Ambien Side Effects

Generic name: zolpidem

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Aug 30, 2024.

Note: This document provides detailed information about Ambien.

For healthcare professionals

Applies to zolpidem: oral capsule, oral spray, oral tablet, oral tablet extended release, sublingual tablet Side Effects associated with zolpidem. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Ambien.

For healthcare professionals

Applies to zolpidem: oral capsule, oral spray, oral tablet, oral tablet extended release, sublingual tablet.

General adverse events

The most commonly reported side effects included dizziness, headache, and somnolence.^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Dizziness (up to 23.5%), headache (up to 19%), somnolence (up to 15%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Amnesia, amnestic effects, anterograde amnesia, ataxia, attention disturbance, balance disorder, burning sensation, cognitive disorders, daytime drowsiness, drowsiness, drugged feelings, hypoesthesia, involuntary muscle contractions, lethargy, lightheadedness, memory disorders, memory impairment, paresthesia, postural dizziness, tremor, vertigo
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Cerebrovascular disorder, decreased cognition, difficulty concentrating, dysarthria, migraine, sleeping (with daytime dosing), speech disorder, stupor, syncope, taste perversion
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Abnormal gait, dementia, depressed level of consciousness, gait disturbance, hypokinesia, hypotonia, neuralgia, neuritis, neuropathy, paresis, parosmia, restless legs, sciatica
• Frequency not reported: Central nervous system (CNS)-depressant effects, impaired concentration, next-day impairment, next day somnolence
• Postmarketing reports: Dysgeusia, memory disturbances, reduced alertness^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Common (1% to 10%): Abnormal dreams, agitation, anxiety, apathy, binge eating, confusion, depersonalization, depressed mood, depression, disinhibition, disorientation, euphoria, euphoric mood, exacerbated insomnia, hallucinations, inappropriate behavior, insomnia, major depression, mood swings, nervousness, nightmare, psychomotor retardation, restlessness, sleep disorder, stress symptoms
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Aggression, confusional state, detached, emotional lability, hypnagogic hallucinations, illusion, irritability, somnambulism, visual hallucinations
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Abnormal thinking, aggressive reaction, attempted suicide, decreased libido, delusion, hysteria, libido disorder, manic reaction, neurosis, panic attacks, personality disorder
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Dependence, withdrawal effects/symptoms
• Frequency not reported: Abnormal behavior, abnormal thinking, aggravated depression, anger, behavior changes, complex behaviors, continuing depression, hallucinations not otherwise specified (NOS), psychosis
• Postmarketing reports: Aggravated insomnia, other adverse behavioral effects, perceptual disturbances, rages^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Common (1% to 10%): Abdominal discomfort, abdominal pain, abdominal pain upper, abdominal tenderness, constipation, diarrhea, dry mouth, dyspepsia, flatulence, gastroenteritis, frequent bowel movements, gastroesophageal reflux disease, nausea, vomiting
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dysphagia
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Altered saliva, enteritis, eructation, esophagospasm, gastritis, hemorrhoids, increased saliva, tenesmus, intestinal obstruction, rectal hemorrhage, tooth caries^[Ref]

Other

• Common (1% to 10%): Asthenia, chest discomfort, contusion, exposure to poisonous plant, fatigue, increased body temperature, labyrinthitis, neck injury, otitis externa, pyrexia, tinnitus
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Fall/falling, fever, malaise, trauma
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Feeling strange, face edema, increased tolerance, intoxicated feeling, otitis media, pain, rigors
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Rebound effect
• Frequency not reported: Drug tolerance
• Postmarketing reports: Drunk feeling^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Common (1% to 10%): Hiccup, lower respiratory infection, lower respiratory tract infection, nasopharyngitis, pharyngitis, rhinitis, sinusitis, throat irritation, upper respiratory infection, upper respiratory tract infection
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Bronchitis, coughing, dyspnea
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Bronchospasm, epistaxis, hypoxia, laryngitis, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, pulmonary embolism, respiratory depression, yawning
• Postmarketing reports: Cough, dry throat^[Ref]

Ocular

• Common (1% to 10%): Abnormal vision, altered visual depth perception, asthenopia, blurred vision, diplopia, eye redness, visual disturbance
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Eye irritation, eye pain, scleritis
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Abnormal accommodation, abnormal lacrimation, conjunctivitis, corneal ulceration, glaucoma, periorbital edema, photopsia
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Visual impairment^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Common (1% to 10%): Arthralgia, back pain, muscle cramp, myalgia, neck pain
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Arthritis, leg cramps, muscle spasms, muscle/muscular weakness
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Arthrosis, tendinitis^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Common (1% to 10%): Dysuria, menorrhagia, urinary tract infection, vulvovaginal dryness
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Cystitis, menstrual disorder, urinary incontinence, vaginitis
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Breast pain, impotence, micturition frequency, nocturia, polyuria, urinary retention
• Postmarketing reports: Dysmenorrhea^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Rash, skin wrinkling, urticaria
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hyperhidrosis, increased sweating, pruritus
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Acne, bullous eruption, dermatitis, furunculosis, photosensitivity reaction, purpura
• Frequency not reported: Angioneurotic edema
• Postmarketing reports: Contact dermatitis^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Infection, influenza, influenza-like symptoms
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Abscess, herpes simplex, herpes zoster^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Common (1% to 10%): Increased blood pressure, palpitations
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Chest pain, edema, hypertension, pallor, postural hypotension, tachycardia
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Aggravated hypertension, angina pectoris, arrhythmia, arteritis, circulatory failure, extrasystoles, flushing, hot flashes, hypotension, myocardial infarction, phlebitis, thrombosis, varicose veins, ventricular tachycardia
• Postmarketing reports: Increased heart rate^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Common (1% to 10%): Anorexia, appetite disorder
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hyperglycemia, thirst
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Decreased weight, gout, hypercholesteremia, hyperlipidemia, increased appetite, tetany^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Common (1% to 10%): Allergy
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Aggravated allergy, allergic reaction, anaphylactic shock
• Frequency not reported: Angioedema, anaphylaxis, serious anaphylactic reactions, serious anaphylactoid reactions^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Abnormal hepatic function, elevated liver enzymes, increased ALT
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Bilirubinemia, cholestatic liver injury, hepatocellular liver injury, increased alkaline phosphatase, increased AST, mixed liver injury
• Postmarketing reports: Acute hepatocellular, cholestatic, or mixed liver injury with or without jaundice^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Rare (less than 0.1%): Anemia, hyperhemoglobinemia, increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), leukopenia, lymphadenopathy, macrocytic anemia^[Ref]

Renal

• Rare (less than 0.1%): Acute renal failure, renal pain^[Ref]

Oncologic

• Rare (less than 0.1%): Breast fibroadenosis, breast neoplasm^[Ref]

Local

• Rare (less than 0.1%): Injection-site inflammation
• Frequency not reported: Transient paresthesia of the tongue, transient sublingual erythema^[Ref]

Tongue paresthesia and sublingual erythema occurred in patients given sublingual tablet formulations.^[Ref]

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Further information

Ambien side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.

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