Drug Interactions between Ambien and Visicol

GENERALLY AVOID: Alcohol may potentiate some of the pharmacologic effects of zolpidem. Use in combination may result in additive central nervous system depression and/or impairment of judgment, thinking, and psychomotor skills.

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Administration of zolpidem with food may delay the onset of hypnotic effects. In 30 healthy subjects, administration of zolpidem 20 minutes after a meal resulted in decreased mean peak plasma drug concentration (Cmax) and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) by 25% and 15%, respectively, compared to fasting. The time to reach peak plasma drug concentration (Tmax) was prolonged by 60%, from 1.4 to 2.2 hours.

MANAGEMENT: Patients receiving zolpidem should be advised to avoid the consumption of alcohol. For faster sleep onset, zolpidem should not be administered with or immediately after a meal.

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Bowel cleansing products can increase the gastrointestinal transit rate. Oral medications administered within one hour of the start of administration of the bowel cleansing solution may be flushed from the gastrointestinal tract and not properly absorbed.

MANAGEMENT: Patients should be advised that absorption of oral medications may be impaired during bowel cleansing treatment. Oral medications (e.g., anticonvulsants, oral contraceptives, antidiabetic agents, antibiotics) should not be administered during and within one hour of starting bowel cleansing treatment whenever possible. However, if concomitant use cannot be avoided, monitoring for reduced therapeutic effects may be advisable.