USA Pain Pharma Ambien is in a class of drugs known as sedative-hypnotics. Ambien works by activating the neurotransmitter, GABA, which slows down the brain and the central nervous system. Ambien is used to treat insomnia but is only intended for short-term use. There are two forms of Ambien, a quick release form that is helpful for initiating sleep and an extended release form that is helpful for maintaining sleep.
This non-benzodiazepine “z-drug” was designed to have the same medical effectiveness as benzodiazepines like Xanax without the same hazardous and habit-forming properties those drugs are known for. The makers of Ambien designed and marketed the drug as a less addictive alternative to benzos for people with acute insomnia. However, while it generally takes users longer to develop an addiction to Ambien than to Benzos and withdrawal from Ambien is generally less severe and dangerous than Benzo withdrawal, Ambien is still an addictive substance. In fact, it is now recognized that Ambien has a very similar potential for abuse as Benzos.
A physical dependence to Ambien can form in as little as two weeks, whether the user is following a prescription or abusing the drug. Ambien dependence is characterized by tolerance, whereby the user requires larger amounts of the substance to feel the same effect, and withdrawal symptoms which appear if the user stops taking the drug or reducing their dosage. Eventually, Ambien dependence may become a full-blown addiction, which is characterized by tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, impaired control over use, compulsive use, continued use despite harm, and cravings. Many people don’t know they have a problem until they stop taking the drug and realize they cannot sleep without it.
Ambien is the brand name of zolpidem. Due to a pervasive advertising campaign, the drug’s properties as a sleep aid are widely known, and even notorious, in popular culture. It is primarily prescribed as a temporary treatment for insomnia. Ambien is taken by mouth as a small, oblong tablet or as an extended-release tablet. Some people may crush up the pills and snort them to get a stronger effect. Slang terms for Ambien include no-gos, zombie pills, sleepeasy, tic-tacs and A-minus.
Ambien produces a strong sedative effect by binding to neuroreceptors that slow brain activity.
Ambien was primarily marketed as an alternative to benzodiazepines, like Halcion, which were coming under public scrutiny for their addictive potential and other side effects. The makers of Ambien claimed their drug was safer and less addictive.
Despite the makers of Ambien touting the drug’s superiority over benzos, medical professionals have said users are still at risk of developing an addiction. In 2015, addiction specialist Dr. Michael Weaver published a report on sedative abuse in which he said, “Non-benzodiazepine z-drugs are also very popular and prone to many of the same problems as benzodiazepines.”
Ambien is a schedule IV controlled substance. According to the the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), this means people aren’t likely to use it recreationally. Despite this, many users have abused the drug for its euphoric and hallucinatory effects.
Taking Ambien without a prescription or in any way not directed by a doctor is abuse. Even taking an extra pill for a little help sleeping is considered abuse. Once someone builds a tolerance to Ambien, they need larger doses to fall asleep. This strengthens their dependence on the drug to sleep and causes many users to escalate their doses without medical guidance.
Ambien is meant to be taken immediately before bed, but some people have been known to take the drug hours before going to sleep. This leads to a euphoria that washes away insecurity and self-conscious behavior.
One of the most common substances used with Ambien is alcohol. Oftentimes when someone’s tolerance to Ambien builds, they need higher doses of the drug to fall asleep. Some people with an Ambien tolerance take alcohol with their pill to amplify the sedative effects of the drug. This is dangerous because both drugs depress the central nervous system.
Some people have also combined Ambien with benzos like Valium. This is especially dangerous because Ambien is very similar to benzos, and they are both central nervous system depressants. When the two are combined, the risk of respiratory failure and fatal overdose are dramatically increased. There is also a risk of damage to the heart, brain, and lungs.
The health risks of combining benzos with Ambien are similar to those of combining alcohol, with the most dangerous being a fatal overdose.
