Bipolar Disorder and Zolpidem

Zolpidem (also known as Ambian) is used to treat insomnia.

Since insomnia can be a symptom of bipolar disorder, Zolpidem might be used to help treat this specific symptom.

Read more details about Zolpidem.

What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

• This medicine may be habit-forming with long-term use.

• If you have been taking this medicine every night for more than 2 weeks, do not stop medicine. Wean yourself off over several nights.

• If you are 65 or older, use this medicine with caution. You could have more side effects.

• If you have drug or alcohol addiction, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have liver disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have lung disease, talk with healthcare provider. You may be more sensitive to this medicine.

• If you have mental illness, talk with healthcare provider.

• Ambien®: If you wake up in the early morning, this medicine will not help.

• Do not nap.

• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.

• You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities until you see how this medicine affects you.

• Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) or other medicines and natural products that slow your actions and reactions.

• Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice.

• Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.

• Tell healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding.

What are some possible side effects of this medicine?

• Feeling lightheaded, sleepy, having blurred vision, or a change in thinking clearly. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that require you to be alert or have clear vision until you see how this medicine affects you.

• Change in balance.

• Headache.

• Feeling tired or weak.

• Severe allergic reactions can rarely occur.

Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately

• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.

• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Signs or symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts, nervousness, emotional ups and downs, abnormal thinking, anxiety, or lack of interest in life.

• Significant change in thinking clearly and logically.

• Driving or doing other tasks or activities that you do not remember doing after taking this medicine.

• Feeling extremely tired or weak.

• Any rash.

• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.