DETERMINING IF A PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE PROBLEM EXISTS : Answering “yes” to any of the following questions may indicate a problem with the use of pain medication: What You Need  Are you using someone’s else’s prescription? to Know  Are you obtaining drugs from an illicit source or by illegal means?

 Are you no longer using the drugs for the symptoms POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF for which it was originally prescribed? MISUSE OR ABUSE  Are you lying about or hiding your use? Chronic use of opioids can result in tolerance for the drugs, which means that users must take higher doses  Are you obtaining medications from multiple to achieve the same initial effects. Long-term use, if physicians. not taken as prescribed, can lead to and addiction — the body adapts to the  Have your friends, family members, or co-workers presence of the drug, and withdrawal symptoms occur expressed concern? if use is reduced WARNINGSor stopped. & PRECAUTIONS  Before taking zolpidem tartrate: Are you preoccupied about your medication, Symptoms of withdrawal include restlessness,Zolpidem Tartrate muscle focused on the next dose, and concerned about how • Zolpidem tartrate will make you fall asleep. (Ambien, Ambien CR, Edluar Never take this medication during your normal Growing Threat of and bone pain, , diarrhea, vomiting,Zolpimist) cold you will obtain more drugs? waking hours, unless you have a full 7 to 8 flashes with goosehours bumps to dedicate to sleeping. ("cold turkey"), and involuntary leg movements. Finally, taking a large  Do you fill your prescription sooner than would be • Some people using this medicine have engaged Prescription Drug COMMONsingle SIDE EFFECTSdose OF of an opioidin activity such as driving, could eating, or making cause severe respiratory expected and make excuses for why? ZOLPIDEM TARTRATE: phone calls and later having no memory of that canthe activity. lead If this happens to to you,death. stop taking However, many Stopstudies using zolpidem tartrate have and call your doctorshown at zolpidem that tartrate and talkproperly with your doctor about managed medical Abuse once if you have any of these serious side effects: another treatment for your disorder. use of opioid analgesic drugs is safe and rarely causes Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection • depressed mood, thoughts of hurting yourself • Do not use this medication if you are allergic clinical addiction.to zolpidem tartrate. The tablets may contain Prescription Monitoring Program • unusual thoughts, risk-taking behavior, lactose. Use caution if you are sensitive to 165 Capitol Avenue, Room 145 MIXINGdecreased inhibitions, no fear of danger OPIOIDlactose. DRUGS WITH Hartford, CT 06106 • anxiety, aggression, feeling restless or agitated • Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, ExtendedGrowing UsageThreat Can of OTHER MEDICATIONSor if you have disease, disease, • , confusion, loss of personality and/or myasthenia gravis. LeadPrescription to Drug AbuseDrug (860) 713-6073 • www.ct.gov/dcp LessOnly serious zolpidem under tartrate side effects a may physician's supervision canandAbuse Addiction opioids be include:used safely with other drugs. Typically, they should • daytime drowsiness, dizziness, weakness, Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection notfeeling “drugged” be or usedlight-headed with otherPrescription substances Monitoring Program that depress the central nervous system,450 Columbus such Blvd, Suite 901 as , M. Jodi Rell Jerry Farrell, Jr. • lack of coordination Hartford, CT 06103 , ,(860) 713-6073 • www.ct.gov/dcp , or Governor Commissioner • generalamnesia, forgetfulness anesthetics, because these combinations Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection • increasevivid or abnormal dreams the risk of life-threatening respiratory Prescription Monitoring Program Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection • depression.nausea, constipation Prescription Monitoring Program This brochure was funded in part by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office (860) 713-6073 • www.ct.gov/dcp (860) 713-6073 • www.ct.gov/dcp of Justice Programs - Award # 2006-FO531-CT-PM BX-0016. Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse DETERMINING IF A PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE PROBLEM EXISTS OPIOIDS: Answering “yes” to any of the following questions may indicate a problem with the use of pain medication: What You Need  Are you using someone’s else’s prescription? to Know  Are you obtaining drugs from an illicit source or by illegal means?

 Are you no longer using the drugs for the symptoms POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF for which it was originally prescribed? OPIOID MISUSE OR ABUSE  Are you lying about or hiding your use? Chronic use of opioids can result in tolerance for the drugs, which means that users must take higher doses  Are you obtaining medications from multiple to achieve the same initial effects. Long-term use, if physicians. not taken as prescribed, can lead to physical dependence and addiction — the body adapts to the  Have your friends, family members, or co-workers presence of the drug, and withdrawal symptoms occur expressed concern? if use is reduced or stopped.  Are you preoccupied about your medication, Symptoms of withdrawal include restlessness, muscle focused on the next dose, and concerned about how and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold you will obtain more drugs? Growing Threat of flashes with goose bumps ("cold turkey"), and involuntary leg movements. Finally, taking a large  Do you fill your prescription sooner than would be Prescription Drug single dose of an opioid could cause severe respiratory expected and make excuses for why? depression that can lead to death. However, many studies have shown that properly managed medical Abuse use of opioid analgesic drugs is safe and rarely causes Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection clinical addiction. Prescription Monitoring Program MIXING OPIOID DRUGS WITH 165 Capitol Avenue, Room 145 Hartford, CT 06106 OTHER MEDICATIONS (860) 713-6073 • www.ct.gov/dcp Only under a physician's supervision can opioids be used safely with other drugs. Typically, they should not be used with other substances that depress the central nervous system, such as alcohol, M. Jodi Rell Jerry Farrell, Jr. antihistamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, or Governor Commissioner general anesthetics, because these combinations Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection increase the risk of life-threatening respiratory Prescription Monitoring Program depression. This brochure was funded in part by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office (860) 713-6073 • www.ct.gov/dcp of Justice Programs - Award # 2006-FO531-CT-PM BX-0016. Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse

WHAT IS ZOLPIDEM TARTRATE?

Zolpidem tartrate is a - drug. It affects chemicals in your brain that may become unbalanced and cause sleep problems (insomnia).

Zolpidem tartrate is used for the short-term treatment of insomnia (difficulty falling or staying asleep). This medication causes relaxation to help WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS TAKING ZOLPIDEM TARTRATE you fall asleep. Zolpidem tartrate withdrawal symptoms may occur Take zolpidem tartrate exactly as it was prescribed Zolpidem Tartrate Abuse & Addiction when drug is stopped or dose is lowered too quickly. for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended When taken for extended periods of time, zolpidem Symptoms include but are not limited to: by your doctor. Follow the directions on your tartrate does become addictive and a prescription label. can develop. Zolpidem tartrate is abused for its • abnormal extroversion or aggressive behavior sedative, euphoric and hallucinogenic effects. Take zolpidem tartrate only if you have a full 7 to • agitation 8 hours available for sleeping before you must be Transition from medical use of zolpidem tartrate active again. to high-dose addiction can occur when doctor’s • anxiety recommendations for use are not followed or Do not crush, chew, or break a zolpidem tartrate when the drug is taken for reasons unrelated to • confusion tablet. Swallow the tablet whole. It is specially sleeplessness. Because persons with a history of manufactured to release medicine slowly in the addiction to, or abuse of, drugs or alcohol are at • hallucinations body. Breaking the tablet would cause an increase increased risk for the misuse, abuse and addiction in the amount of medication released into the body of zolpidem tartrate, they should be monitored • insomnia at one time. carefully when receiving zolpidem tartrate or any other sedative-hypnotic drug. • loss of personal identity Ask your pharamacist if you need any additional counseling on the medication. A pharmacist will be When zolpidem tartrate abuse occurs, people may • strange behavior able to provide you with printed information sheets take it orally, crush and snort it, or cook it for an and answer any other questions you may have on intravenous injection. • suicidal thoughts the medication.

• worsening of depression