Ambien CR
- Generic Name: zolpidem tartrate
- Brand Name: Ambien CR
- Drug Class:
Ambien CR(Zolpidem Tartrate) side effects drug center
Ambien CR Side Effects Center
What Is Ambien CR?
Ambien CR (zolpidem tartrate) is a sedative-hypnotic drug used to treat patients with insomnia and other problems with sleeping like maintaining sleep. The CR means extended release. Ambien CR is available in generic form.
What Are Side Effects of Ambien CR?
Common side effects of Ambien CR include:
- daytime drowsiness,
- headache,
- dizziness,
- weakness,
- feeling "drugged,"
- lightheadedness,
- tired feeling,
- loss of coordination,
- stuffy nose,
- dry mouth,
- nose or throat irritation,
- nausea,
- constipation,
- diarrhea,
- upset stomach,
- muscle pain,
- depression, and
- unusual thinking, including thoughts of self-injury, anxiety, aggression, and risk-taking.
Tell your doctor if you have any infrequent but severe side effects of Ambien CR including:
- allergic reactions,
- chest pain,
- irregular heartbeats,
- dementia,
- blood clots, and
- skin reactions.
Unusual and dangerous "sleep driving" has occurred with a few patients.
Dosage for Ambien CR
The recommended initial dose of Ambien CR is 6.25 mg for women and either 6.25 or 12.5 mg for men, taken only once per night immediately before bedtime with at least 7-8 hours remaining before the planned time of awakening.
What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Ambien CR?
Ambien CR may interact with alcohol, other medicines that make you sleepy or slow your breathing (such as cold medicines, pain medications, muscle relaxants, and medicines for depression, anxiety, or seizures), chlorpromazine, itraconazole, ketoconazole, rifampin, or antidepressants. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.
Ambien CR During Pregnancy or Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using Ambien CR. It is unknown if Ambien CR will harm a fetus. Ambien CR can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.
Additional Information
Our Ambien CR Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.
Ambien CR Consumer Information
Zolpidem may cause a severe allergic reaction. Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; nausea and vomiting; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Some people using this medicine have engaged in activity while not fully awake and later had no memory of it. This may include walking, driving, or making phone calls. If this happens to you, stop taking zolpidem and call your doctor right away.
Serious injury or death could occur if you walk or drive while you are not fully awake.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- anxiety, depression, aggression, agitation;
- confusion, hallucinations (hearing or seeing things);
- memory problems, unusual thoughts or behavior;
- thoughts of hurting yourself; or
- feeling like you might pass out.
Common side effects may include:
- daytime drowsiness, dizziness, feeling "drugged" or light-headed;
- headache;
- diarrhea; or
- feeling tired.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Read the entire detailed patient monograph for Ambien CR (Zolpidem Tartrate)
Ambien CR Professional Information
SIDE EFFECTS
The following serious adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the labeling:
- CNS-depressant effects and next-day impairment [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
- Serious anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
- Abnormal thinking and behavior changes, and complex behaviors [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
- Withdrawal effects [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
Clinical Trials Experience
Associated With Discontinuation Of Treatment
In 3-week clinical trials in adults and elderly patients ( > 65 years), 3.5% (7/201) patients receiving AMBIEN CR 6.25 or 12.5 mg discontinued treatment due to an adverse reaction as compared to 0.9% (2/216) of patients on placebo. The reaction most commonly associated with discontinuation in patients treated with AMBIEN CR was somnolence (1%).
In a 6-month study in adult patients (18-64 years of age), 8.5% (57/669) of patients receiving AMBIEN CR 12.5 mg as compared to 4.6% on placebo (16/349) discontinued treatment due to an adverse reaction. Reactions most commonly associated with discontinuation of AMBIEN CR included anxiety (anxiety, restlessness or agitation) reported in 1.5% (10/669) of patients as compared to 0.3% (1/349) of patients on placebo, and depression (depression, major depression or depressed mood) reported in 1.5% (10/669) of patients as compared to 0.3% (1/349) of patients on placebo.
Data from a clinical study in which selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor-(SSRI-) treated patients were given zolpidem revealed that four of the seven discontinuations during double-blind treatment with zolpidem (n=95) were associated with impaired concentration, continuing or aggravated depression, and manic reaction; one patient treated with placebo (n =97) was discontinued after an attempted suicide.
Most Commonly Observed Adverse Reactions In Controlled Trials
During treatment with AMBIEN CR in adults and elderly at daily doses of 12.5 mg and 6.25 mg, respectively, each for three weeks, the most commonly observed adverse reactions associated with the use of AMBIEN CR were headache, next-day somnolence, and dizziness.
In the 6-month trial evaluating AMBIEN CR 12.5 mg, the adverse reaction profile was consistent with that reported in short-term trials, except for a higher incidence of anxiety (6.3% for AMBIEN CR versus 2.6% for placebo).
Adverse Reactions Observed At An Incidence Of ≥ 1% In Controlled Trials
The following tables enumerate treatment-emergent adverse reaction frequencies that were observed at an incidence equal to 1% or greater among patients with insomnia who received AMBIEN CR in placebo-controlled trials. Events reported by investigators were classified utilizing the MedDRA dictionary for the purpose of establishing event frequencies. The prescriber should be aware that these figures cannot be used to predict the incidence of side effects in the course of usual medical practice, in which patient characteristics and other factors differ from those that prevailed in these clinical trials. Similarly, the cited frequencies cannot be compared with figures obtained from other clinical investigators involving related drug products and uses, since each group of drug trials is conducted under a different set of conditions. However, the cited figures provide the physician with a basis for estimating the relative contribution of drug and nondrug factors to the incidence of side effects in the population studied.
The following tables were derived from results of two placebo-controlled efficacy trials involving AMBIEN CR. These trials involved patients with primary insomnia who were treated for 3 weeks with AMBIEN CR at doses of 12.5 mg (Table 1) or 6.25 mg (Table 2), respectively. The tables include only adverse reactions occurring at an incidence of at least 1% for AMBIEN CR patients and with an incidence greater than that seen in the placebo patients.
Table 1: Incidences of Treatment-Emergent Adverse
Reactions in a 3-Week Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial in Adults (percentage
of patients reporting)
| Body System/ Adverse Reaction * |
AMBIEN CR 12.5 mg (N = 102) |
Placebo (N = 110) |
| Infections and infestations | ||
| Influenza | 3 | 0 |
| Gastroenteritis | 1 | 0 |
| Labyrinthitis | 1 | 0 |
| Metabolism and nutrition disorders | ||
| Appetite disorder | 1 | 0 |
| Psychiatric disorders | ||
| Hallucinations ** | 4 | 0 |
| Disorientation | 3 | 2 |
| Anxiety | 2 | 0 |
| Depression | 2 | 0 |
| Psychomotor retardation | 2 | 0 |
| Binge eating | 1 | 0 |
| Depersonalization | 1 | 0 |
| Disinhibition | 1 | 0 |
| Euphoric mood | 1 | 0 |
| Mood swings | 1 | 0 |
| Stress symptoms | 1 | 0 |
| Nervous system disorders | ||
| Headache | 19 | 16 |
| Somnolence | 15 | 2 |
| Dizziness | 12 | 5 |
| Memory disorders *** | 3 | 0 |
| Balance disorder | 2 | 0 |
| Disturbance in attention | 2 | 0 |
| Hypoesthesia | 2 | 1 |
| Ataxia | 1 | 0 |
| Paresthesia | 1 | 0 |
| Eye disorders | ||
| Visual disturbance | 3 | 0 |
| Eye redness | 2 | 0 |
| Vision blurred | 2 | 1 |
| Altered visual depth perception | 1 | 0 |
| Asthenopia | 1 | 0 |
| Ear and labyrinth disorders | ||
| Vertigo | 2 | 0 |
| Tinnitus | 1 | 0 |
| Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders | ||
| Throat irritation | 1 | 0 |
| Gastrointestinal disorders | ||
| Nausea | 7 | 4 |
| Constipation | 2 | 0 |
| Abdominal discomfort | 1 | 0 |
| Abdominal tenderness | 1 | 0 |
| Frequent bowel movements | 1 | 0 |
| Gastroesophageal reflux disease | 1 | 0 |
| Vomiting | 1 | 0 |
| Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | ||
| Rash | 1 | 0 |
| Skin wrinkling | 1 | 0 |
| Urticaria | 1 | 0 |
| Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders | ||
| Back pain | 4 | 3 |
| Myalgia | 4 | 0 |
| Neck pain | 1 | 0 |
| Reproductive system and breast disorders | ||
| Menorrhagia | 1 | 0 |
| General disorders and administration site conditions | ||
| Fatigue | 3 | 2 |
| Asthenia | 1 | 0 |
| Chest discomfort | 1 | 0 |
| Investigations | ||
| Blood pressure increased | 1 | 0 |
| Body temperature increased | 1 | 0 |
| Injury, poisoning and procedural complications | ||
| Contusion | 1 | 0 |
| Social circumstances | ||
| Exposure to poisonous plant | 1 | 0 |
| *Reactions reported by at least
1% of patients treated with AMBIEN CR and at greater frequency than in the
placebo group. **Hallucinations included hallucinations NOS as well as visual and hypnogogic hallucinations. ***Memory disorders include: memory impairment, amnesia, anterograde amnesia. |
||
Table 2: Incidences of Treatment-Emergent Adverse
Reactions in a 3-Week Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial in Elderly (percentage
of patients reporting)
| Body System/ Adverse Reaction * |
AMBIEN CR 6.25 mg (N=99) |
Placebo (N=106) |
| Infections and infestations | ||
| Nasopharyngitis | 6 | 4 |
| Lower respiratory tract infection | 1 | 0 |
| Otitis externa | 1 | 0 |
| Upper respiratory tract infection | 1 | 0 |
| Psychiatric disorders | ||
| Anxiety | 3 | 2 |
| Psychomotor retardation | 2 | 0 |
| Apathy | 1 | 0 |
| Depressed mood | 1 | 0 |
| Nervous system disorders | ||
| Headache | 14 | 11 |
| Dizziness | 8 | 3 |
| Somnolence | 6 | 5 |
| Burning sensation | 1 | 0 |
| Dizziness postural | 1 | 0 |
| Memory disorders ** | 1 | 0 |
| Muscle contractions involuntary | 1 | 0 |
| Paresthesia | 1 | 0 |
| Tremor | 1 | 0 |
| Cardiac disorders | ||
| Palpitations | 2 | 0 |
| Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders | ||
| Dry throat | 1 | 0 |
| Gastrointestinal disorders | ||
| Flatulence | 1 | 0 |
| Vomiting | 1 | 0 |
| Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | ||
| Rash | 1 | 0 |
| Urticaria | 1 | 0 |
| Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders | ||
| Arthralgia | 2 | 0 |
| Muscle cramp | 2 | 1 |
| Neck pain | 2 | 0 |
| Renal and urinary disorders | ||
| Dysuria | 1 | 0 |
| Reproductive system and breast disorders | ||
| Vulvovaginal dryness | 1 | 0 |
| General disorders and administration site conditions | ||
| Influenza like illness | 1 | 0 |
| Pyrexia | 1 | 0 |
| Injury, poisoning and procedural complications | ||
| Neck injury | 1 | 0 |
| *Reactions reported by at least
1% of patients treated with AMBIEN CR and at greater frequency than in the
placebo group. **Memory disorders include: memory impairment, amnesia, anterograde amnesia. |
||
Dose Relationship For Adverse Reactions
There is evidence from dose comparison trials suggesting a dose relationship for many of the adverse reactions associated with zolpidem use, particularly for certain CNS and gastrointestinal adverse events.
Other Adverse Reactions Observed During The Premarketing Evaluation Of AMBIEN CR
Other treatment-emergent adverse reactions associated with participation in AMBIEN CR studies (those reported at frequencies of < 1%) were not different in nature or frequency to those seen in studies with immediate-release zolpidem tartrate, which are listed below.
Adverse Events Observed During The Premarketing Evaluation Of Immediate-Release Zolpidem Tartrate
Immediate-release zolpidem tartrate was administered to 3,660 subjects in clinical trials throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Treatment-emergent adverse events associated with clinical trial participation were recorded by clinical investigators using terminology of their own choosing. To provide a meaningful estimate of the proportion of individuals experiencing treatment-emergent adverse events, similar types of untoward events were grouped into a smaller number of standardized event categories and classified utilizing a modified World Health Organization (WHO) dictionary of preferred terms.
The frequencies presented, therefore, represent the proportions of the 3,660 individuals exposed to zolpidem, at all doses, who experienced an event of the type cited on at least one occasion while receiving zolpidem. All reported treatment-emergent adverse events are included, except those already listed in the table above of adverse events in placebo-controlled studies, those coding terms that are so general as to be uninformative, and those events where a drug cause was remote. It is important to emphasize that, although the events reported did occur during treatment with AMBIEN, they were not necessarily caused by it.
Adverse events are further classified within body system categories and enumerated in order of decreasing frequency using the following definitions: frequent adverse events are defined as those occurring in greater than 1/100 subjects; infrequent adverse events are those occurring in 1/100 to 1/1,000 patients; rare events are those occurring in less than 1/1,000 patients.
Autonomic nervous system: Frequent: dry mouth. Infrequent: increased sweating, pallor, postural hypotension, syncope. Rare: abnormal accommodation, altered saliva, flushing, glaucoma, hypotension, impotence, increased saliva, tenesmus.
Body as a whole: Frequent: asthenia. Infrequent: chest pain, edema, falling, fever, malaise, trauma. Rare: allergic reaction, allergy aggravated, anaphylactic shock, face edema, hot flashes, increased ESR, pain, restless legs, rigors, tolerance increased, weight decrease.
Cardiovascular system: Infrequent: cerebrovascular disorder, hypertension, tachycardia. Rare: angina pectoris, arrhythmia, arteritis, circulatory failure, extrasystoles, hypertension aggravated, myocardial infarction, phlebitis, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary edema, varicose veins, ventricular tachycardia.
Central and peripheral nervous system: Frequent: ataxia, confusion, drowsiness, drugged feeling, euphoria, insomnia, lethargy, lightheadedness, vertigo. Infrequent: agitation, decreased cognition, detached, difficulty concentrating, dysarthria, emotional lability, hallucination, hypoesthesia, illusion, leg cramps, migraine, nervousness, paresthesia, sleeping (after daytime dosing), speech disorder, stupor, tremor. Rare: abnormal gait, abnormal thinking, aggressive reaction, apathy, appetite increased, decreased libido, delusion, dementia, depersonalization, dysphasia, feeling strange, hypokinesia, hypotonia, hysteria, intoxicated feeling, manic reaction, neuralgia, neuritis, neuropathy, neurosis, panic attacks, paresis, personality disorder, somnambulism, suicide attempts, tetany, yawning.
Gastrointestinal system: Frequent: diarrhea, dyspepsia, hiccup. Infrequent: anorexia, constipation, dysphagia, flatulence, gastroenteritis. Rare: enteritis, eructation, esophagospasm, gastritis, hemorrhoids, intestinal obstruction, rectal hemorrhage, tooth caries.
Hematologic and lymphatic system: Rare: anemia, hyperhemoglobinemia, leukopenia, lymphadenopathy, macrocytic anemia, purpura, thrombosis.
Immunologic system: Infrequent: infection. Rare: abscess herpes simplex herpes zoster, otitis externa, otitis media.
Liver and biliary system: Infrequent: abnormal hepatic function, increased SGPT. Rare: bilirubinemia, increased SGOT.
Metabolic and nutritional: Infrequent: hyperglycemia, thirst. Rare: gout, hypercholesteremia, hyperlipidemia, increased alkaline phosphatase, increased BUN, periorbital edema.
Musculoskeletal system: Infrequent: arthritis. Rare: arthrosis, muscle weakness, sciatica, tendinitis.
Reproductive system: Infrequent: menstrual disorder, vaginitis. Rare: breast fibroadenosis, breast neoplasm, breast pain.
Respiratory system: Frequent: sinusitis. Infrequent: bronchitis, coughing, dyspnea. Rare: bronchospasm, respiratory depression, epistaxis, hypoxia, laryngitis, pneumonia.
Skin and appendages: Infrequent: pruritus. Rare: acne, bullous eruption, dermatitis, furunculosis, injection-site inflammation, photosensitivity reaction, urticaria.
Special senses: Frequent: diplopia, vision abnormal. Infrequent: eye irritation, eye pain, scleritis, taste perversion, tinnitus. Rare: conjunctivitis, corneal ulceration, lacrimation abnormal, parosmia, photopsia.
Urogenital system: Frequent: urinary tract infection. Infrequent: cystitis, urinary incontinence. Rare: acute renal failure, dysuria, micturition frequency, nocturia, polyuria, pyelonephritis, renal pain, urinary retention.
Postmarketing Experience
The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of AMBIEN CR. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
Liver and biliary system: acute hepatocellular, cholestatic or mixed liver injury with or without jaundice (i.e., bilirubin > 2x ULN, alkaline phosphatase ≥ 2x ULN, transaminase ≥ 5x ULN).
Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Ambien CR (Zolpidem Tartrate)
&Copy; Ambien CR Patient Information is supplied by Cerner Multum, Inc. and Ambien CR Consumer information is supplied by First Databank, Inc., used under license and subject to their respective copyrights.