Can you fatally overdose on ambien

MF: language and scientific editing of the manuscript. MB: primary and psychiatric evaluation of the case. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. We would like to Acknowledge Dr. Ali Tabaeian for his tremendous helps and valuable suggestions. National Center for Biotechnology Information , U.

Journal List Daru v. Published online Dec Author information Article notes Copyright and License information Disclaimer. Corresponding author. Sameh Mortaz Hejri: moc. Received Aug 20; Accepted Sep This article has been cited by other articles in PMC. Abstract Zolpidem is a popular drug indicated for the short-term treatment of insomnia. Keywords: Zolpidem, Suicide attempt, Insomnia. Background Zolpidem is an Imidazopyridine agent indicated for the short-term treatment of insomnia [ 1 , 2 ].

Case presentation A year-old male, university student, unmarried, dormitory resident with no known mood disorder or neuropsychological disease and abnormal sleep behaviors, had self-referred to a medical toxicologist because of a new experience with zolpidem abuse.

Consent Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for the publication of this report. Competing interests The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Acknowledgements We would like to Acknowledge Dr. References Langtry H, Benfield P. The pharmacology and mechanisms of action of new generation, non-benzodiazepine hypnotic agents.

CNS Drugs. Zolpidem in insomnia: a 3-year post-marketing surveillance study in Switzerland. When combined with alcohol or other sedatives, the risk of a fatal overdose is even greater.

Any amount of Ambien is too much Ambien if you are also drinking or using other substances. Polydrug use also makes it harder to identify an emergency situation.

You have to be able to think clearly to identify an overdose. A zolpidem overdose requires immediate attention. Call emergency services or a national poison control hotline if you suspect someone has overdosed.

If the person has stopped breathing or lost consciousness, call immediately. Every person is different and will react differently to zolpidem. Taking the medication exactly as prescribed is the best way to prevent potential side effects and overdose.

An Ambien overdose should only be treated by medical professionals, and the sooner treatment is received, the more likely the person will make a full recovery. Patients may be monitored overnight to ensure that symptoms of overdose have completely subsided. Overdosing on Ambien is often a sign that a person is struggling with Ambien abuse or addiction. Once a person has recovered from an overdose, he or she will likely be recommended to seek formal treatment for an Ambien use disorder. Inpatient treatment is often the most successful way to overcome substance addiction.

Vertava Health has a number of treatment facilities throughout the nation that offer customized programs of recovery for people struggling with Ambien addiction. Each patient will receive a personalized treatment plan that caters to his or her unique condition and needs. This page does not provide medical advice. Don't Wait. That said, it requires a very high amount of Ambien to result in death. Ambien acts rapidly and remains effective for just a few hours, meaning that very high amounts are needed in a short amount of time to be lethal.

Medically prescribed Ambien doses start in the 5—10 mg range. When a patient passes this recommended amount, the potential for adverse consequences increases exponentially. Recreational users have reported taking doses of — mg, which will very likely result in an overdose, although not necessarily death.

Experts estimate that a fatal amount of Ambien is approximately 2, mg. Of note, however, harmful outcomes can occur far before this amount has been reached. Well, other unsafe practices regarding drug use can amplify the risk of an overdose, such as tampering with Ambien and taking it in non-directed, abusive ways such as chewing, snorting, or injecting it.

In fact, this type of tapering invalidates any innate safeguards, as this rapid-release drug enters the bloodstream abruptly and immediately. Overdoses are also more likely to occur when Ambien is used in conjunction with other drugs, particularly sedatives, painkillers , or alcohol.

Ambien and alcohol is an especially dangerous and, unfortunately, common combination, as is discussed later in this article. If necessary, medical personnel may also choose to remove Ambien from the stomach entirely, but this procedure is typically only necessary in the most severe overdose situations. Because of the potency of this medication and its potential for chronic abuse, Ambien prescriptions are often limited to weeks.