• Ambien is used for short-term treatment of insomnia. This medication causes relaxation to help you fall asleep and stay asleep.

How should you take this medication?

• Take Ambien by mouth just before going to bed, when you are ready to go to sleep. Take it with a full glass of water. This medicine works very quickly to put you to sleep.
   
• If you miss a dose of this medicine, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

General Precautions with Ambien

• Before taking this medicine, tell your doctor if you have ever had any allergic reaction to zolpidem.
   
• Do not take this medicine when your schedule does not permit you to get a full night's sleep. If you must wake up before this, you may continue to feel drowsy.
   
• Ambien may cause drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, or lightheadedness. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it. When taking Ambien, do not drink alcohol. It can increase the drug's side effects.

What are the possible side effects of Ambien?

• Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
   
• Check with your doctor if any of these common side effects persist or become bothersome:  diarrhea, nausea, blurred vision. dizziness, drowsiness, feeling uncoordinated, headache.