Zolpidem is a controlled substance, meaning it’s highly regulated by the FDA because of its risk of abuse, misuse, dependence, addiction, and overdose. For these reasons, you should only use this medication as prescribed by your healthcare provider.

Taking too much zolpidem can lead to an overdose. Symptoms of an overdose include lowered alertness, excessive sleepiness, and coma. You might also have some heart-related problems and trouble breathing. Overdoses need to be treated right away so make sure you and your loved ones know the symptoms above.

For your safety, only take zolpidem if you’ll be able to get a full night of sleep, or at least 7 to 8 hours. If you’re using the sublingual tablet (Intermezzo) for middle-of-the-night awakening, only take it if you have at least 4 hours remaining before having to wake up. Taking zolpidem too close to waking up can cause you to wake up feeling sleepy, dizzy, or sluggish. Doing any activity while feeling sleepy can lead to serious injury or death.

Avoid taking zolpidem with food or right after eating a meal because food affects how well the medication is absorbed into your body. Zolpidem will work better and help you fall asleep faster if you take it on an empty stomach.