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Ambien (Zolpidem Tartrate) - Summary

 



AMBIEN SUMMARY

Ambien (zolpidem tartrate), is a non-benzodiazepine hypnotic of the imidazopyridine class and is available in 5-mg and 10-mg strength tablets for oral administration.

Ambien (zolpidem tartrate) is indicated for the short-term treatment of insomnia. Ambien has been shown to decrease sleep latency and increase the duration of sleep for up to 35 days in controlled clinical studies ( Clinical Pharmacology: Controlled trials supporting safety and efficacy).

Hypnotics should generally be limited to 7 to 10 days of use, and reevaluation of the patient is recommended if they are to be taken for more than 2 to 3 weeks. Ambien should not be prescribed in quantities exceeding a 1-month supply (see Warnings).


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NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Media Articles Related to Ambien (Zolpidem)

Transcept Pharmaceuticals Receives Complete Response Letter From FDA On Intermezzo(R) New Drug Application
Source: Sleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia News From Medical News Today [2009.10.30]
Transcept Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: TSPT) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Complete Response Letter regarding the New Drug Application (NDA) for Intermezzo® (zolpidem tartrate sublingual tablet). The NDA, submitted by Transcept in September 2008, seeks approval to market Intermezzo® for use as-needed for the treatment of insomnia when a middle of the night awakening is followed by difficulty returning to sleep.

Stress, Bad Bedtime Habits Cause Insomnia
Source: MedicineNet Sleep Aids And Stimulants Specialty [2009.07.27]
Title: Stress, Bad Bedtime Habits Cause Insomnia
Category: Health News
Created: 7/25/2009 7:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 7/27/2009

Pills Plus Psychotherapy Can Beat Insomnia
Source: MedicineNet Sleep Aids And Stimulants Specialty [2009.05.20]
Title: Pills Plus Psychotherapy Can Beat Insomnia
Category: Health News
Created: 5/20/2009 2:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/20/2009

Insomnia
Source: MedicineNet Biorhythms Specialty [2009.03.03]
Title: Insomnia
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 6/6/2005
Last Editorial Review: 3/3/2009

Insomnia Treatment: Sleep Aids and Stimulants
Source: MedicineNet Narcolepsy Specialty [2009.01.14]
Title: Insomnia Treatment: Sleep Aids and Stimulants
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 9/24/1999 7:06:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 1/14/2009

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Published Studies Related to Ambien (Zolpidem)

Effects on sleep stages and microarchitecture of caffeine and its combination with zolpidem or trazodone in healthy volunteers. [2009.07]
Caffeine is the world's most popular stimulant and is known to disrupt sleep... These data suggest that caffeine mimics some, but not all of the sleep disruption seen in insomnia and that its disruptive effects are differentially attenuated by the actions of sleep-promoting compounds with distinct mechanisms of action.

Zolpidem extended-release improves sleep and next-day symptoms in comorbid insomnia and generalized anxiety disorder. [2009.06]
A multicenter, double-blind, parallel-group study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of zolpidem extended-release coadministered with escitalopram in patients with insomnia and comorbid generalized anxiety disorder. Patients (N = 383) received open-label escitalopram 10 mg/d and were randomized to either adjunct zolpidem extended-release 12.5 mg or placebo...

Short-term clarithromycin administration impairs clearance and enhances pharmacodynamic effects of trazodone but not of zolpidem. [2009.06]
The kinetic and dynamic interactions of 5 mg zolpidem and 50 mg trazodone with 500 mg clarithromycin (4 doses given over 32 h) were investigated in a 5-way double crossover study with 10 healthy volunteers. The five treatment conditions were: placebo + placebo; zolpidem + placebo; zolpidem + clarithromycin; trazodone + placebo; and trazodone + clarithromycin.

Sublingual zolpidem is more effective than oral zolpidem in initiating early onset of sleep in the post-nap model of transient insomnia: a polysomnographic study. [2009.06]
OBJECTIVE: OX22 is zolpidem formulated for sublingual administration. The primary objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of single doses of sublingual zolpidem (5 and 10mg) versus oral zolpidem (10mg), with regard to latency to persistent sleep (LPS), in a post-nap model of insomnia... CONCLUSION: The present results show that OX22, a sublingual formulation of zolpidem, has a significant earlier sleep initiation as compared to an equivalent dose of oral zolpidem in healthy volunteers in a post-nap model of insomnia.

Incidence of clinically significant responses to zolpidem among patients with disorders of consciousness: a preliminary placebo controlled trial. [2009.05]
OBJECTIVES: The common hypnotic, zolpidem, has been reported to temporarily restore consciousness to individuals in the chronic vegetative state. In drug responders, repeated dosing appears to maintain consciousness. The frequency of such responses, however, is unknown and is important both to guide clinical use and to plan further research on the mechanisms underlying drug response. The objectives of this study were to obtain an estimate of the frequency of clinically significant responses among individuals with disorders of consciousness, to determine whether less obvious drug responses are present among "nonresponders," and to identify clinical features characteristic of zolpidem responders... CONCLUSION: These results confirm that clinically significant responses to zolpidem among individuals with disorders of consciousness do occur in a minority of patients and can be replicated. Failure to find a trend toward improved performance on zolpidem among nonresponders suggests a bimodal rather than a graded response to the drug. The fact that only one drug responder was identified in this small study prevents assessment of features characteristic of drug responders.

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Clinical Trials Related to Ambien (Zolpidem)

Xyrem(Sodium Oxybate) and Ambien(Zolpidem Tartrate) in the Treatment of Chronic Insomnia. [Active, not recruiting]
The primary purpose of the study is to evaluate the long term efficacy of sodium oxybate (Xyrem®) and zolpidem tartrate (Ambien®) in treating chronic insomnia. We will compare the efficacy of sodium oxybate with zolpidem tartrate (Ambien®), and compare the efficacy of each of these two medications with placebos.

Bioequivalence Study of Zolpidem Tartrate Tablets and Ambien Under Fasting Conditions [Completed]

A Study to Assess Facilitation of the Discontinuation of Zolpidem by Ramelteon Administration in Subjects With Chronic Insomnia [Active, not recruiting]
This study is designed to assess whether administration of ramelteon will facilitate the discontinuation of zolpidem in subjects with chronic insomnia. Subjects will receive placebo or ramelteon, in addition to decreasing doses of zolpidem, over the course of the study. At the end of the study, ramelteon will be compared with placebo with respect to the number of subjects who no longer require zolpidem therapy.

Evaluation of the Hypnotic Properties of Zolpidem-MR 12.5 mg and Zolpidem 10 mg Marketed Product Compared to Placebo in Patients With Primary Insomnia [Completed]
The primary objective is to evaluate the hypnotic efficacy of zolpidem-MR (modified release) 12. 5 mg and zolpidem 10 mg marketed product in comparison with placebo in patients with primary insomnia and sleep maintenance difficulties, using polysomnography (PSG) recordings and patient sleep questionnaires.

The secondary objective is to evaluate the clinical safety and tolerability of zolpidem-MR 12. 5 mg and zolpidem 10 mg marketed product in comparison with placebo.

Fed Bioequivalence Study of Zolpidem Tartrate Tablets and Ambien Tablets [Completed]

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PATIENT REVIEWS / RATINGS / COMMENTS

Based on a total of 32 ratings/reviews, Ambien has an overall score of 7.12. The effectiveness score is 7.88 and the side effect score is 7.44. The scores are on ten point scale: 10 - best, 1 - worst. Below are selected reviews: the highest, the median and the lowest rated.
 

Ambien review by 45 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   insomnia
Dosage & duration:   10 mg taken one to two times a week for the period of ongoing
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Occasionally I have a difficult time falling asleep and sleeping through the night. When I take this medicine I fall asleep within 15 or so minutes and am able to sleep 7 or 8 hours. My sleep seems undisturbed and uneventful. When I wake up in the morning I awake completely alert and energized.
Side effects:   I did not experience any treatment side effects.
Comments:   I have been taking this medication for occasional insomnia for over one year now. I will continue to take this medication to treat my insomnia for as long as my physician prescribes it for me.

 

Ambien review by 59 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   inability to fall asleep easily
Dosage & duration:   5mg taken 2-3 times week for the period of 1 yr
Other conditions:   fibromyalgia
Other drugs taken:   wellbutrin
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   I have a background of worry and stress-related symptoms where I am unable to wind down at the end of the day. With this drug I am able to fall asleep within 30 minutes
Side effects:   Depending on how late I go to bed, and how early I get up in the morning, sometimes would wake up groggy. I would need at least 7-8 hours of sleep to not get groggy.
Comments:   1/2 of a 10 mg pill as needed. Purposely would take it sparingly due to any addictive issues. Some doctors believe it is truly addictive; others not so. But I believe in as few drugs as possible in my life. I am also very afraid of any type of addiction. Therefore, I opt to split the pill in half and only take it 2-3 times a week.

 

Ambien review by 28 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Ineffective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   insomnia
Dosage & duration:   10mg taken 1 pill for the period of 1 before bedtime
Other conditions:   depression anxeity
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   none
Side effects:   none
Comments:   i went to my doctor because i was getting only 4 hours of sleep a night for the past 6 days, so he gives me one pill, yes that's right just one 10mg pill. anyways i took it at 10pm and its now 4:30 in the morning and i still cant sleep which is why im here to review this. and i have to been into work by 6am aaaaarrrgh!

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Page last updated: 2009-10-30

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