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Sleep disturbance or insomnia is a very common condition. In addition to lifestyle changes and habits to improve sleep, it may be necessary to use sedatives prescribed by your doctor. One of them is Zolpimist spray under the tongue. So what should be noted when using Zolpimist?
1. What is Zolpimist?
Zolpidem is used to treat certain sleep disorders (insomnia) in adults. The drug has a brand name of Zolpimist and should only be used for a short time. If you have trouble falling asleep, Zolpimist will help you fall asleep faster and sleep better. Zolpidem is an active ingredient in the sedative group, which works by calming the user's brain.
2. How to use Zolpimist
Drug users need to carefully read the medication instructions provided by the pharmacist before you start using zolpidem. Use Zolpimist as directed if this is your first time using it or you have not used it for at least 14 days. Zolpimist is in the form of a spray, so when using it, avoid people around you.
Spray Zolpimist into your mouth through your tongue as directed by your doctor, usually once per night. Because zolpidem is fast acting, use it right before bed. Note that Zolpimist should be used on an empty stomach, do not spray during or immediately after a meal because it will lose its effect quickly.
Do not spray Zolpimist if the user does not have enough time for sleep to last at least 7 to 8 hours. If the user has to wake up suddenly, the user may experience memory loss and have difficulty/unsafe doing any activities that require alertness, such as driving or operating machinery.
The dose of Zolpidem depends on your gender, age, medical condition, other medications you're taking, and how well you respond. Users do not arbitrarily increase the dose of Zolpidem, use it several times a day or take it longer than prescribed. The maximum dose of Zolpimist is 10 mg/day. Particularly for women, the prescribed dose is usually lower because the elimination of the drug will be slower than that of men. Older adults need to use Zolpimist at a low dose to reduce the risk of side effects.
If Zolpimist is suddenly stopped, users may experience withdrawal symptoms (such as nausea, vomiting, flushing, stomach cramps, anxiety, tremors), to prevent this, Doctors need to reduce the dose gradually. The risk of withdrawal syndrome is higher if the user has been using zolpidem for a long time or in high doses.
Although Zolpimist benefits many people, it can sometimes be addictive. The risk of becoming addicted to Zolpidem is increased if the user has ever had a stimulant use disorder (such as drug/alcohol abuse or addiction). Therefore, it is necessary to use Zolpimist exactly as prescribed to reduce the risk of addiction.
When using Zolpimist for a long time, the effects of the medicine may decrease or go away, talk to your doctor if the medicine is no longer working as well.
Inform your treating doctor if insomnia persists after 7 to 10 days of taking Zolpidem or tends to get worse.
You may have trouble sleeping for the first few nights after you stop using Zolpimist . This phenomenon is called reversible insomnia and is completely normal and will go away on its own after 1-2 nights. If this effect persists, the patient should contact the doctor.
3. Zolpimist side effects
Dizziness is the most common side effect of Zolpidem . If dizziness persists or worsens, inform your doctor immediately.
Inform the doctor if the patient is often sleepy during the day, then the dose of Zolpimist may need to be adjusted.
Some other less common serious side effects of Zolpidem , including:
Memory loss; Mental/behavioral changes (new/worsening depression, unusual thoughts, suicidal ideation, hallucinations, confusion, agitation, aggressive behavior, anxiety). The article does not mention the complete list of possible side effects of Zolpimist, if you notice other unwanted effects, please contact your doctor or pharmacist for support.
4. Precautions when using Zolpimist
After taking zolpidem, people should not get out of bed and drive a car because at this time the patient's state is not fully awake (drowsiness). The patient may sleepwalk, suddenly prepare food, call someone, or have sex while not fully awake. Usually, users of zolpidem will not remember these events.
However, this problem can be a very dangerous (possibly fatal) condition for the person taking zolpidem or for others. If you notice any unusual behavior after taking zolpidem, let your doctor know right away. Do not self-medicate with zolpidem or similar drugs (such as eszopiclone, zaleplon) if there is an unusual reaction to the drug.
Before using zolpidem, tell your doctor if you are allergic to this active ingredient or if you have any other allergies. Zolpimist may contain inactive ingredients, excipients, which may cause unwanted allergic reactions.
Before using Zolpimist, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: kidney disease, liver disease, psychiatric problems, personal or family history of disorders substance use, personal or family history of sleepwalking, lung problems, a certain muscle disease (myasthenia gravis).
The effects of Zolpimist can last even if the user wakes up the next day. If the patient cannot sleep for 7-8 hours or takes other drugs that cause drowsiness or is sensitive to Zolpimist, then the user may feel awake but unable to think clearly enough to drive. car. Besides, Zolpimist users may also experience dizziness or blurred vision, double vision. Therefore, wait at least 8 hours after taking Zolpimist before driving. Do not drive, use machines, or do work that requires alertness until it is safe for you to use Zolpimist.
Children are often more sensitive to the side effects of Zolpimist, especially dizziness and hallucinations. Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of Zolpimist, especially dizziness, confusion, unsteadiness and excessive sleepiness, which increases the risk of falls.
During pregnancy, zolpidem should be used only when clearly needed because babies born to mothers who have used Zolpimist in the last 3 months of pregnancy may experience unusual drowsiness, difficulty breathing, abnormal limbs or other withdrawal symptoms. Pregnant women should discuss the risks and benefits of Zolpimist with a specialist.
A small amount of zolpidem can pass into breast milk and cause unwanted effects on the newborn (unusual sleepiness, difficulty breathing or weakness). Get medical help immediately if parents notice any of the above unusual symptoms occurring in their child. Talk to your doctor about whether to pump and express breast milk during treatment and for 23 hours after taking zolpidem to reduce the risk of these effects in the infant. Consult your doctor before taking zolpidem to a nursing woman.
5. Zolpimist drug interactions
Drug interactions can change the way Zolpimist works or increase your risk of serious side effects. One product that may interact with Zolpimist is: sodium oxybate.
Other drugs that can affect the removal of zolpidem from a patient's body which may affect how Zolpimist works include: azole antifungals (such as ketoconazole), rifampin...
The risk of serious side effects (slow breathing, shallow breathing, severe drowsiness, dizziness) may be increased if Zolpimist is taken with products that cause drowsiness such as:
Opioid analgesics ( codeine, hydrocodone); Alcohol; sleeping pills or anti-anxiety medications (such as alprazolam, lorazepam, zopiclone); muscle relaxants (such as carisoprodol, cyclobenzaprine); Antihistamines (such as cetirizine, diphenhydramine). Check the labels on all medications the patient is taking (such as allergy, cough and cold products) because they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness that mimic the effects of Zolpimist .
Symptoms of Zolpimist overdose may include: slow breathing or deep sleep, unable to be awakened.
As you get older, your sleeping habits may change naturally and sleep may be disrupted several times during the night, when it is best to consult your doctor or pharmacist to know Ways to improve sleep without medication, such as staying away from caffeine and alcohol near bedtime, avoiding long daytime naps, and getting into the habit of going to bed at the same time each night.
If a dose of Zolpimist is missed, the patient should not take the medicine if there is no time to sleep 7 to 8 hours later.
Store Zolpimist upright at room temperature, away from heat, do not freeze and keep away from children and pets. Do not flush Zolpimist down the toilet or down the drain when it has expired or is no longer needed.
Knowing the information about Zolpimist before using it always brings positive effects and reduces risks for patients. If you have any questions, you can send them to Vinmec International General Hospital to receive in-depth advice from a team of doctors and pharmacists with many years of experience.
Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.
Reference source: webmd.com