imipramine vs zolpidem
Side-by-side comparison of imipramine and zolpidem. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
moderate Known Drug Interaction
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS CNS depressants, including alcohol: Possible adverse additive CNS- depressant effects ( 5.1 , 7.1 ) Opioids: Concomitant use may increase risk of respiratory depression ( 5.7 , 7.1 ) Imipramine: Decreased alertness observed ( 7.1 ) Chlorpromazine: Impaired alertness and psychomotor performance observed ( 7.1 ) CYP3A4 inducers (rifampin or St. Limit dosage and duration of concomitant use of Zolpidem Tartrate Tablets and opioids [ see Dosage and Administration ( 2.3 ), Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7 )] Imipramine, Chlorpromazine Imipramine in combination with Zolpidem...
Recommendation: Be very careful when performing tasks that require focus and talk to your doctor about the risks of taking these together.
Tofranil
Ambien
Imipramine (Tofranil) is a medicine used to treat depression and bedwetting in children. It helps improve mood and reduce bedwetting episodes.
Zolpidem (Ambien) is a medication that helps you fall asleep faster. It is for short-term use only.
This medicine can help relieve the symptoms of depression. It may work better for some types of depression than others. Imipramine can also be used to help reduce bedwetting in children 6 years and older, but only after a doctor has ruled out other possible causes.
Zolpidem is used to treat insomnia when you have trouble falling asleep. It can help you fall asleep faster. Studies have shown it can decrease the time it takes to fall asleep for up to 35 days.
Imipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant. It works by increasing the levels of certain natural chemicals in the brain that help regulate mood. For bedwetting, it's thought to affect bladder control.
Zolpidem affects a chemical in your brain called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA helps to slow down brain activity. By affecting GABA, zolpidem helps you to feel sleepy.
- • Dry mouth
- • Blurred vision
- • Constipation
- • Drowsiness
- • Dizziness
- • Drowsiness
- • Dizziness
- • Diarrhea
- • Drugged feeling
- Feeling lightheaded or unsteady 35
- Feeling very tired 30
- High blood pressure 29
- Feeling worried or nervous 28
- Feeling sad or hopeless 28
- Feeling sick to your stomach 8,383
- Feeling very tired 8,142
- Aches and discomfort 6,379
- Trouble sleeping 6,248
- Head pain 6,219
Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children, teenagers, and young adults. Your doctor will monitor you closely for worsening depression, suicidal thoughts, or unusual changes in behavior. Families and caregivers should also watch for these changes.
Zolpidem can cause complex sleep behaviors like sleepwalking, sleep driving, and doing other activities while not fully awake. Some of these events can cause serious injuries or even death. Stop taking zolpidem right away if you experience any of these behaviors.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. This medicine may not be safe for you or your baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits.
Taking zolpidem late in pregnancy may cause breathing problems and sleepiness in the newborn. If you are breastfeeding, pump and discard breast milk during treatment and for 23 hours after taking zolpidem.
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How to Read This imipramine vs zolpidem Comparison
imipramine is classified in the Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA) drug class, while zolpidem sits within the Non-Benzodiazepine Hypnotic (Z-Drug) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, imipramine has 150 submissions while zolpidem has 35,371. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to both drugs slow down the central nervous system, which can lead to a combined effect that makes you feel much less alert.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between imipramine and zolpidem - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.