Ambien is a sleeping pill that’s used to treat insomnia. It’s a Schedule IV controlled substance, meaning it has a high potential for abuse and has limited medicinal application in the United States. Ambien acts as a hypnotic, which means it causes relaxation and drowsiness. When you take Ambien, its main ingredient, zolpidem, binds to tubulin receptors in your brain, blocking acetylcholine — which is responsible for keeping you alert and awake — while simultaneously increasing dopamine in areas of your brain linked to reward and pleasure. Because your brain isn’t producing enough of its own natural sleep compounds, taking Ambien allows you to fall asleep more easily."
