Zolpidem (Ambien) is a medication that treats insomnia. It helps you fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. Learn how Ambien works for insomnia, its benefits, side effects, and safer alternatives. A must-read guide for anyone using or considering Ambien. Ambien (zolpidem) is a prescription sleep medication that slows brain activity to help you fall asleep faster, typically within 15 to 30 minutes of taking it. It works differently from older sedatives, targeting a narrower set of receptors in the brain, but it still carries real risks: memory blackouts, next-day impairment, and a potential for. Zolpidem (Ambien) is commonly used short-term to help treat insomnia. It can be used to help people fall asleep faster or help them wake up less times during the night. Ambien (Zolpidem) is a sedative-hypnotic (sleep) medicine. AMBIEN is used in adults for the short-term treatment of a sleep problem called insomnia. Learn about side effects, dosage, interactions, and warning. Ambien, with the active ingredient zolpidem, is FDA-approved to treat insomnia. It’s in a drug class with sedative/hypnotic medications. Ambien targets specific receptors in the brain that inhibit certain types of activity in the brain, which can induce and maintain sleep. As of September 2018, zolpidem is marketed under many brands, examples include: Ambien 5 mg & 10 mg (IR oral tablets), Ambien CR 6.25 mg & 12.5 mg (controlled release tablets), Edluar 5 mg & 10 mg (sublingual tablets), Intermezzo 1.75 mg & 3.5 mg (sublingual tablets), and ZolpiMist 5 mg (oral spray). [1][101][13] Ambien (zolpidem) is not a benzo (benzodiazepine), it is unique in its action and does not resemble benzodiazepines or barbiturates at all. But it does work similarly. Both benzodiazepines and Ambien are thought to enhance the effects of a specific neurotransmitter in the brain called GABA. Zolpidem is used to treat insomnia (trouble sleeping). It belongs to the group of medicines called central nervous system (CNS) depressants, which slows down the nervous system. Zolpidem will help you get to sleep faster and sleep throughout the night. Ambien (zolpidem) affects chemicals in the brain that may be unbalanced in people with sleep problems (insomnia). Ambien is used to treat insomnia. The immediate-release tablet is used to help you fall asleep when you first go to bed.