HSA & FSA accepted; best-value for top quality care
Same-day mental health, weight loss, and primary care appointments available
HSA & FSA accepted; best-value for top quality careSame-day mental health, weight loss, and primary care appointments available
Ambien is the brand name for the generic drug zolpidem. It’s an FDA-approved prescription sleep medication used to treat short-term insomnia. Need Ambien for your sleep troubles? Talk to a clinician within 24 hours and get a prescription if medically appropriate.*
✓ Same-day online appointments
✓ Personalized sleep treatment plan from experienced clinicians
✓ Affordable, pay-as-you-go pricing
Providers on Klarity Health are independent practitioners with clinical autonomy; a diagnosis, treatment, or prescription is not guaranteed.
Providers on Klarity Health are independent practitioners with clinical autonomy; a diagnosis, treatment, or prescription is not guaranteed.
Find a compassionate insomnia specialist on Klarity Health and access:
from a licensed, board-certified healthcare professional
or in-person through treatment tailored to you if medically necessary*
No insurance needed. No hidden fees. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before your appointment.
Your provider will discuss treatment options with you, which may or may not include medication.
Reviews from real patients who received treatment from providers on Klarity Health.
Klarity Health connects you with experienced, licensed providers who specialize in insomnia treatment. Select your state to see available providers.
Ambien (zolpidem) is a non-benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotic drug — also known as a Z-drug. It was U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved for the short-term treatment (7 to 10 days) of adult insomnia due to trouble falling asleep in 1992. It works by slowing down brain activity to make you drowsy during the initial stages of falling asleep so you can fall asleep faster.
Ambien comes in an immediate-release and extended-release (Ambien [CR]) forms. It’s also available as generic zolpidem or zolpidem tartrate. Immediate-release Ambien works quickly to help you fall asleep. Ambien (CR) has 2 layers. The first layer helps you fall asleep faster. The second layer dissolves slowly so you can stay asleep.
Ambien is a Schedule IV controlled substance and has a risk for abuse and dependence.
Ambien is a sedative-hypnotic. It works to sedate you or make you sleepy by enhancing the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that play a role in neurons (nerve cells) communicating in the brain and throughout the body. GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, meaning it blocks chemical messages from being passed between cells.
GABA inhibits specific brain signals to reduce activity in the central nervous system (CNS) — basically the brain and spinal cord. By binding to a subtype of GABA receptors, called GABA-A receptors, Ambien helps reduce the excitability of neurons (brain cells), which causes a calming effect on the brain to help you fall asleep.
Ambien is usually prescribed for adults with transient (short-term) insomnia, which is insomnia that lasts 7 to 10 days. It’s basically meant for grown ups who can’t fall asleep. Ambien isn’t intended for long-term use because of its potential for dependency, which is more likely the longer it’s used.
Immediate-release Ambien is best for people who can’t fall asleep.
Ambien CR is for people who can’t fall or stay asleep, also known as having poor sleep maintenance.
You get an Ambien prescription online during a telehealth visit with a trained, licensed healthcare provider. If the provider determines Ambien is right your insomnia symptoms, they can give you a prescription. In some states, you’ll need one in-person visit first.
Providers licensed to prescribe medications include medical doctors (MDs), physician assistants/associates (PAs), and nurse practitioners (NPs).
Once your provider submits your prescription for Ambien to a local or online pharmacy that carries it, you can pick it up or have it delivered to your home.
You can discuss insomnia treatment — which may include medication such as Ambien — with a board-certified, licensed provider on Klarity Health.
Learn more about how to get prescribed Ambien.
Immediate-release Ambien and Ambien CR are available as oral tablets. A generic dissolvable sublingual (under the tongue) tablet is also available.
Ambien and generic zolpidem come in 5- and 10-milligram tablets. Ambien CR and generic extended-release zolpidem come in 6.25- and 12.5-milligram tablets. Sublingual zolpidem tartrate is available in 1.75- and 3.5-milligram tablets.
Your provider will typically have you start with the smallest 5-milligram dose. If that dose doesn’t work for you, they may have you increase to the higher dose.
When taking Ambien or Ambien CR, take it when you can get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep. Swallow the tablet whole with a full glass of water. For the sublingual generic, take it at bedtime or if you wake up during the night and can sleep for at least 4 more hours. Place it under your tongue and let it dissolve before you swallow again.
The most common side effects when taking Ambien are headache, dizziness, and diarrhea. You might also have slowed thinking and motor skills and still be sleepy the next day. You’ll want to avoid driving or operating equipment or machinery until you know how it affects you. And don’t mix Ambien and alcohol or other sedatives or opioids before you talk to your provider.
More serious side effects can happen when taking Ambien too, including allergic reactions, odd thoughts or behaviors, suicidal thoughts and increased depression, trouble breathing, and withdrawal symptoms.
And all products containing zolpidem have an FDA boxed warning, which is the FDA’s most serious warning. The boxed warning is for complex sleep behaviors that can include walking, driving, talking, eating, and other activities while asleep that may result in injury or death.
If you do take Ambien and have any negative side effects, report them to the FDA by visiting MedWatch or calling 1-800-FDA-1088.
Immediate-release Ambien costs around up to $130 for 5 tablets using a GoodRx discount and depending on your ZIP code. Ambien CR costs roughly closer to $667 for 30 tablets on GoodRx and with its discount.
Generic Ambien in most forms costs less. And, if using insurance, your copay may be less for generic compared to the brand name. Immediate-release generic zolpidem costs up to $22 for 10 tablets. Generic zolpidem extended-release costs up to $17 for 10 tablets. The sublingual zolpidem tartrate form is most costly at up to $90 for 10 tablets. It’s only available as a generic. Generic costs are from drugs.com and reflect its discount.
If you have insurance that covers Ambien or generic zolpidem, you’ll pay less. You’re also available for the Ambien co-pay card, from Sanofi-Aventis who makes Ambien. With it, you can pay $50 or less for a 30-day supply of immediate-release Ambien.
Coupons from sites like NeedyMeds, GoodRx, drugs.com, SingleCareRx, and Optum can also help you save between 3% to 80% with or without insurance.
Ambien is one of the most common sleep medications prescribed in the U.S., but it’s not the only one. Other popular options include Lunesta (eszopiclone), Sonata (zaleplon), Restoril (temazepam), Silenor (doxepin), Quviviq (daridorexant), Halcion (triazolam), trazodone, and amitriptyline.
Some of these medications are in the same sedative-hypnotic drug class as Ambien. Others are in different classes, such as benzodiazepines, dual orexin receptor antagonists (DORAs), and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). Each may work to help you fall asleep and/or stay asleep. Some tend to create a hangover effect where you might still feel drowsy the next day.
Lunesta, Sonata, Restoril, Silenor, Quiviq, Halcion, trazedone, and amitriptyline are all FDA-approved for treating certain forms of insomnia, All have side effects that may include, but aren’t limited to, drowsiness, dizziness, headache, nausea, and fatigue. Lunesta, Sonata, Restoril, and Halcion are controlled substances that can cause dependency and misuse.
Which sleep aid is best for you depends on how well it works for your insomnia. The best way to find out is to talk to a qualified sleep provider who can work with you to create a tailored insomnia treatment.
Learn more about:
Lunesta vs Ambien
Restoril vs Ambien
Restoril vs Ambien
Licensed medical professionals on Klarity Health work with you to create an insomnia treatment plan tailored to you, including medication prescriptions if medically appropriate, behavioral counseling or therapy, or skills training.
Valium
Use: FDA-approved for anxiety, muscle spasms, and seizures; prescribed off-label for insomnia
Key ingredient: Diazepam
Ambien
Use: FDA-approved medication for insomnia
Key ingredient: Zolpidem
Ramelteon
Use: FDA-approved medication for insomnia
Key ingredient: Ramelteon
Quviviq
Use: FDA-approved to treat insomnia
Key ingredient: Daridorexant
Xanax
Use: FDA-approved for panic and anxiety disorders; use off-label use for insomnia
Key ingredient: Alprazolam
*Appointments are generally available within 24 hours. Free initial consultations are available only with select providers. Prescriptions, particularly for controlled substances, may require an in-person evaluation depending on the state of residence and current federal regulations.
The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Controlled substances, like Lunesta, Sonata, Restoril, and Halcion, may not be appropriate for all patients and any mention of these medications is for educational purposes only, not for marketing or encouraging self-diagnosis. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions or concerns you have regarding your health. Providers on Klarity Health are independent practitioners with clinical autonomy. Nothing in this article is intended to diagnose or treat any condition, including guaranteeing prescription medication of any kind or dosage. Not all providers on Klarity Health prescribe all medications, particularly medications that are controlled substances.
If you’re having a mental health crisis or experiencing a psychiatric emergency, it’s crucial to seek immediate help from a mental healthcare professional, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or therapist. You can also call your local emergency services, visit your nearest emergency room, or contact a crisis hotline, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, by calling or texting 988 or dialing the Lifeline’s previous phone number, 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) in the U.S.
PO Box 5098 Redwood City, CA 94063
100 Broadway Street, Redwood City CA, 94063
Join our mailing list for exclusive healthcare updates and tips.
PO Box 5098 Redwood City, CA 94063
100 Broadway Street, Redwood City CA, 94063
