Ambien®
Ambien® (zolpidem tartrate) belongs to a class of medicines called central nervous system (CNS) depressants, which slow down the nervous system. Used for the treatment of insomnia, Ambien® is manufactured by Sanofi-Aventis, and was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1999.
In some cases, Ambien® and other sleep medicines can cause amnesia. When this occurs, a person does not remember what has happened during the several hours between using Ambien® and the time its effects wear off. In order to avoid memory problems, patients are cautioned to make sure to take Ambien® only when you are able to get a full night's sleep (7 to 8 hours) before you need to be active again.
Ambien® Side Effects Ambien® is a sleeping pill which is somewhat different from the other medicines used to treat insomnia. Ambien® is not a benzodiazepine, but like benzodiazepines it is a controlled substance. Ambien® slows down the brain's ability to function normally. Ambien® focuses on treating insomnia and does not have an effect on muscle relaxation like many other drugs used for insomnia. Ambien’s® side effects include but are not limited to:
- abnormal dreams;
- aggression;
- amnesia;
- confusion;
- delusion;
- emotional instability;
- false perceptions;
- hallucination;
- loss of reality;
- nervousness;
- sleep disorder;
- thinking abnormalities;
- unconsciousness;
If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of amnesia, or has had episodes of bizarre behavior such as sleep walking outside of the house, sleep driving, or other unusual events that occur while “asleep” on Ambien®, you can contact us to discuss whether you have a case that merits legal action. Not all symptoms will rise to the level that warrants a lawsuit, but we are interested in evaluating your individual issues.
Our lawyers have lectured various civic and legal groups on the issues surrounding the unusual events associated with Ambien®, and are ready to help you with your problems related to this drug.
