There are many people who have tried buying prescription drugs through online pharmacies due to the convenience and cost savings that they provide. Most of these sites offer discreet packaging, delivery as well as strict protections for privacy.

Zolpidem is a drug that should not be used in patients suffering from liver disease is not advised. Breast-feeding mothers should observe their babies' sleepiness and breathing troubles.

Legality

A number of pharmacies' websites are legal and provide convenience, savings along with privacy, security and purchases of prescription drugs. However, others may be selling counterfeit or unapproved drugs in violation of the safety guidelines that licensed pharmacies must follow. To ensure your safety, purchase from licensed pharmacies and confirm that they're accredited by your state's regulatory board as well as that of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Internet pharmacies that ship prescription controlled drugs without legally valid prescriptions violate the requirements of the laws. While the amount of illegal pharmacies declined in 2008, they remain major sources of diversion. A new federal law, the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008 is designed to deter criminal Internet pharmacies by imposing more severe criminal penalty for illegal sales of Schedule II controlled prescription drugs over the Internet. The law also mandates a prescription to be submitted when selling any medicine on Internet sites using a Canadian address, or a domain which is accredited as legitimate by the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities. This ensures that Canadians receive the drugs they are entitled to and require.

Security

It is possible that online pharmacies without a prescription or those operating with insufficient supervision will not be able to sell you your medicine, and also transport it in a safe manner. They might also break the law by selling counterfeit and expired medications or not claiming to be legitimate pharmacies. The FDA's BeSafeRx web page has resources for identifying fraudulent pharmacies.

In patients who suffer from hepatic or liver insufficiency the zolpidem tartrate may not clear as rapidly and may be a contributing factor to the development of hepatic-related encephalopathy ( CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGYfor more information].

Inform your doctor if you've had any issues with alcohol, prescription drugs, or any other illicit substances. AMBIEN could cause a feeling of sleepiness. Do not drive or use equipment after taking AMBIEN. It should be taken in conjunction with other medicines that could cause you to sleep. Talk to your pharmacist and doctor about every medication you take, including herbal supplements and vitamins. Pregnant women should not take AMBIEN following the third trimester, as it can cause newborns to feel respiratory depression, or even sedation.

Dosage

Instruct patients to take AMBIEN only as directed and to not exceed the prescribed dose. Patients should be informed that even with the prescribed dose, a cognitive impairment could occur within 24 hours. They are advised to be patient for at least 8 hours before engaging in activities that require mental alertness. Also advise patients not to drink alcohol or use various other drugs that make them sleepy until they have slept for a full night. (See WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS).

AMBIEN might have a higher effect on elderly patients, particularly if it is taken for a long time with high doses, and also in combination with alcohol or other CNS depressants. Patients with hepatic insufficiency may not remove zolpidem tartrate quickly as patients with normal liver function. These patients should not be treated with continue reading this drug [see Use In Specific Populationsfor more information]. It is recommended that pregnant women inform their healthcare provider if they become pregnant during treatment with AMBIEN, as it has been shown to trigger respiratory depression as well as the sedation of newborns.

The Side Effects

Side effects may occur with the use of AMBIEN however they're typically mild and don't last for long. Commonly, they are headaches, disorientation and stomach problems.

Patients who are elderly (over 70 years of age) are at a higher risk for falls and/or confusion resulting from AMBIEN. Cut the dose down to 5 mg in elderly patients.

Instruct patients to inform the healthcare professional when they have a difficult time sleeping (e.g., sleep-driving, preparing and eating food, making telephone calls and engaging in sexual activity without being fully awake) because serious injuries and fatalities have occurred in these situations.

To reduce the chance of exposure to drugs for babies mother-to-be should be urged to remove her breast milk for 23 hours after the treatment of AMBIEN (see DRUGS INTERACTIONS). The effects of drugs on GABA receptors, like zolpidem tartrate can cause hepatic encephalopathy in patients with long-term liver problems. In 8 patients with liver insufficiency, mean Cmax and T 1/2 of zolpidem were 2 or five times more, as compared to the values observed by healthy people in a single, 20 mg dosage of tartrate zolpidem.