Patient/caregiver was educated on contraindications for using Ambien as follows:
- Do not take Ambien on full stomach, immediately after a meal. The presence of food in the stomach reduces the absorption of Ambien and thereby, delays the onset of action, thus compromising the therapeutic benefit of Ambien intake.
- While you are taking Ambien, plan to stay in bed for a full night sleep of 8 hours. Avoid having Ambien dose, if you are planning to have a short sleep time, for 3 – 4 hour duration for the night. Taking Ambien for a short duration sleep can result in problems with memory, reduced alertness and continued drowsiness after waking up, and compromised safety, especially with activities that mandate alertness, such as, driving.
- Ambien intake can be habit-forming and carries an abuse potential. The risk for addiction and abuse can be even higher, especially in individuals with history of substance abuse. Ambien must be used with extreme caution or avoided in such individuals, to prevent any abuse and toxic side-effects with Ambien use.
