zolpidem tartrate
Ambien, Ambien CR, Tovalt
Nursing Considerations
• Use zolpidem cautiously in patients with
additional disorders because it isn’t known
if zolpidem therapy might aggravate these
conditions.
• Administer zolpidem just before patient’s
bedtime because drug has a rapid onset of
action.
• Expect patient to receive no more than a
1-month supply of zolpidem for outpatient
therapy.
WARNING If zolpidem is withdrawn
abruptly (especially after prolonged therapy),
monitor patient for withdrawal symptoms,
such as abdominal cramps or discomfort,
fatigue, flushing, inconsolable
crying, light-headedness, nausea, nervousness,
panic attack, rebound insomnia, and
vomiting.
• Expect that zolpidem will produce anticonvulsant
and muscle relaxant effects at
high doses.
• If patient takes other CNS depressants,
expect to reduce zolpidem dosage, as prescribed.
WARNING Monitor patient closely for
hypersensitivity reactions such as dyspnea,
throat tightness, nausea, vomiting, and
swelling. If present, discontinue zolpidem
immediately, notify prescriber, and prozolpidem
vide supportive care.
PATIENT TEACHING
• Caution patient to take drug exactly as
prescribed and not to increase dosage
unless directed by prescriber.
• Advise patient taking extended-release
form to swallow tablet whole and not to
break, crush, or chew it.
• Advise patient taking orally disintegrating
form to place tablet on tongue, let it dissolve,
and then swallow with saliva or, if
patient prefers, with water.
• Instruct patient to take zolpidem immediately
before going to bed, on an empty
stomach.
• Advise patient to notify prescriber immediately
about abdominal cramps or discomfort,
fatigue, flushing, inconsolable
crying, light-headedness, nausea, nervousness,
panic attack, and vomiting.
• Instruct patient to stop taking zolpidem
and seek emergency care if she has trouble
breathing, throat tightness, nausea, vomiting,
or abnormally swelling.
• Advise patient that zolpidem may produce
abnormal behaviors during sleep, such as
driving a car, eating, talking on the phone,
or having sex without any recall of the
event. If patient’s family notices any such
behavior or if patient sees evidence of
such behavior upon awakening, prescriber
should be notified.
