How much Ambien is too much?

Too much Ambien can cause overdose, but it’s relatively difficult to reach fatal levels of Ambien in the system. More on Ambien overdose and safe dosing here.

3
minute read

Zolpidem, the main ingredient in Ambien is not meant for Ambien long term use.  But how much Ambien can you take daily? And how much Ambien is too much Ambien? In this article, we’ll look more into how much Ambien is too much. And we invite your questions about Ambien at the end.

Guidelines for taking Ambien

The recommended daily dose of Ambien is 10 mg, once a day before bed. You should not take more than this, as an addition Ambien or two can cause adverse side effects. And taking as little as 70 mg at once has caused significant health problems. But it takes almost 40 times prescription doses of Ambien to cause overdose.

Ambien strengths

Ambien is a sleeping medication used to treat insomnia and other related disorders. Ambien is available as both an immediate release and extended release tablet. Ambien comes in 5mg and 10 mg strength tablets.

How much Ambien is safe?

It’s hard to overdose on Ambien, but it is possible. The recommended daily dose is 10 mg, once a day before bed. As little at 70 mg of Ambien at once can cause health problems. One or even two extra Ambien is probably safe in a healthy adult, but because of the adverse side effects of this medication, it’s not advisable. At 40 times that recommended dose, 400 mg, cases of non-fatal overdose have been reported.  Death from Ambien has occurred at 2000 mg doses.

Note here that you can develop a tolerance to Ambien and eventual dependence or addiction, but doctors usually don’t prescribe Ambien for more than a few weeks due to its habit-forming properties.  Taking Ambien other than prescribed increases risk of addiction as well as dangerous side effects.  For example,  snorting Ambien side effects can include blurred vision, vomiting or even a coma.

How much Ambien can you take at once?

Only 10 mg of Ambien should be taken in the evenings. If the dose of Ambien is a controlled release version, you shouldn’t crush or chew the pills, because this action releases the medication too quickly. And you should also take Ambien only as needed for medical reasons. Taking Ambien to “get high” can have unpleasant side effects like memory loss and acting out behaviors in your sleep (including driving) which can put you at risk for physical harm.

When you use Ambien (zolpidem) in higher doses or frequency than suggested, you put yourself at risk of addiction and overdose. You can learn more about Zolpidem Addiction and Treatment Program considerations, what you can do to address it, and your long-term rehab and recovery options. Help is available TODAY!

How much Ambien to overdose?

You’ll probably experience an overdose on Ambien if you take between 400-600 mg of Ambien. The exact amount varies from person to person. Again, even little as 7 times the normal dose can make you sick, although an Ambien overdose probably won’t do any permanent damage.

Toxic levels of Ambien in the system

You can overdose on Ambien by taking with immediate release or controlled release Ambien orally. But it’s much easier to overdose on Ambien by taking it in ways other than prescribed. Taking more Ambien than prescribed, more frequently that prescribed can cause problems with Ambien. Furthermore, crushing the Ambien and snorting it, or dissolving it in water and injecting it, increases your risk of overdose.

How much Ambien is fatal?

The reported fatal dose of Ambien is a whopping 2000 mg, 200 times higher than the normal dose. Since doctors normally only prescribe this medication for 7-10 days, it would be very difficult to obtain enough Ambien for a fatal dose. Instead, you’re more likely to make yourself seriously ill by abusing the medication.

How much Ambien should I take?

You should take the amount of Ambien prescribed to you by your doctor. Never take more than recommended by a medical professional, and only take this oral medication as directed.

Too much Ambien questions

Do you still have questions about taking too much Ambien? Please leave your questions here. We are happy to try to help you answer any question about Ambien, or refer you to someone who can. Your experiences with Ambien are also welcomed.

Reference sources: ToxNet: Zolpidem
FDA: Medication Guide Ambien Tablets C-IV

DailyMed: Ambien Tablet
About the author
Lee Weber is a published author, medical writer, and woman in long-term recovery from addiction. Her latest book, The Definitive Guide to Addiction Interventions is set to reach university bookstores in early 2019.
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