Ambien is the brand name for zolpidem tartrate, a type of sedative-hypnotic. Healthcare professionals prescribe it to help slow brain activity and treat insomnia. Alcohol is a substance that influences the how much does the average american spend on alcohol central nervous system to slow brain activity. When you drink alcohol, these side effects can increase in intensity. It’s also important to read Ambien’s label and other paperwork that comes with the drug.
- There is 1 alcohol/food/lifestyle interaction with Ambien (zolpidem).
- Combining the two drugs can leave you disoriented and confused, and it is very easy to unintentionally take more Ambien or drink more alcohol when you’re in this state.
- This can sometimes lead to substance abuse disorders (SUD) that involve multiple substances instead of just one.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that as many as 35 percent of American adults get fewer than seven hours each night.
Since both alcohol and ambien are depressants, together they can cause damaging effects on the central nervous system. Here are some things to keep in mind before you decide to mix the two. Older people are at particularly high risk for harmful alcohol–medication interactions. Aging slows the body’s ability to break down alcohol, so alcohol remains in a person’s system longer. Older people also are more likely to take a medication that interacts with alcohol—in fact, they often need to take more than one of these medications.
Ambien also puts older individuals at a greater risk of falls, so combined with alcohol, there is additional impairment, leading to a higher risk of falls and fractures. Ambien, a brand name of the sedative zolpidem, is a hypnotic drug generally prescribed for insomnia. The drug works to calm your central nervous system by altering your brain chemicals, creating a conducive state for sleep.
Sleep-driving is when someone is asleep and gets behind the wheel of a car. Drinking alcohol or taking other central nervous system depressants may raise the risk of sleep-related disorders. Mixing Ambien and alcohol increases the risk of several health consequences.
What Is Ambien?
Zolpidem, when taken in large amounts can cause people to feel a euphoric high, and it can even cause hallucinations. This can also happen if people do not go to bed straight after taking Ambien, particularly if they use the immediate release type. If left untreated, an overdose can lead to a coma or worse, respiratory failure and death. If you believe you or someone you care about is experiencing an Ambien and Alcohol overdose, immediately call 911 and seek help.
Ambien side effects
If you have questions about getting certain vaccines before or during your Ambien treatment, talk with your doctor. Ambien interacts with the supplement melatonin, which can also be used to aid sleep. So, taking them together may make you too drowsy and increase your risk of serious side effects.
Mixing Alcohol With Medicines
The more alcohol a patient consumes, the greater the risk for alcohol and medication interactions. Universal screening, careful prescribing choices, and patient education can help minimize the risks of combining alcohol with certain medications. This can mean exceeding the recommended dosage, taking it without a prescription, or taking it in a way it is not intended to be used, all of which can have severe consequences. how to help an alcoholic parent For some individuals, ambien addiction can trigger the desire to use other depressant drugs. While some drugs are widely used and may appear harmless, they can act as a gateway to other risky drugs and behaviors when used incorrectly and cause addiction. Taking the drug in excess can also build up one’s tolerance to it, where they feel the need to increase their dosage to experience the same effectiveness.
Reasons to Avoid Mixing Ambien and Alcohol
Others may have an Ambien addiction alongside other drug addictions. In addition, some recreational users may take Ambien with alcohol to feel high or intensify the effects, and this dangerous combination can result in a person needing intensive care. Prescription of codeine and Ambien should be avoided unless it is the most effective treatment approach, and risks are lower than the expected benefits. Ambien or codeine’s side effects, such as excessive sedation and complex sleep-related behaviors (sleep-driving, sleep-talking, sleep-eating), may be intensified. Some of the most regular drugs can cause major drug interactions with zolpidem. It is essential to be vigilant and inform your physician of any new drugs you might take.