Failing that, an alternative method may be necessary for some people, such as a switch to a benzodiazepine equivalent dose of a longer-acting benzodiazepine drug, as for diazepam or chlordiazepoxide, followed by a gradual reduction in dose of the long-acting benzodiazepine. Such effects may impair the ability of users to drive safely and increase risks of falls and hip fractures. Residual ‘hangover’ effects, such as sleepiness and impaired psychomotor and cognitive function, may persist into the day following nighttime administration. Use of zolpidem may impair driving skills with a resultant increased risk of road traffic accidents. It may be used for both improving sleep onset, sleep onset latency, and staying asleep.

Drug Categories

When misused, the risk of serious side effects is greatly increased, with some effects being potentially life-threatening. Even when used as intended, the drug can have several adverse side effects that a doctor must balance against a patient’s needs. If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or mental health challenges, reach out to explore your treatment options. Addiction treatment centers can help you overcome Ambien addiction with the help of medical detox and behavioral therapy. If you or someone you know has been snorting Ambien, it’s time to consider getting help. In the event of a suspected Ambien overdose, people should contact poison control or emergency medical services promptly.

Like zaleplon, zolpidem may increase slow-wave sleep but cause no effect on stage 2 sleep. Zolpidem has no affinity for γ1 and γ3 subunit-containing receptors and, like the vast majority of benzodiazepine-like drugs, it lacks affinity for receptors containing α4 and α6. Reported cases include extremely high daily doses, sometimes up to 6,000 mg, with withdrawal symptoms such as seizures, tremors, delirium, and irritability. A 2014 review found evidence of drug-seeking behavior, with prescriptions for zolpidem making up 20% of falsified or forged prescriptions.

Heightened Risk of Suicide

Misusing Ambien greatly increases a person’s risk of adverse side effects and overdose. While the medication has legitimate, accepted uses, it is prescribed with care and no variant is intended to be snorted. Altering Ambien away from its intended form, such as by crushing and snorting it, will increase the risk of side effects and put users in harm’s way. If that person is addicted, he or she may begin crushing and snorting Ambien to achieve the same effects they once did by swallowing it. Although one of the most widely prescribed drugs for insomnia treatment, Ambien is not intended to be used for periods of time that exceed two weeks. In some cases, people who snort Ambien in the long-term may become dependent or addicted to the drug, resulting in dangerous withdrawal symptoms when they attempt to quit.

The medication was originally meant to be an alternative to Halcion. Even though it is considered safe when snorting zolpidem taken as prescribed, abusing Ambien by means of insufflation can even lead to hallucinations, psychosis, and suicidal thoughts. Drug and alcohol addiction is a nationwide epidemic, please reach out if you or a loved one is suffering. For overdose and related medical emergencies please dial 911. Call us today to learn more about treatment options. Along with this day-to-day tapering schedule, our team may also administer medication (as needed) to mitigate the severity of withdrawals and make the process as safe and comfortable as possible.

Medication-Assisted Treatment

Operating machinery, driving, and even walking can be dangerous while asleep because the individual has no control over their actions. People who take Ambien have been found cooking, eating, walking, talking, and even driving while asleep. Ambien is notorious for leading to dangerous complex sleep-related behaviors. Like any medication, Ambien may cause a wide variety of side effects. In layman’s terms, snorting pills produces a faster and stronger high.

• When people snort Ambien or use it other than how it’s prescribed, they have a higher chance of experiencing these troubling side effects.
• If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or mental health challenges, reach out to explore your treatment options.
• This is why we create individualized treatment plans for all of our clients, combining a range of therapies to find the most effective treatment for you.
• Sedative-hypnotics are powerful drugs that change the way the brain operates.
• Someone who has had an overdose can be given flumazenil to mitigate symptoms and reverse the effects of intoxication.

Recovery, It’s In Our Nature!

• However, this medication is now known to be habit-forming, and Ambien abuse is on the rise.
• While the medication has legitimate, accepted uses, it is prescribed with care and no variant is intended to be snorted.
• This can impact their ability to function safely, increasing the risk of accidents or injuries.
• This list may not describe all possible side effects.

Thus, zolpidem favours binding to GABAA receptors located in the brain rather than the spine. Opposed to diazepam, zolpidem is able to bind to binary αβ GABA receptors, where it was shown to bind to the α1–α1 subunit interface. Zolpidem may be quantitated in blood or plasma to confirm a diagnosis of poisoning in people who are hospitalized, to provide evidence in an impaired driving arrest, or to assist in a medicolegal death investigation. While organ toxicity is rare, high doses can cause severe central nervous system effects.

Sleepwalking and complex sleep behaviors

Our drug and alcohol detox in Stuart is offered to people with all kinds of substance use disorders and is designed to slowly wean patients off their substances. For these reasons, our Stuart, Florida treatment center recommends medically monitored detox to individuals with drug dependencies or addictions so they can begin their recovery on the right foot. In addition to these risks, another disconcerting effect of Ambien is the emergence of complex behaviors while under its influence, such as sleepwalking. However, when the drug is crushed and snorted or inhaled, it’s absorbed directly into the brain and bloodstream all at once, producing stronger and more immediate side effects.

Why People Snort Ambien

Non-benzo hypnotic prescriptions, such as zolpidem, are often referred to as ‘Z drugs’ as a lot of the medications contain the letter Z. However, Ambien has been noted to induce euphoric effects, causing some people to crush and snort the drug. Boca Recovery Center is here to provide the best quality care in the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. A common issue when snorting drugs is bleeding from the small vessels in the nose.

Medical uses

If a person snorts Ambien, the drug is absorbed quickly and directly into the bloodstream and brain. The extended-release form contains a higher dose of medication; this increases the drug’s sedative effects. Similar to other sedative-hypnotics, Ambien (zolpidem) prescriptions are given to individuals who have difficulty falling or staying asleep. Ambien is the brand name for a drug called zolpidem, a sleep aid commonly used to help treat insomnia.

In 2023, it was the 54th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 11 million prescriptions. Get the in-person or virtual care you need. Mix any unused medication with a substance like cat litter or coffee grounds. This medication may cause accidental overdose and death if taken by other adults, children, or pets. Stop taking this medication and call your care team right away if you find out you have done activities like this.

Repeated drug use further irritates the mucous membrane, potentially causing inflammation and nasal damage. When someone snorts Ambien, their mucous membrane becomes extremely irritated. Let’s take a look at some of the most concerning dangers of zolpidem insufflation. According to the drug’s label and the FDA, patients should not split, chew, or crush these tablets. It also reduces the amount of time needed for the substance to break the blood-brain barrier. The most common reason for Ambien abuse is to achieve feelings of euphoria and relaxation.

Repeated use, especially repeated Ambien abuse, can increase a person’s tolerance for the drug and lead to dependence. Ambien is generally reported as having low abuse and addiction potential, but cases of sleeping pill abuse and dependence do still occur. It can also be easy to take too much Ambien when snorting it, making it easy to accidentally overdose.

The Psychological Impact: When Sleep Becomes Dependence

Other drugs, including benzodiazepines and zopiclone, are also found in high numbers of suspected drugged drivers. Recreational use is more prevalent in those having been dependent on other drugs in the past, but tolerance and drug dependence can still sometimes occur in those without a history of drug dependence. Cytochrome P450 inhibitors, particularly CYP3A4 and CYP1A2 inhibitors such as fluvoxamine, ciprofloxacin, and clarithromycin will increase the effects of a given dose of zolpidem. Some people taking antidepressants have had visual hallucinations when they also took zolpidem. Next day sedation can be worsened if people take zolpidem while they are also taking antipsychotics, other sedatives, anxiolytics, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and antihistamines. Use of opioids with zolpidem increases the risk of respiratory depression and death.

People who experiment with snorting Ambien or Zopiclone often do so seeking a fast high, unaware of the severe physical and psychological dangers involved. It wasn’t until she was able to get honest with herself and commit to the 12-step program that she was no longer a slave to drugs. Disappointed that her attempt had failed, she turned her attention back to drugs, this time experimenting with ecstasy, acid, and perc 30s. According to Harvard Health, behavioral therapies for sleep disorders lead to better long-term outcomes than sedative medications, improving mood and reducing relapse rates. After detox, treatment focuses on healing the brain and rebuilding healthy sleep patterns through evidence-based therapies. A supervised detox helps you taper off the drug safely while managing symptoms.