

Swallow the extended-release tablet whole. Do not divide, crush, or chew it.

Do not take this medicine when your schedule does not permit you to get a full nights sleep 7 to 8 hours. If you must wake up before this, you may continue to feel drowsy and may experience memory problems, because the effects of the medicine have not had time to wear off.

Take this medicine on an empty stomach.

Do not take this medicine if you have drank alcohol the same evening or just before bedtime.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common

Chest pain

confusion about identity, place, and time

discouragement

false or unusual sense of well-being

fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse

feeling sad or empty

fever

general feeling of discomfort or illness

irritability

lack of appetite

lightheadedness

loss of interest or pleasure

shakiness and unsteady walk

tiredness

trouble concentrating

trouble sleeping

unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination

unusual tiredness or weakness

Rare

Anxiety

attack, assault, or force

black, tarry stools

bladder pain

bloody or cloudy urine

burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings

change in walking and balance

chills

cold sweats

cough

crying

decreased awareness or responsiveness

deep or fast breathing with dizziness

delusions of persecution, mistrust, suspiciousness, or combativeness

difficult, burning, or painful urination

difficulty swallowing

dizziness

dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from lying or sitting position

dry mouth

fainting

false beliefs that cannot be changed by facts

feeling of unreality

fever

frequent urge to urinate

hives, itching, or skin rash

irregular heartbeat

irritability

lack of feeling or emotion

light-colored stools

lower back or side pain

nausea

numbness of the feet, hands, and around the mouth

pale skin

poor insight and judgment

problems with memory or speech

puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue

quick to react or overreact emotionally

rapidly changing moods

restlessness

seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there

sense of detachment from self or body

severe sleepiness

sore throat

sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth

stomach pain

swollen glands

thoughts of killing oneself or changes in behavior

tightness in the chest

trouble recognizing objects

trouble thinking and planning

trouble walking

troubled breathing with exertion

uncaring

unusual bleeding or bruising

vomiting

yellow eyes or skin

unease or dissatisfaction with life

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Drowsiness

headache

muscle aches

sleepiness or unusual drowsiness

stuffy or runny nose

Less common

Back pain

being forgetful

belching

body aches or pain

congestion

diarrhea

difficulty having a bowel movement

difficulty with moving

double vision

feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings

heartburn

hoarseness

indigestion

longer or heavier menstrual periods

loss of memory

muscle pain or stiffness

pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones

seeing double

sensation of spinning

stomach discomfort

tender, swollen glands in the neck

unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness, or feeling of sluggishness

voice changes

Rare

Bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste

blemishes on the skin

blindness

blurred vision

breast pain

change in near or distance vision

change in taste

changes in patterns and rhythms of speech

decreased interest in sexual intercourse

difficulty in focusing the eyes

eye pain

feeling of warmth

frequent urge to defecate

inability to have or keep an erection

increased appetite

increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight

increased sweating

itching of the vagina or genital area

lack or loss of strength

loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance

pain during sexual intercourse

paleness of the skin

pimples

redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest

redness or other discoloration of the skin

severe sunburn

slurred speech

stomach upset

straining while passing stool

tearing

thick, white vaginal discharge with no odor or with a mild odor

weight loss

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects.

Using this medicine during the last three months of pregnancy can harm your newborn baby. Check with your doctor right away if your baby has pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin, difficult or troubled breathing, excessive sleepiness, or limpness. Tell your doctor right away if you are pregnant or if you think you have become pregnant while using this medicine.

Zolpidem may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis and angioedema, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, hives, trouble breathing or swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, mouth, or throat while you are using this medicine.

If you think you need to take zolpidem for more than 7 to 10 days, be sure to discuss it with your doctor. Insomnia that lasts longer than this may be a sign of another medical problem.

This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that make you drowsy or less alert). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for hay fever, other allergies, or colds, sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine, prescription pain medicine or narcotics, medicine for seizures or barbiturates, muscle relaxants, or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. Check with your doctor before taking any of the above while you are using this medicine.

This medicine may cause some people, especially older persons, to become drowsy, dizzy, lightheaded, clumsy or unsteady, or less alert than they are normally, which may lead to falls. Even though zolpidem is taken at bedtime, it may cause some people to feel drowsy or less alert on arising. Also, this medicine may cause double vision or other vision problems, or severe injuries (eg, hip fractures, severe bleeding in the head). Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.

If you develop any unusual and strange thoughts or behavior while you are using zolpidem, be sure to discuss it with your doctor. Some changes that have occurred in people using this medicine are like those seen in people who drink alcohol and then act in a manner that is not normal. Other changes may be more unusual and extreme, such as confusion, worsening of depression, hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there), suicidal thoughts, and unusual excitement, nervousness, or irritability.

This medicine may cause you to do things while you are still asleep that you may not remember the next morning. It is possible you could drive a car, sleepwalk, have sex, make phone calls, or prepare and eat food while you are asleep or not fully awake. Tell your doctor right away if you learn that any of these has happened.

Do not change your dose or stop using it without first checking with your doctor. Your doctor may want you to gradually reduce the amount you are using before stopping completely. Stopping this medicine suddenly may cause withdrawal side effects.

If you think you or someone else may have taken an overdose of this medicine, get emergency help at once. Taking an overdose of zolpidem or taking alcohol or other CNS depressants with zolpidem may lead to serious breathing problems and unconsciousness. Some signs of an overdose include: severe drowsiness, severe nausea or vomiting, staggering, and troubled breathing.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal (eg, St. John's wort) or vitamin supplements.