Zolpidem is a sedative that can be prescribed for the treatment of insomnia in patients that have trouble dealing with this condition without medical help. This medicine is supposed to be taken for only a short period of time to help you restore your healthy sleep patterns. Although zolpidem is intended for short-term treatment and is often prescribed to be taken as needed, in some cases the patients are supposed to take it for several weeks in a row (no more than 5 though). If you have been taking this drug for a long time, you may have developed an addiction, and the following symptoms can be displayed if you start taking this medication: panic, anxiety, vomiting, sweating, muscle cramps, behavior changes, nausea, seizure, and stomach pain. To avoid these symptoms, make sure you practice gradual withdrawal and use less and less of this medicine every several days. Your doctor needs to know if you have ever been diagnosed with any health conditions that may potentially interfere with the success of your treatment. Make sure you mention any of the following ones before asking your health care provider for a prescription, as their presence may affect the dose you are prescribed: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, liver disease, asthma, suicidal thoughts, kidney disease, mental illness, a history of drug or alcohol addiction, sleep apnea, myasthenia gravis, depression, emphysema, and bronchitis. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have ever been allergic to zolpidem or other drugs, as you may not be able to take this medication at all. Sleepiness, lightheadedness, coma, shallow breathing, confusion, and fainting can indicate you have taken too much of this medicine and need emergency medical assistance. An overdose of zolpidem may lead to death if you do not get the medical attention you need. The following serious side effects are rarely reported by patients taking zolpidem: depression, unusual thoughts, aggression, confusion, hallucinations, and anxiety. These side effects are quite rare and need to be reported as soon as you get them, as they may indicate you are not getting the full benefits of your treatment and a dose adjustment may be required. Less serious side effects of this drug are more likely and may include some of the following: dizziness, nausea, weakness, amnesia, constipation, muscle pain, stuffy nose, and headache. Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medications at the moment, such as chlorpromazine, sertraline, itraconazole, imipramine, rifampin, or ketoconazole, as this may prevent you from enjoying the beneficial effects of your treatment. This medicine is FDA pregnancy category C. This category is used for medicines that may do harm to an unborn or nursing baby and should be therefore avoided by pregnant or breastfeeding women. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, make sure you talk to your doctor about treating insomnia in some other way, as taking zolpidem may not always be the best choice.