Clinical decision-support only. For use by licensed dental professionals. Not a substitute for professional judgment or a complete drug reference. Always verify with primary sources.
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Medication

Zolpidem

Sedative-hypnotic (Z-drug)

Brand names: Ambien

Oral health effects

  • Xerostomia (dry mouth)

    Dry mouth reported; rare dysgeusia.

    Clinical management: Hydration, sugar-free gum/xylitol, salivary substitutes, high-fluoride products; reinforce caries prevention.

  • Swelling of the tongue or throat (angioedema, rare)

    Rare angioedema involving the tongue, glottis or larynx has been reported after the first or later doses of sedative-hypnotics (label warning).

    Clinical management: Ask about any past facial, lip or tongue swelling. Sudden tongue or throat swelling is a medical emergency: call emergency services and manage the airway.

Sources

  1. A Guide to Medications Inducing Salivary Gland Dysfunction, Xerostomia, and Subjective Sialorrhea: A Systematic Review Sponsored by the World Workshop on Oral Medicine VI. Wolff A, Joshi RK, Ekström J, et al. Drugs in R&D, 2017.
  2. A review and guide to drug-associated oral adverse effects-Dental, salivary and neurosensory reactions. Part 1. Teoh L, Moses G, McCullough MJ. Journal of oral pathology & medicine : official publication of the International Association of Oral Pathologists and the American Academy of Oral Pathology, 2019.
  3. Zolpidem prescribing information (FDA label) Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc. / DailyMed, 2023.
  4. Adverse drug events in the oral cavity. Yuan A, Woo SB. Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology and oral radiology, 2015.