Will Be Short Of Ambien Medicine. Can Extra Xanax Be Taken To Get Sleep?

Posted on Wed, 18 Sep 2013

Question: I will be short 3 ambien and my doctor is on vacation. Can I take extra zANAX TO GET SOME SLEEP IF THE ISNSURANCE COMPANY WONT REVEW M PRESECRIPTION 3 DAYS EARLY.
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Answered by Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar (50 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
If situation demands, you can take extra Xanax.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to Healthcare Magic. Thanks for your query.

Both Ambien and Xanax have sedative effects. Ambien (Zolpidem) is used primarily as a sedative medication. Xanax is usually used primarily as an anti-anxiety medication, but it has mild sedative effects also.

Though it is always advisable to make any alterations in medication only under the advise of your treating doctor, in your current situation, it appears that there could be an unavoidable delay in seeing a doctor. In this situation, there is a chance that you may develop sleep disturbance if you run short of Ambien.

So, if there is absolutely no possibility of getting an timely refill prescription, in this situation alone, you can take extra Xanax to ensure that you don't suffer from a major sleep disturbance, till you see a doctor.

I would suggest that once you see the doctor, you report this problem to him and make him aware of the medication alteration that you have done, so that he can take appropriate measures to ensure that you don't face a similar problem in the future.

Wish you all the best.

Regards,
Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar
Consultant Psychiatrist

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar