New short-acting sleeping pill available in pharmacies
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A new drug using the same active ingredient as Ambien is available in pharmacies for people who suffer from middle-of-the-night insomnia, Purdue Pharma L.P. announced Thursday.
The pill, called Intermezzo (generic zolpidem tartrate) is available in 1.75 milligram and 3.5 mg doses. Your doctor must write a prescription for this medication.
The pill is approved to be taken by patients who awaken in the middle of the night. Its predecessor Ambien is used only if a person has a full eight hours to devote to sleep, but Intermezzo is shorter-acting, lasting only four hours.
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"Patients with middle-of-the-night insomnia now have a treatment option approved for dosing in the middle of the night," said Dr. Joseph Lieberman, professor of Family Medicine and associate editor of the Delaware Medical Journal, in a press release.
"The availability of Intermezzo is an important treatment option for patients who suffer with this form of insomnia and want a treatment that they can use as needed to fall back to sleep in the middle of the night when they have difficulty returning to sleep."
Intermezzo, which is spearmint-flavored, is placed under the tongue to dissolve. It was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in November 2011.
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Intermezzo should not be taken while drinking alcohol or taking other sedatives. People who plan on driving within the next four hours of taking the drug should not take Intermezzo.