Don't you sometimes have trouble sleeping at night? After going to bed, you toss and turn for hours, thinking about things, but you can't sleep. This is a problem that many of us have. In medicine, we call this insomnia. So, as a solution to this, doctors sometimes prescribe a medicine to be used for a short time. One such medicine is Zolpidem. The specialty of this is that it is a tablet that needs to be placed under the tongue and dissolved. Let's talk about this medicine today.
What is this medicine called Zolpidem?
Simply put, Zolpidem is a medication that helps you fall asleep quickly and stay asleep throughout the night. It is usually prescribed by a doctor for short-term use only . That is, for a period of 7 to 10 days. It is not recommended for long-term use. This medication works by slowing down your brain activity, calming you down, and helping you fall asleep.
This medicine may come under different brand names in Sri Lanka. `(Edluar)` and `(Intermezzo)` are two internationally known brand names of this medicine. Also check if the medicine your doctor has prescribed has this name.
Things you need to tell your doctor before taking this medicine
This is very important. Before your doctor prescribes this medicine for you, you should tell him a complete description of your health condition. Because using this medicine with some medical conditions can be dangerous.
| Tell us immediately if you have these conditions. |
|---|
| If you have depression or other mental illnesses. |
| If you have a history of drug or alcohol addiction. |
| If you are a regular drinker. |
| If you have liver disease. |
| If you have lung disease or breathing difficulties (e.g. asthma). |
| If you have myasthenia gravis, a disease that weakens the nerves and muscles. |
| If you have sleep apnea along with snoring. |
| If you have previously had a habit of taking sleeping pills, sleepwalking, eating, or driving. |
| If you have thought about ending your life and have attempted it (you or a family member). |
| If you have an allergic reaction to zolpidem or other medicines, foods, or dyes. |
| If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding. |
How do I use this medicine exactly?
This is the special thing about this medicine. It's not a pill that you swallow with water like a regular pill.
1. Place the tablet under your tongue and let it dissolve completely . Do not swallow it or drink it with water. The best way to get the most benefit from it is to allow it to be absorbed by the body under the tongue.
2. Take on an empty stomach: For best results, take this medicine on an empty stomach. That is, at least 2 hours after eating dinner.
3. Take it before bed: You should take this after you go to bed and get ready for sleep. Don't watch TV or go to work after taking the medicine. Because you will start to feel sleepy as soon as you take the medicine.
4. Get 7-8 hours of sleep: If you take this medicine, you should definitely get at least 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep . Otherwise, if you take this at midnight, even though you have to wake up at 4 am, you may feel groggy and intoxicated the next morning.
5. Don't stop suddenly: Don't stop taking this medicine suddenly without your doctor's advice. If you stop taking it for several weeks in a row, you may experience withdrawal symptoms. Therefore, you should gradually reduce the dose as your doctor tells you to.
Very important: This medicine is for you only. Do not give it to your insomniac friend. This is a medicine that should only be taken under the supervision of a doctor.
Special advice for those over 65 years of age
If you are over 65 years old, your body reacts more to this medicine. This means you are more likely to get drowsy and dizzy. Therefore, your doctor will prescribe a lower dose for you than for a normal person.
What to do if you overdose?
If you have any suspicion that you have taken more medicine than you think, immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital . Their telephone number is 0112 686 143. Or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU) as soon as possible. Don't waste time.
Other things that may interact with this medicine (Interactions)
Zolpidem is a drug that can interact with other medications, including alcohol. Taking these together can have dangerous effects.
| Substances that may cause problems | Description |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | Do not take alcohol with this medication for any reason. It can cause excessive drowsiness, confusion, and even stop breathing. |
| Other sleeping pills or anxiety medications | This can dangerously increase the effectiveness of the medication. |
| Some medications for depression | Ex: amitriptyline, fluoxetine, sertraline |
| Allergy, cough, and cold medications (Antihistamines) | These cause drowsiness, which is further increased when taken with Zolpidem. |
| Narcotics | Strong painkillers like Tramadol and Morphine. |
| Dietary supplements | Things like valerian and kava kava that are said to help with sleep. |
This list is not complete. Therefore, tell your doctor about all medications you are taking (including vitamins and traditional medicines) .
The most dangerous thing to be careful about when taking this medicine!
This is the most serious risk of this drug.
Some people, after taking this medicine, can wake up and do things they don't remember. For example, they can sleep-drive, cook, talk on the phone , or have sex. They don't remember any of this the next morning.
This can be serious. If you notice this happening to you, stop taking the medicine immediately and talk to your doctor .
Also, even if you feel fully awake the next morning, your reaction time may be reduced. Therefore, do not do anything that requires a lot of attention, such as driving, working at heights, or operating machinery, the next morning after taking this medicine.
Side effects that may occur due to medication
| Serious side effects that should be reported to the doctor immediately | |
|---|---|
| Allergies | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue. |
| Dementia | Hallucinations, agitation, confusion. |
| Behavioral changes | Increased depression, suicidal thoughts, memory loss. |
| Central nervous system depression (CNS depression) | Slow breathing, excessive sleepiness, difficulty waking up. |
| Activities done in sleep | Sleepwalking, eating, and driving without you remembering. |
| Common side effects that you should tell your doctor if they persist | |
| Drowsiness the next day | It may be caused by the effects of the medication. |
| Dizziness | It can occur immediately after taking the medicine or in the morning. |
| Headache | |
| Diarrhea | |
Take-Home Message
- Zolpidem is a medication that should only be taken for a short period of time under the advice of a doctor.
- This is a medicine that should be placed under the tongue and allowed to dissolve. Do not swallow with water.
- Make sure to get 7-8 hours of sleep after taking the medicine.
- Completely avoid drinking alcohol and driving on the days you take the medication and the day after taking it.
- If you notice any unusual behavior, such as sleepwalking, stop taking the medication immediately and inform your doctor.
- Keep this medicine in a safe place out of reach of children and pets . This is a medicine that can be misused.
👩🏽⚕️ Additional questions (FAQs)
💬 Is Zolpidem Sublingual Tablet (Edluar, Intermezzo) a regular pill?
No! This is not a pill that you swallow with water in your usual way! This is a very powerful and fast-acting (Sedative-hypnotic) sleeping pill for 'Insomnia' patients. The special thing is that this pill is kept 'under your tongue' (Sublingual) without swallowing it. This is mostly used for those who are struggling to sleep and those who wake up in the middle of the night and can't fall back to sleep (Middle-of-the-night insomnia) to provide them with a quick and sound sleep.
💬 How does taking a sublingual pill help you fall asleep better than regular pills?
It works like magic! When you take a regular pill, it takes more than half an hour to get digested in the stomach and then to the liver to work. But when you place this pill under the tongue, it is absorbed directly into the body's bloodstream (brain) through the delicate blood vessels under the tongue (Sublingual mucosa). It then attacks the brain's (GABA-A Receptors), calms the brain, and gives the patient a deep sleep in 5-10 minutes!
💬 Is it true that when you take this medicine (Zolpidem), you drive/eat while asleep (sleepwalking)?
Yes! This is the most dangerous and surprising side effect in the world (Complex Sleep Behaviors / Black Box Warning)! After drinking this, some people wake up completely from sleep (without memory) and cook food, talk on the phone, start the car in their sleep and drive (Sleep-driving). But they don't remember anything the next morning! Also, if you don't get at least a '4 hour' long sleep after taking this pill (e.g. Intermezzo), there is a high chance of a car accident in the morning.
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