Does Ambien Cause Weight Gain Or Loss? Facts and Risks Explained

People taking Ambien for insomnia often face a significant number of side effects. Some of these effects are weird sleeping behaviors like eating in deep sleep. It is so concerning that many people think they are gaining weight because of this behavior. So the question is how does Ambien cause weight gain? Some people have often been diagnosed with a disorder that makes one eat in sleep. To gain a clear understanding of this phenomenon we will shed light on how the drug works in our body and what causes such repercussions that lead to weight gain. Let us get deep into this problem.

Understanding Ambien Drug

Ambien is a sedative-hypnotic Z drug used for insomnia. It is sold under other brand names too like Intermezzo, Zolpimist and Edluar. Zolpidem is also popular because it is the generic version of the drug. Ambien is sold in the market in many forms such as its immediate-release tablets, the extended-release version called Ambien CR, sublingual pills and oral sprays. The Ambien pill is mostly administered in 5 mg and 10 mg per dosage and the instructions depend on the doctors who decide how intense your insomnia is. Ambien must be taken safely as it is a highly potent drug with a Schedule IV label from the DEA.

How Does Ambien Work?

Ambien works by enhancing the effects of the GABA receptors in our brain. These receptors inhibit the GABAergic neurotransmitters which can increase excitability. By increasing the affinity of GABA receptors by binding to their α subunits, Ambien increases the inhibition of the neurotransmitters. This leads to the opening of calcium chloride channels that inhibit the nerve cells causing excitement and attentiveness. In this way Ambien induces sedation and helps one sleep. This mechanism can help you the most when you take the Ambien sleeping pill 30 minutes before sleep. This will help you have a sound sleep for 7-8 hours.

Can Ambien Cause Weight Gain?

Yes, Ambien can make you gain weight but it does not do it directly. As a medication Ambien has no properties that can lead to gain in weight. Perhaps it can affect your eating habits as people often feel hungrier than usual after waking up from its effects. Ambien may also reduce physical activity which can make you gain weight. This is because one does not lose enough calories when they limit their physical output due to drowsiness caused by the drug. But there is one diagnosis that happens due to Ambien use which can be directly linked to weight gain.

Why Does Ambien Cause Weight Gain?

One of the main reasons behind Ambien causing weight gain is a disorder caused by it. Sleep-related eating disorder is a disorder that makes people eat in deep sleep. In most cases people have no memory of eating at night the next morning. A chapter on SRED in the Handbook of Clinical Neurology says that people arise after 2-3 hours of sleep onset and eat high-calorie food to fulfill the urge of the subconscious mind. This affects our health drastically as it makes us obese and causes us to gain weight. SRED can be caused by Ambien when you might already be dealing with other problems caused by the hypnotic drug like restless leg syndrome or sleep apnea.

Other Factors That Increase Weight

Besides SRED, there are many more factors that lead to Ambien weight gain. Many people who take this drug experience drowsiness and a sort of hangover the day after. This makes the person very weak to perform any physical activity. Calorie intake eventually increases with low levels of energy. Ambien also causes metabolic changes in the body when not taken properly. An overdose of Ambien can cause disruption in sleep cycles. This leads to poor quality of sleep which is a known reason behind weight gain. Anxiety or depression is also one of the side effects of Ambien that sometimes makes people eat more to keep up with mental health challenges.

Efforts To Manage Weight Gain In Ambien Use

Now that we know how does Ambien cause weight gain, it is important to understand how to take Ambien safely. Taking sleeping drugs safely prevents side effects. The first step is to understand what not to do when you are under an Ambien dosage. We will then learn a few things to help us maintain a healthy body weight while on medication. If there is any kind of dependence on Ambien, then its addiction treatments will help us deal with the withdrawal and urge to take pills to secure a sound sleep. Let us understand these three steps one by one.

Things To Avoid Strictly In Ambien Dose

The US Food and Drug Administration has set strict guidelines for the use of Ambien. Besides those guidelines there are other things that we must also keep in mind while taking the drug. Here are some of those rules to follow.

• The FDA advises us not to change our Ambien dose on our own.
• Avoid mixing Ambien with Oxycodone or similar opioids.
• Taking more than one tablet of the drug in a single night is not at all advisable.
• Do not take Ambien after drinking alcohol. Avoid taking the latter when you are taking the sleeping pill.
• Avoid taking up focus-seeking activities like driving or dealing with machinery under Ambien influence.
• Do not take Ambien for more than 7-10 days. Doctors prescribe it for a short period of time.

How To Manage Body Weight While Taking Ambien?

Maintaining your body weight can be a bit difficult under a Zolpidem dosage. The peculiar side effect of sleep eating can happen to anybody. Let us take note of the steps that can help us maintain our weight.

• Ask someone in your house to lock up the kitchen at night and keep the keys with them. This will help when you wake up to eat in deep sleep.
• Reduce high-calorie and sugary foods from your diet as one can grow cravings for them.
• Taking light meals in a 2-3 hour gap 4-5 times a day can be more effective than full 3 meals a day for Ambien use. This ensures you take the drug on an empty stomach and also keeps your weight in check. An article in The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology discusses something similar to this point.
• Not sleeping well increases weight easily as per a study by the Sleep Research Society and many other studies. So sleep well for the approved time for a healthy sleep, i.e., 7-8 hours.

Fight Ambien Dependence

If you cannot stop using the drug and it causes weight gain, seek rehabilitation for Ambien use. Numerous Ambien addiction treatments have helped people in this case. The very first thing to reduce dependence on the drug is to remove it from the system. Doctors replace Ambien with drugs like Lunesta, Restoril and Rozerem. The next move involves certain forms of therapy that help with sleep. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBTi) is the most effective therapy that allows one to structure their sleeping habits to avoid dependence on medications. Further, Relapse Prevention can stop one from using Ambien again by identifying why they feel the urge to take the drug.

Conclusion

The makers and manufacturers of Ambien, Sanofi-Aventis, claim that sleep eating is one of the rarer side effects of the drug. While many can debate about it, one of the only ways in which people can stop gaining weight with Ambien is by taking the medication properly. With that Ambien users should sleep at night without any disturbance as a full night’s sleep is a must. Using Ambien alternatives might also carry their own share of risks, but use the ones having better safety profile than Ambien. At last, we must get rid of Ambien dependence to continue having a sound sleep without feeling hungry at odd hours.