Ambien vs. Ambien CR

Zolpidem, also known as Ambien and Ambien CR, is a narcotic prescription pill approved by the Food and Drug Administration to help people with sleeping problems. However, there is a major difference between Ambien and Ambien CR, according to the manufacturer's website. Ambien allows patients to fall asleep, while Ambien CR not only enables patients to fall asleep but has a second layer of the active drug that better enables people to safely stay asleep. In the United States and most other countries, both Ambien and Ambien CR are only legally available by a doctor's prescription.

How It Works

Ambien CR has two layers of zolpidem; the first layer works just like regular Ambien and helps patients safely and quickly fall asleep. However, the second layer works through controlled release and puts more zolpidem into the patient's system, enabling them to stay asleep about seven hours. Ambien CR was formulated in response to people on regular Ambien waking up earlier than desired.

Warning

Any form of zolpidem could cause significant adverse effects; some people have taken either version of Ambien and been able to wake up and eat, drive, or have sex and then not remember the event. In addition, hallucinations, agitation, confusion, and extremely outgoing or aggressive behavior is a rare but possible effect of taking Ambien or Ambien CR. Addiction and overdose leading to death is also a possibility.

Common Side Effects

Headache, daytime drowsiness and dizziness are the most common side effects reported with Ambien or Ambien CR use. Because of the possibility of daytime drowsiness and its potential effect on daily tasks, such as driving or operating machinery, caution during these activities is advised until the patient knows how much zolpidem will affect him the next day.

Depression Effects

Patients with depression may not wish to take Ambien or Ambien CR, and if they do should be carefully monitored by a doctor. Depression has worsened and even possibly caused or contributed to suicidal thoughts when such patients took zolpidem. In addition, patients should never drink alcohol or take other medications without a doctor or pharmacist's advice when taking Ambien, since this can worsen depression or even lead to overdose and death.

Cost

Ambien and Ambien CR are usually covered by most insurance companies. However, the amount of co-payment due will depend on the individual's health plan. Coupons and free trials for Ambien CR are often available, and patient assistance programs for uninsured people with low income are offered. As of 2009, Ambien CR was not available as a generic drug, but regular Ambien was. Generic zolpidem tartrate costs about $18 for 30 pills of 5 mg, as opposed to about $159 for 30 brand-name Ambien pills. As of 2009, the approximate cost of 30 Ambien CR pills of 6.25 mg each was $149. Additional dosage strengths are also offered for generic Ambien, regular Ambien and Ambien CR.