How Does Ambien Work?
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The Purpose of Ambien
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Ambien, or zolpidem tartrate, is a prescription medication used by people who have trouble falling or staying asleep. Ambien works by interacting with chemicals in your brain that are temporarily imbalanced. The drug is typically dispensed to cover a period of less than two weeks and is not intended for long-term use. The recommended Ambien dosage for most adults is 10 mg and should be taken within 15 minutes of going to bed.
Your Brain Before Ambien Enters Your System
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Ambien primarily interacts with a neurotransmitter known as GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). GABA's primary job is to facilitate communication among brain cells. When GABA is not interacting with Ambien, it is actively increasing and decreasing the activity of your brain cells. When Ambien enters your system, GABA's job changes.
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What Happens When Ambien Enters Your Brain
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When Ambien enters your brain, it encourages GABA to basically "turn off" the electrical activity of nearby brain cells. These brain cells stay "asleep" until the drug has worked its way out of your system. Ambien encourages GABA to target a specific part of the brain cell, which is why you are able to wake up without a serious drug-induced sleep hangover.
Why Ambien Requires Seven or More Hours of Sleep
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Memory problems and sleep disturbances have been reported by Ambien users who force themselves to wake up before the drug has finished working its way through the system. According to Sanofi Aventis, the makers of Ambien, little to no side effects are experienced by users who allow for seven to eight hours of sleep while taking the drug.
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