Doctor Discussion Guide

Topics and questions to cover with your doctor

When talking about your sleep issues with your doctor, you want to make sure you get the most out of your visit. We have prepared this guide for you to print and use before, during, and after your doctor’s appointment. You can also include specific questions that are important to you or print the complete list of questions provided.

Before you visit your doctor

Planning ahead and being prepared can make your visit more helpful, for both you and your doctor. Before going to see your doctor about your sleep issues, you should try writing down your sleep habits in a sleep diary or use the Sleep Tracker Tool available on this site. Be sure to include information such as taking naps during the day, drinking caffeinated beverages, or drinking alcohol. Providing a history of your sleep behaviors to your doctor may help him/her better understand your sleep symptoms.

When scheduling an appointment with your doctor, clearly explain the reason for your visit and ask if there is anything you need to do in advance.

There are some things you should remember to bring with you to your visit. Use this checklist as a guide before going to your doctor.

• List any sleep-related problems and symptoms you are experiencing, including the date and time they occur. The questions in the next section will help you go over some of this information with your doctor
• Write down any known allergies and current medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Let your doctor know if you have taken any other sleep aids in the past
• Bring a personalized list of questions or the complete list provided on this page to ask your doctor
• Bring any health insurance information and card(s)—private and Medicaid/Medicare

Questions to help your doctor

1. On average, how many hours of sleep do you get each night? Less than 6 hours 6-7 hours 7-8 hours 8-9 hours More than 9 hours
2. On average, how many times per week do you wake up and have difficulty going back to sleep? 1-2x 3-4x 5x or more
3. On average, how long are you awake when you are trying to fall back to sleep? Less than 30 minutes 30 minutes-1 hour 1-2 hours 2-3 hours 3 hours or more
4. How long have you had middle-of-the-night awakenings with trouble returning to sleep? 0-3 months 3-6 months 6 months-1 year 1-2 years 2 years or more
Check which questions you would most like to discuss with your doctor:
Select all
What could be causing my middle-of-the-night insomnia? Do you have any tips to help prevent my middle-of-the-night awakenings or help me fall back to sleep? Are there any tests I can take? Could something else be causing my middle-of-the-night insomnia? Is it something I am doing? Will my middle-of-the-night insomnia eventually go away? Should I see a sleep specialist? What are my treatment options? If I need a prescription, what will my treatment cost and will my insurance cover it? Would I have to take my medication every night?

Print Discussion Guide

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.