Hello and welcome to "VideoScript", presented by Drugs.com. Today in the first of three presentations, we are reviewing Ambien and Ambien CR. Ambien is a prescription medication used to help with insomnia, or difficulty in falling asleep. We will briefly review insomnia, some simple lifestyles adjustments that may help, and how Ambien works to help relieve insomnia. Ambien and Ambien CR are also available in the generic, lower-cost form known as zolpidem. Insomnia is a common problem for patient nsomnia can make it hard to get to sleep, hard to stay asleep, or both. Insomnia can prevent adults from getting the rest they need to perform effectively the next day at work or school, and it can have a negative impact on one’s health and quality of life. Sleep medications like zolpidem are useful in the short-term to help with insomnia in adults. However, sleep problems should be addressed for the long-term. Often this just means changing a few lifestyle habits. Keeping regular bedtimes, avoiding caffeine later in the day, receiving counselling for anxiety, exercising or learning stress-reduction techniques can often be helpful. A healthcare provider can offer advice about how to address sleep problems for the long-term. A physician may decide that a short trial of a sleep medication may be appropriate for some patients as part of a treatment plan for insomnia. Zolpidem is used for the short-term treatment of insomnia by helping patients fall asleep and stay asleep. Zolpidem is in a class of drugs known as sedative-hypnotics. Ambien, or its generic equivalent, comes in 5 and 10 mg tablets or in the extended release form as 6.25 and 12.5 mg tablets. The extended release form is known as Ambien CR. Zolpidem works in the brain to create a deep sleep effect. Zolpidem is not related chemically to other sedative-hypnotics such as benzodiazepines or barbiturates. However, it does work similarly to the benzodiazepines. Zolpidem has been shown to bind specifically to the benzodiazepine-1 receptors in the brain to help initiate and maintain sleep. The immediate-release form of zolpidem may be the best option if you have trouble falling asleep. The extended-release form may be better if you have trouble falling asleep, and also wake up in the middle of the night and cannot get back to sleep. Before taking zolpidem, it is important to have at least 7-8 hours that can be dedicated to sleep. Thank you for joining us at Drugs.com for a brief review of zolpidem. Please refer to our patient and professional information, drug interaction checker, and additional tools on Drugs.com. Patients with a concern about the use of Ambien, Ambien CR, or zolpidem should consult with their health care provider. Visit Drugs.com/zolpidem for more information