A prescription medication, Ambien is a well known medication that is also known under many different names such as Ambien CR, Edluar, Adormix, Nasen, Lioran, and Ivdel. Ambien is prescribed for the treatment of insomnia. Doctors and patients alike favor Ambien to other medications for insomnia because it usually begins working within 15 minutes. Additionally, it has a half life of just two or three hours, which is beneficial because it allows for the patient to get out of bed without feeling groggy in the morning.
Ambien was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in 2007. It was approved specifically for the short term treatment of insomnia. The FDA has stated that Ambien is safe to take daily for insomnia for two to six weeks but should not be taken for periods of time longer than this. Ambien is often very effective because it can help to induce sleep but doesn’t help the patient stay asleep like many other medications.
While the FDA approved Ambien for the short term treatment of insomnia, since it was made available in 2007, it has been found to be effective in the treatment of many other conditions. Ambien is often prescribed, off label, for restless leg syndrome. It has not been approved by the FDA for these purposes, but many doctors and patients have found that it is both safe and effective in treating restless leg syndrome and that the risks are definitely outweighed by the benefits to the patient.
While Ambien is very effective in the treatment of insomnia and restless leg syndrome, it may come with some unintended side effects. The side effects usually are not troublesome enough to stop taking the medication and will usually subside on their own. Common side effects include but are not limited to nausea, vomiting, altered thought patterns, decreased libido, increased appetite, impaired judgment, hallucinations, and even amnesia. Patients should discuss concerns about these side effects with their doctor as they occur.