Ambien is a prescription medication primarily used to treat insomnia or sleep difficulties in adults. Its active ingredient is zolpidem, which belongs to a class of drugs called sedative-hypnotics.
Ambien works by affecting certain neurotransmitters in the brain, specifically enhancing the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). This action helps to induce relaxation, decrease the time it takes to fall asleep, and improve the quality and duration of sleep.