Ambien - How long does it stays in your system? I have a drug test for work?

Q: Ambien - How long does it stays in your system? I have a drug test for work?

It takes approximately 11 hours for Ambien to be eliminated from your body. The half-life of Ambien is 2 hours. Generally it is considered that it takes 5.5 x half-life for a drug to be removed from the body, in that it is considered to no longer have a clinical effect. So for Ambien it would take approximately 11 hours (2 hours X 5.5) to be eliminated from your body. Elimination of a drug varies from person to person due to factors like age, weight, other medications taken, or other medical conditions present, also kidney function, liver function etc. Therefore half-life is used as a guide, or an estimate of how long it may take for the drug to be removed from the body.

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on April 7, 2025.

Official Answer by Drugs.com

Have to take a drug test for work. How long does it stay in your system?

It takes approximately 11 hours for Ambien to be eliminated from your body. The half-life of Ambien is 2 hours. Generally it is considered that it takes 5.5 x half-life for a drug to be removed from the body, in that it is considered to no longer have a clinical effect. So for Ambien it would take approximately 11 hours (2 hours X 5.5) to be eliminated from your body.

Elimination of a drug varies from person to person due to factors like age, weight, other medications taken, or other medical conditions present, also kidney function, liver function etc. Therefore half-life is used as a guide, or an estimate of how long it may take for the drug to be removed from the body.

Why am I unable to sleep after taking Ambien?

Most people who take Ambien feel sedated and fall asleep, as expected, but rarely, some people show the opposite effect and become aroused or are unable to fall asleep. Experts aren’t sure exactly why this happens, but some research has suggested that because Ambien affects the inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA and inhibitory neurons, this allows excitatory neurons responsible for transmitting activity to re-awaken and become active again because the inhibitory neurons are “asleep”. Continue reading

Quviviq vs. Ambien: How do they compare?

Both Quviviq and Ambien are oral prescription medicines used to help with trouble sleeping (known as insomnia). Quviviq and Ambien CR are used for adults who have trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep, while Ambien is used to help with sleep onset due to a shorter duration of action. Continue reading

Xanax vs Ambien: How do they compare?

Xanax (alprazolam) is a benzodiazepine, and Ambien (zolpidem) is a non-benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotic. Both Xanax and Ambien enhance the effects of a neurotransmitter in the brain called GABA, but they are used to treat different health conditions. Continue reading

Ambien - How long does it stays in your system? I have a drug test for work?

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Why am I unable to sleep after taking Ambien?

Quviviq vs. Ambien: How do they compare?

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