Home > Taking Intermezzo

Taking Intermezzo


Take Intermezzo when you wake up in the middle of the night, cannot fall back asleep, and have at least 4 hours of sleep left.


Read the instructions in this section before you start taking Intermezzo and each time you refill your prescription, since there may be new information. Always remember that this information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or your treatment.

Click below for complete information about:

Who should not take Intermezzo How to take Intermezzo When to take Intermezzo

Important Safety Information

Do not take Intermezzo® (zolpidem tartrate) if you are allergic to zolpidem or any other ingredients in Intermezzo. Do not take Intermezzo if you have had an allergic reaction to drugs containing zolpidem, such as Ambien®.

Serious allergic reactions may occur and may be fatal. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction to Intermezzo can include swelling of your face, lips, and throat that may cause difficulty breathing or swallowing, and nausea and vomiting.

If Intermezzo is taken with other medicines that can make you sleepy, it can add to sleepiness caused by these medicines. Intermezzo should not be taken if you have taken another sleep medicine at bedtime or in the middle of the night. Do not drive or operate machinery until at least 4 hours after taking Intermezzo and until you feel fully awake.

Call your doctor if your insomnia worsens or is not better within 7 to 10 days. This may mean that there is another condition causing your sleep problem.

Driving, eating, or engaging in other activities while not fully awake without remembering the event the next day have been reported. Other abnormal behaviors including being more outgoing or aggressive, as well as confusion, hallucinations, and agitation, may occur. Don’t take Intermezzo if you drank alcohol that day or before bed, as it may increase these behaviors.

In depressed patients, worsening of depression, including risk of suicide may occur.

If you experience any of these behaviors or reactions, contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Intermezzo, like most sleep medicines, has some risk of dependency.

Common side effects are headache, nausea, and fatigue.

For more information, please read the Full Prescribing Information for Intermezzo, including the Medication Guide.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088, or contact Purdue Pharma L.P. at 1-888-726-7535.

Ambien is a registered trademark of Sanofi.

Important Safety Information

Do not take Intermezzo® (zolpidem tartrate) if you are allergic to zolpidem or any other ingredients in Intermezzo. Do not take Intermezzo if you have had an allergic reaction to drugs containing zolpidem, such as Ambien®.

Please read the additional Important Safety Information below.

You are now leaving the myIntermezzo.com website. If you wish to leave, please click "Continue."

ContinueStay on myIntermezzo.com

You are now leaving myIntermezzo.com

This information is intended for healthcare professionals of the United States of America only.
Are you a healthcare professional?