Sometimes you just can't sleep when you go to bed, right? You toss and turn, your head is spinning. Hours pass like this, but you don't feel any relief from sleep. For insomnia, doctors sometimes prescribe medication that helps you fall asleep for a short time. Zolpidem is one such medication. Today, we'll talk about this medication, especially the extended-release version. If you've been prescribed this, it's important to know these things.
What is this medicine called Zolpidem?
Simply put, Zolpidem is a drug that slows down your brain activity, helping you fall asleep faster and stay asleep throughout the night. It is usually prescribed by doctors for people who have been unable to sleep for several days, that is, for short-term insomnia . It is not recommended for long-term use. We will discuss the reasons for this later.
Things you need to tell your doctor before taking this medicine
Before prescribing Zolpidem to you, your doctor will need to know your complete medical history. This is because it can be dangerous to use this medication with certain medical conditions. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any of the conditions listed below.
| Do you have these conditions? | Why is it important to tell the doctor? |
|---|---|
| Having/having had depression or suicidal thoughts. | Zolpidem can sometimes make these conditions worse. |
| Having a history of alcohol or drug addiction. | This drug also has the potential to be addictive, so the risk is high. |
| Liver disease. | Because the liver's ability to remove this drug is impaired, the drug's effects may be increased. |
| Lung or breathing disease. | This medicine can slow down breathing even more. |
| Sleep apnea. | This is a very dangerous condition. Zolpidem can make this condition worse. |
| Myasthenia Gravis (a disease of muscle weakness). | This medicine can make the muscles weaker. |
| Sleepwalking, eating, and driving. | Zolpidem increases the risk of these types of behaviors. |
| Being pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding. | Because this medicine can affect the baby, medical advice is essential. |
How exactly do I use this medicine?
It is very important to use the exact dosage and exactly as the doctor recommends.
- Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water.
- Most importantly: Do not break, crush, or chew this pill. Because it is an 'Extended-Release' type, it is designed to release the medicine into the body gradually. If you break it, all the medicine can go into the body at once and cause dangerous side effects.
- The best time to take the medicine is on an empty stomach, right before going to bed. Taking it on a full stomach after eating may reduce the effectiveness of the medicine.
- Do not take more than the amount prescribed by your doctor.
- If you stop taking this medicine suddenly after a few weeks, you may experience withdrawal symptoms. Therefore, never stop taking the medicine on your own. If you do stop, do so under the advice of your doctor, gradually reducing the dose.
What if I overdose?
If you think you have taken more medicine than you think, go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU) immediately. Or call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital for advice.
Other things that may interact with this medicine
Zolpidem is a drug that can interact with other medications, alcohol, and some dietary supplements. Taking them together can cause serious side effects, such as excessive sleepiness and difficulty breathing.
Especially avoid taking Zolpidem with:
- Alcohol: Never take alcohol with Zolpidem. The combination of the two can be dangerous, even stopping breathing.
- Some medicines for colds, coughs, and allergies (antihistamines).
- Other medications for mental calm, depression, and anxiety.
- Painkillers (especially narcotics).
- Some medications for fungal infections (e.g. Ketoconazole).
- Herbal supplements that are said to help you sleep, such as valerian root or kava kava.
This list is not complete. Therefore, tell your doctor about all medications you take, including vitamins and herbal remedies.
Things to be careful about when taking medicine
Strange things you do in your sleep
This is the most dangerous risk of Zolpidem. Some people, after taking this medication, wake up and do various things. For example:
- Sleep-driving
- Cooking and eating while sleeping
- Making phone calls in your sleep
- Sleepwalking
The worst part is that they don't remember anything they did the next morning. If this happens to you, or to someone in your family, stop using the medicine immediately and talk to your doctor.
The sleepiness of the past day
After taking Zolpidem, you should get at least 7-8 hours of full sleep . If you don't, your alertness and reaction time may be reduced, even if you feel fully awake the next morning. Therefore, do not do anything that requires alertness, such as driving or operating machinery, the day after taking Zolpidem.
Mental changes
Watch for unusual changes in your mood or behavior while taking this medicine. For example, feeling anxious, depressed, or having thoughts of suicide. If you or your family notice any of these things, tell your doctor right away.
Possible side effects
Like any medication, Zolpidem can cause side effects. Some are serious, while others are common.
| Classification of side effects | |
|---|---|
| Serious side effects that should be reported to your doctor immediately | |
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the lips, face, tongue or throat. |
| Central nervous system depression (CNS depression) | Slow or shallow breathing, extreme dizziness, loss of consciousness, difficulty waking up. |
| Mental and behavioral changes | Anxiety, depression, thoughts of harming yourself, hallucinations. |
| Abnormal sleep behaviors | Activities you don't remember, such as sleepwalking, eating, or driving. |
| Usually nothing to worry about (but if it persists, tell your doctor) | |
| Next-day drowsiness | Drowsiness the day after use |
| Dizziness | Dizziness |
| Headache | Headache |
| Diarrhea | Diarrhea |
How to keep medicine safe?
- Keep it safe, out of the reach of children and pets.
- This medicine has the potential to be addictive, so protect it from theft.
- Never share this medicine with anyone else. Even if it works for you, it can be dangerous for someone else. Selling or giving this medicine to others is illegal and dangerous.
- If you have unused pills left over, mix them with something like coffee grounds or cat litter, put them in a tightly sealed container, and throw them in the trash.
Take-Home Message
- You should take the Zolpidem pill exactly as the doctor told you, right before bed.
- Never break, crush, or chew the tablet. Swallow it whole.
- Completely stop drinking alcohol while taking this medication.
- Be aware of unusual sleep behaviors (eating, walking) or excessive sleepiness the next day. If this happens, tell your doctor immediately.
- Tell your doctor about all other medications you take and any illnesses you have.
- This medicine is for you only. Keep it safe and away from others.
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