Zolpidem SL

EDLUAR

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Pronunciation: ZOL-pi-dem (ED-loo-ar)

Zolpidem SL ballicule: receptor binding, kinetics and half-life diagram — Mechanism of action: Zolpidem SL ballicule

Zolpidem SL AMBIEN mascot mnemonic cartoon — Visual mnemonic: Zolpidem SL mascot
**“Amnesia bean Soul pie”**

What it isZolpidem sublingual tablet (EDLUAR, 2009) — dissolves under the tongue for sleep-onset insomnia; same 5/10 mg doses and pharmacology as oral AMBIEN.

Why this oneSame molecule and receptor pharmacology as the parent card — the formulation (and its label) is the difference.

What limits itClass warnings of the parent molecule apply unchanged.

Zolpidem SL molecular structure (skeletal formula) — Molecular structure: Zolpidem SL

FDA-approved for

insomnia (sleep onset) (2009)

FDA label

Read the full label on DailyMed ↗

BOXED WARNING Complex sleep behaviors (sleep-walking, sleep-driving, other activities while not fully awake) may occur and can cause serious injury or death; discontinue immediately if they occur.

FDA dosing	Population	Start	Target	Max
Short-term treatment of insomnia (sleep-initiation difficulty)	Adults	5 mg (women); 5 or 10 mg (men) QHS	5 mg (women) / 5-10 mg (men) QHS	10 mg QD

Renal Undefined

Hepatic 5 mg once daily (do not clear drug as rapidly)

Instructions

Take only once per night immediately before bedtime with ≥7-8 hours remaining before awakening
Place sublingual tablet under the tongue to disintegrate; do not swallow the tablet and do not take with water
Effect may be slowed if taken with or immediately after a meal
Elderly/debilitated patients: 5 mg
Lower doses may be needed with concomitant CNS depressants
Monitor for withdrawal with rapid dose reduction/discontinuation

Available strengths

SL tab 5, 10 mg
cap 7.5 mg
tab 5, 10 mg
ER tab 6.25, 12.5 mg

Contraindications

Patients who have experienced complex sleep behaviors after taking Edluar

Cautions

CNS depressant effects and next-day impairment (incl. impaired driving); risk increases with dose, other CNS depressants, alcohol
Need to evaluate for co-morbid diagnosis if insomnia persists after 7-10 days
Severe anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions (angioedema) — do not rechallenge
Abnormal thinking/behavioral changes; worsening depression/suicidal ideation
Respiratory depression in compromised respiratory function; withdrawal effects

Adverse reactions

Drowsiness
Dizziness
Diarrhea
Drugged feeling
Headache

Pregnancy Late third-trimester use may cause neonatal respiratory depression and sedation; no drug-associated birth defect risk identified

Lactation Present in human milk; monitor breastfed infant for excess sedation, hypotonia, respiratory depression

Cost

Zolpidem SL (EDLUAR)

Strength		#/mo	generic $/mo	CostPlus
5 mg	SL tab	30 qd		not offered
10 mg	SL tab	30 qd		not offered

NADAC is a voluntary CMS survey of what retail community pharmacies pay for the drugs they stock. Zolpidem SL is dispensed outside retail pharmacies, so it rarely appears on surveyed invoices.

Other forms: Zolpidem (AMBIEN) · Zolpidem CR (AMBIEN CR)

⚠ BOXED WARNING

Complex sleep behaviors including sleepwalking and sleep-driving

Classes and tags

Clinical profile

Therapeutic safety burden2 / 4

Overdose danger2 / 4

Weight-gain liability0 / 4

Sedation liability3 / 4

QT / Torsades0 / 4

Direct muscarinic antagonism0 / 4

Embryofetal risk2 / 4

Legacy pregnancy categoryC

Defining liabilityComplex sleep behaviors, next-day impairment, falls and additive CNS depression.

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Memory aids: interaction avatars

CYP3A4 substrate

Open Zolpidem SL in the interactive console ↗