Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy says that he was using zolpidem (Ambien) and promethazine (Phenergan) when he was caught driving erratically at 3 a.m. Many drivers have blood levels far exceeding the therapeutic dose range, suggesting a high degree of excessive-use potential for benzodiazepines, zolpidem, and zopiclone. Zolpidem has potential for medical misuse when the drug is continued long term without or against medical advice, or for recreational use when the drug is taken to achieve a “high”. (The other hypnotics used are temazepam and zaleplon.) “Ground tests” are required before an authorization is issued to use the medication in an operational situation. However, whereas zolpidem is used as a hypnotic and sedative, alpidem was used as an anxiolytic.
Heightened Dependence Risk
When taken as directed, Ambien helps people fall asleep and experience deeper sleep. While cases of zolpidem improving aphasia in people with stroke have been described, use for this purpose has unclear benefits. In May 2018, actress Roseanne Barr attributed a controversial remark on Twitter to the effects of zolpidem.
Behind the Care: Q&A with Our Medical Director Dr. Michael McGrath on Behavioral Health
Learn more about what happens when Ambien goes into the system and what happens if you snort sleeping pills instead of taking them as prescribed. The dangers of snorting Ambien can lead to lasting physical, mental, and emotional harm — but recovery can rebuild every part of what addiction takes away. It works by boosting a brain chemical called GABA, which slows down activity and helps people fall asleep. Snorting Ambien may seem like a quick way to feel its effects, but it’s one of the most dangerous ways to abuse the drug. The dangers of snorting Ambien go far beyond what most people realize. For more information on the dangers of snorting Ambien, reach out to one of our treatment specialists today.
- Use of zolpidem may impair driving skills with a resultant increased risk of road traffic accidents.
- Such effects may impair the ability of users to drive safely and increase risks of falls and hip fractures.
- Snorting Ambien may lead someone to engage in risky behaviors while asleep, including driving, cooking, and eating.
- It works by helping you get to sleep faster.
- It can also be easy to take too much Ambien when snorting it, making it easy to accidentally overdose.
- Misusing Ambien greatly increases a person’s risk of adverse side effects and overdose.
While Ambien’s potential for abuse isn’t as severe as that of benzos or barbiturates, chronic misuse can still result in physical dependence and addiction. Some overdose patients may be given flumazenil to reverse the intoxication and mitigate symptoms. Nonfatal overdose symptoms usually resolve after 6 hours, but the intensity and duration of these symptoms are dependent on the dose taken and the form of administration. Furthermore, Ambien overdose can also occur when it’s snorted or otherwise taken in high doses because its CNS depressant actions are elevated, which can overwhelm the body.
Be sure to read this information carefully each time. Always follow your care team’s advice. Do not stop taking this medication on your own. Your care team may want to gradually reduce the dose. Do not take your medication more often than directed. It is better to take this medication on an empty stomach and only when you are ready for bed.
Rodent studies of the tolerance-inducing properties have shown that zolpidem has less tolerance-producing potential than benzodiazepines, but in primates, the tolerance-producing potential of zolpidem was the same as seen with benzodiazepines. Abrupt withdrawal may cause delirium, seizures, or other adverse effects, especially if used for prolonged periods and at high doses. Concerns regarding zolpidem-related CSBs have prompted actions by regulatory authorities, including Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and the U.S. Research by Australia’s National Prescribing Service found these activities typically occur after the first dose or within a few days of starting therapy, although they may occur at any time during treatment.
What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?
As the CDC reports, prescription sleep aid misuse often goes hand-in-hand with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Snorting Ambien can also cause hallucinatory or psychotic episodes, leading people to act out in ways they don’t remember. Snorting increases this risk significantly, as higher doses trigger more extreme disconnection from reality. The drug’s chemicals and fillers can burn and damage sensitive tissue, leading to permanent sinus infections, nasal collapse, and respiratory issues. The body was never meant to absorb zolpidem through nasal snorting zolpidem passages.
Adverse effects
Snorting Ambien introduces different and additional risks, aside from the fact that it can intensify these can you snort zolpidem regular side effects. Plus, the euphoria and hallucinations some people seek by snorting Ambien can quickly spiral into a cycle of risky behavior and poor decision-making. When Ambien is taken alongside other drugs, there is an increased risk of an Ambien overdose. Drug abuse of any kind always comes with a risk of overdose, especially when taken in larger quantities than prescribed. It is no surprise that continually snorting drugs can cause damage to the nose and nasal passages, specifically the nasal cavity. However, Ambien abuse can cause people to become more susceptible to the different effects of the drug.
Dangers of Snorting Ambien
Ambien (zolpidem) is meant to help people sleep — not to be crushed, inhaled, or abused. Regard Healthcare offers 100% confidential substance abuse assessment and treatment placement tailored to your individual needs. When people snort Ambien or use it other than how it’s prescribed, they have a higher chance of experiencing these troubling side effects. A person who engages in sexual activity while asleep may expose themselves to several risks, including unprotected intercourse.
Getting Treatment For Ambien (Zolpidem) Addiction
- The most common reason for Ambien abuse is to achieve feelings of euphoria and relaxation.
- For more information on the dangers of snorting Ambien, reach out to one of our treatment specialists today.
- It also helps you stay asleep throughout the night.
- When taken in high doses, an Ambien high may occur, which is marked by side effects like sedation and other physical and behavioral reactions.
People who abuse Ambien by taking too high of a dose or snorting the medication may be more susceptible to side effects. Ambien is thought to have a lower risk of abuse and addiction than benzodiazepines; however, these drugs are not without their risks. Yet, as addiction to sleep medications grows, more individuals are turning to snorting Ambien in search of a faster high. Large amounts of this drug can be toxic, and snorting Ambien increases a person’s chance of overdose. When a person snorts Ambien, they are at an increased risk for experiencing hazardous side effects of this medication.
Misusing Ambien in any form can lead to addiction, dependence, and withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop. Aside from physical dangers, snorting Ambien can have serious consequences for your mental health and overall well-being. We know that addiction is not a choice and aim to provide the most effective treatment in a supportive environment to help you on your road to recovery. Cirque Lodge offers addiction treatment programs in a beautiful location set in the idyllic and serene Rocky Mountains of Utah. Treatment centers can provide help for individuals and families that are struggling with substance abuse. This means that when an individual attempts to stop taking the substance, they are likely to experience withdrawal symptoms.
A user who abuses Ambien may perform certain behaviors or partake in activities while they’re asleep with no memory of them the next day. Taking high doses of the drug orally would produce elevated side effects, so snorting the drug would only produce stronger reactions. Ambien is usually prescribed in tablet form, and crushing Ambien to snort it is another way for people who abuse it to experience a high. Examples of other drugs that work similarly and produce similar side effects as Ambien include barbiturates and benzos. Possible psychoactive effects of snorting Ambien include hallucinations, but it may cause trouble concentrating, focusing and with coordination. Breaking free from Ambien addiction — especially after snorting or other high-risk use — starts with medical detox.
Instead, they have a shorter duration of action and fewer lasting effects. However, very rarely do sleep aids like Ambien reach the same level of intensity as benzos like Valium produce. Specifically, Ambien and other sedatives produce their side effects by activating the release of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Substances in this drug class, such as Ambien, are central nervous system depressants that slow down normal neural communication in the brain and spinal cord. Zolpidem is structurally similar to other sleep aids like Sonata and Lunesta.
What Are the Dangers Specific to Snorting Ambien?
It doesn’t make the drug more effective — it just makes the side effects hit harder. The dangers of snorting Ambien extend to nearly every part of the body. However, when taken incorrectly — especially by snorting — Ambien’s calming effect turns into a powerful, unpredictable rush. Many public and private insurance plans can help offset the cost of addiction treatment. Inpatient rehab centers provide counseling, 12-step support, and medication-assisted treatment in a comfortable, supervised setting.
For those addicted to Ambien, snorting Ambien is simply a quicker way to get high. Someone who is abusing Ambien over a long period of time may need more of the drug to experience the desired effects of Ambien. Prescribed Ambien is available in two forms, regular and an extended-release version called Ambien CR, and both pose the risk of abuse. The drug also works on gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors to help individuals sleep. Snorting Ambien comes with many health risks, including the development of a dependency on the drug. When used as directed, Ambien is a safe and effective medication that can help individuals experience deeper sleep.
Once abuse and addiction are present, it’s incredibly difficult to stop without professional help. In general, misusing sedative-hypnotics like Ambien should be considered very dangerous due to the risk of overdose. Ambien is normally well-tolerated in adults and has a low risk of abuse and dependence.
This can include dangerous behaviors like wandering, driving, or aggressive actions toward others — all while unaware. People who snort Ambien often find themselves unable to sleep or relax without it. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued multiple warnings about Ambien’s potential for dangerous sleep behaviors, such as sleep-driving or eating while unconscious.
