How Long Does Ambien (Zolpidem) Stay in Your System?
Key Takeaways
- Ambien treats insomnia and works by increasing GABA in the brain.
- Effects felt in 15 minutes; may last into the next day without enough sleep.
- Detectable in blood for 20 hours, urine for 24 to 48 hours, hair for weeks.
- Side effects include drowsiness, headache, dizziness, and nausea.
- Withdrawal symptoms can include fatigue, anxiety, panic, and seizures.
- Treatment options include therapy, rehab centers, and detox programs.
Ambien is the brand name of a drug known as zolpidem, a sedative-hypnotic medication. It’s a fast-acting drug to help people with insomnia and can cause sleepiness, unsteadiness, and the inability to drive.
The effects of Ambien are typically felt within the first 15 minutes of ingestion and may last into the next day without a full 7 to 8 hours of sleep. However, this can be influenced by other factors such as food consumption, body mass, and dosage.
In this article, we’ll discuss how long Ambien stays in your system, its side effects, and its addictive potential. You’ll also learn the symptoms and available treatment for Ambien addiction.
How Long Does Ambien Stay in Your System?
Ambien usually stays in your system for less than a day. Its half-life ranges from 1.5 hours to 4.5 hours, and it averages about 2 hours for most people who take it.
Zolpidem is available as an immediate-release tablet (Ambien) or in an extended-release form (Ambien CR). Of course, immediate-release tablets are detectable earlier, and higher doses of prescription drugs last longer in the system.
The following are different tests that can detect Ambien in your system:
- Blood test: A blood test can typically detect Ambien in your blood for up to 20 hours.
- Saliva test: A saliva drug test may be able to trace Ambien within 15 minutes of taking the medicine. It can also detect Ambien in your saliva for up to 8 hours after taking it.
- Hair test: A test of your hair follicle may show traces of Ambien for up to five weeks after the last time you took the drug.
- Urine test: A urine test can detect Ambien in your urine for about 24 to 48 hours after your last dose.
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Who Shouldn’t Take Ambien?
Ambien can help treat the symptoms of insomnia, which include fatigue, malaise, and mood disturbances, to name a few. In most cases, Ambien is safe when used as a short-term treatment (2 to 6 weeks).
However, you shouldn’t take Ambien if you:
- Experience complex sleep behaviors like sleepwalking after taking it
- Drank alcohol at any time during the day
- Take other medications that make you feel tired
- Have an allergic reaction to drugs containing Zolpidem
- Have health conditions that cause you to be extremely tired
- Have a history of substance abuse
- Have mental health disorders like anxiety or depression that can lead to improper substance use or amplify symptoms like fatigue.
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What are the Side Effects of Ambien?
Like all medications, there are some side effects of Ambien of which you should be aware. Some of these side effects include:
- Drowsiness or tiredness
- Headache
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Difficulty keeping balance
- Nausea with or without vomiting
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Stomach pain or tenderness
- Changes to appetite
- Heartburn and chest pain
- Racing heart
- Trembling
- Numbness or tingling
- Unusual dreams
- Dry mouth or throat
- Ringing, pain, or itching in the ears
- Eye redness or yellowness
- Joint and muscle aches or cramps
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Rash, hives, or itchiness
- Swelling
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Blurred vision
What are the Severe Side Effects of Ambien?
Ambien may cause some life-threatening sleep behaviors. For example, some people who have taken Ambien have gotten out of their beds to drive (sleep-driving).
In other cases, people may prepare food, engage in sexual activities, make phone calls, and sleepwalk. You may not remember doing any of these activities after you fully wake up.
We recommend following the directions on your prescription label carefully. Only take Ambien as directed, and speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions about your prescription. Alert your doctor immediately if any serious side effects occur.
Is Ambien Addictive?
Sleeping pills like Ambien are considered safe, especially when taken as directed for short periods. However, it’s a federally controlled substance (C-IV) because it’s habit-forming.
Some people can abuse Ambien and become dependent on it, potentially increasing their tolerance. Here are some relevant statistics related to Ambien addiction:
- An estimated 46,000 adolescents between 12 and 17 years old misuse prescription tranquilizers and sedatives like Ambien.
- 1.7 million young adults between 18 and 25 also admit to using these kinds of drugs.
- 4.3 million adults over the age of 25 report misusing prescription tranquilizers or sedatives.
What are the Symptoms of Ambien Addiction?
Symptoms of Ambien addiction include the following:
- Crushing or snorting Ambien instead of swallowing it
- Taking more tablets than directed
- Taking a higher dose than instructed
- Taking someone else’s Ambien prescription
- Appearing overly tired or under the influence throughout the day
- Requesting regular refills
- Doctor shopping to get more Ambien prescriptions
- Lying about Ambien use
- Letting personal and professional obligations fall by the wayside
- Experiencing overwhelming urges to use sedatives
- Needing to increase Ambien intake to achieve desired effects
What are the Symptoms of Ambien Withdrawal?
Ambien withdrawal symptoms may include the following:
- Fatigue
- Anxiety
- Panic
- Uncontrollable crying
- Memory loss
- Skin flushing
- Nausea with or without vomiting
- Stomach cramps
- Seizures
If you or a loved one is experiencing Ambien withdrawal symptoms, seek medical advice from your healthcare professional. Treatment options for unhealthy drug use are available.
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What are the Treatment Options for Ambien Addiction?
Ambien addiction treatment is available. Here are some options to treat Ambien addiction:
- Traditional therapy: It helps unpack triggers that cause you to abuse Ambien.
- Inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation centers: These can help in safely weaning you off of Ambien.
- Detox programs: These help you become less dependent on Ambien.
If you or someone you know has an addiction to prescription medications, we strongly suggest reaching out to your healthcare provider. They can recommend treatment programs in your area to help you get better.
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- Moshfeghinia et al. “Severe chronic abuse of zolpidem for over 10 years: a case report and review of similar cases.” Front Psychiatry, 2023.
- Bouchette et al. “Zolpidem.” Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, 2024.
- “Ambien (Zolpidem) Uses, Side Effects, Dosage, Overdose, Interactions.” RxList, 2022.
- “THE AMBIEN BRAND: WHERE MILLIONS HAVE TURNED WHEN HAVING TROUBLE FALLING ASLEEP.” Ambien.com.
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Questions and Answers: Risk of next-Morning Impairment after Use of Insomnia Drugs; FDA Requires Lower Recommended Doses for Certain Drugs Containing Zolpidem (Ambien, Ambien CR, Edluar, and Zolpimist).” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, 2018.
- Pacheco D. “Symptoms of Insomnia.” Sleep Foundation, 2020.
