The FDA has reduced dosage recommendations for sleeping pills containing zolpidem as the active ingredient. Ambien and other brands of sleeping aids use this ingredient. Because the ingredient remains in the blood the morning after taking a dose, the blood levels in the morning may still be too high for people to safely drive or operate machinery.

The FDA feels that by lowering the dosage recommendations, the morning blood levels of zolipdem will be reduced. Women are especially affected by this drug in that it takes women longer to flush it from their systems. The FDA recommended even lower doses for women. Patients who take the extended-release form of the drug have the highest blood levels of zolpidem.

The recommended dose for women will be lowered from 10 mg to 5 mg for instant release drugs and from 12.5 mg to 6.25 mg for extended release formulas. Dr. Ellis Unger of the FDA said “To decrease the potential risk of impairment with all insomnia drugs, health care professionals should prescribe, and patients should take, the lowest dose capable of treating the patient’s insomnia. Patients who must drive in the morning or perform some other activity requiring full alertness should talk to their health care professional about whether their sleep medicine is appropriate.”

If you are experiencing severe daytime sleepiness you may have a sleep breathing disorder like obstructive sleep apnea. Find out more about diagnosis and treatment options by contacting Columbus, OH sleep apnea dentist Dr. Mark Levy at 614-476-6696 today.