Q. A while back, your column provided an answer to a man who woke up too early and couldn’t get back to sleep. There are medications that are supposed to help, like sublingual zolpidem. It contains the same ingredient as Ambien and is taken under the tongue for faster relief.
I am taking zolpidem as a pill that I swallow with water. What’s the difference between sublingual zolpidem and what I am taking?
A. We recently received a comment from a reader who occasionally puts a piece of a zolpidem tablet under the tongue to fall asleep. The sublingual formulation is specifically designed to help people get back to sleep after waking in the middle of the night. The dose is 1.75 milligrams for women and 3.5 milligrams for men. Those over age 65 should take the 1.75 milligram dose.
You can learn more about zolpidem and other strategies for insomnia in our “eGuide to Getting a Good Night’s Sleep.” This online resource can be found under the Health eGuides tab at www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.
* * *
In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of King Features, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803, or email them via their website: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com. Their newest book is “Top Screwups Doctors Make and How to Avoid Them.”
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Source link