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Insomnia Patient Information │ Insomnia Patient Discussion Guide
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AMBIEN CR (Zolpidem Tartrate Extended Release) Sleep Aid

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Insomnia Patient Discussion Guide

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When discussing insomnia with your patients, it's important to consider how they perceive their own sleep issues and how to approach treating them.

Getting patients to talk about insomnia is the first step

In a recent sleep study, 47% of the respondents who reported insomnia or sleep difficulties did not discuss it with their doctors.1

  • Of this group, 79% left their symptoms untreated, and the remaining 21% treated with over-the-counter (OTC) sleep aids.1

Of the respondents who did discuss their sleep problems with their doctors, 83% received an actual diagnosis of insomnia or sleep difficulties.1

  • Of this group, 59% did not receive a prescription, choosing OTC sleep aids, or not to treat their symptoms at all.1

That’s a significant number of people who aren’t treating their symptoms, or are treating with OTC sleep aids.

Getting the conversation started

Here are some questions you can ask your patients to start discussing their sleep problems:

  • Think about how to describe your sleep problems. Do you have trouble falling asleep? Are you waking in the middle of the night, or waking up earlier than you would like?
  • When you wake up in the morning how do you feel? Very refreshed, somewhat refreshed, tired, or really tired?
  • How often do you have trouble getting a good night's sleep? Every night, several nights a week, once a week, once a month, or just a few times a year?
  • Would you say your sleep problem is mild, moderate, or severe?
  • Can you describe how long have you had this sleep problem?
  • Talk to your bed partner. Has he or she noticed anything unusual about your sleeping habits? For instance, your bed partner may be aware of things you are not aware of such as snoring, breathing erratically, tossing and turning, or waking often.
  • Have you had any recent illnesses or changes in your life that may be affecting your ability to sleep?
  • Do you have any other health problems? What medications are you currently taking?
  • Have you done anything already to try to improve your sleep?
  • Have you taken any medications in the past to help you sleep? Did those medicines help, not help, or cause side effects?

Make sure your patients understand their treatment options

Treatment for insomnia can range from changing daily routines and sleep hygiene, to relaxation techniques, to sleep aids. Every patient and situation is unique.

Be sure to stress to your patients that the best way to determine the appropriate treatment for their insomnia symptoms is through discussion with their healthcare professionals.

Natural sleep remedies, like melatonin, have gained popularity, but there is a lack of data to support their safety or effectiveness.

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications most often work through antihistamines and while they may help with sleep onset, are not effective for sleep maintenance and often result in next morning sleepiness. They are also typically not intended for long-term use.24-27

Make sure your patients understand the different forms of AMBIEN® (zolpidem tartrate)

AMBIEN® (zolpidem tartrate) and its generic form are approved to help patients fall asleep.4

AMBIEN CR is the only formulation of zolpidem tartrate that is FDA-approved to help patients fall asleep and stay asleep.2,4,5,8 There are two layers to address each issue separately—one immediate release layer for sleep onset and one extended release layer for sleep maintenance.2,4-6,8

AMBIEN CR has no generic form and can be taken for as long as a healthcare professional recomends.

Be sure your patients understand the differences and receive the right formulation.

Next: Common Insomnia Patient Questions

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* Maximum benefit is $240 off, up to $20 off each prescription (up to 12 prescriptions), depending on your out-of-pocket costs. Not valid for patients participating in Medicare, Medicaid, government (public insurance) programs, or any private payor in the state of Massachusetts and where prohibited by law.

AMBIEN CR is indicated for the treatment of insomnia characterized by difficulties with sleep onset and/or sleep maintenance.

AMBIEN® (zolpidem tartrate) is indicated for the short-term treatment of insomnia characterized by difficulties with sleep initiation.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

In elderly or debilitated patients, or in patients with hepatic insufficiency or dysfunction, the recommended dose of AMBIEN CR is 6.25 mg and the recommended dose of AMBIEN is 5 mg. These patients should be closely monitored.

AMBIEN CR and AMBIEN both have rapid onset of action; therefore, patients should ingest right before going to bed and when ready for sleep. To avoid residual effects, patients should not take AMBIEN CR or AMBIEN unless they are prepared to get a full night’s sleep (7 to 8 hours). Until they know how it will affect their physical or mental performance upon awakening, patients should not drive or operate hazardous machinery after taking AMBIEN CR, AMBIEN, or any other sleep medication. Complex behaviors such as somnambulism, including driving or eating while not fully awake, with amnesia for the event, as well as abnormal behaviors such as being more outgoing or aggressive than normal, confusion, agitation, and hallucinations may occur. AMBIEN CR or AMBIEN should not be taken with alcohol as they may increase these abnormal behaviors. Discontinuation of AMBIEN CR or AMBIEN should be strongly considered for patients reporting such complex behaviors. Angioedema may occur in patients taking AMBIEN CR or AMBIEN and in rare cases may be fatal. Patients who develop angioedema should not be rechallenged. In primarily depressed patients, worsening of depression, including risk of suicidal thoughts or actions, including completed suicides, have been reported. The most commonly observed adverse effects in controlled clinical trials of AMBIEN CR were headache, somnolence, and dizziness. During short-term treatment with AMBIEN, the most commonly observed adverse effects in controlled clinical trials were drowsiness, dizziness, and diarrhea. Because individuals with a history of addiction or substance abuse are at increased risk of habituation and dependence, they should be under careful surveillance when receiving
AMBIEN CR, AMBIEN, or any other hypnotic. Both AMBIEN CR and AMBIEN are Schedule IV controlled substances. Sedative hypnotics have produced withdrawal symptoms following abrupt discontinuation.

Please refer to the full prescribing information for AMBIEN CR.

Please refer to the full prescribing information for AMBIEN.