What the heck?? Drug question

1. I was looking up Ambien (zolpidem) in my drug book for clinical tomorrow. I got to the nursing considerations section of my Mosby's 2001 drug reference, and the first one listed under administer is"after removal of cigarettes to prevent fires".
   
   What is that?? Is it supposed to be funny? Am I missing something?

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2. 

   About memphispanda

   Joined: Sep '02; Posts: 957; Likes: 5
   new Med-Surg RN

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3. 
   Feb 4, '03

   I don't get it either...do they have that warning by all the sedatives, or is it just that one drug that starts fires?
4. 
   Feb 4, '03

   I would assume that's a warning not to smoke after taking the drug so you don't end up falling asleep with a lit cigarette and starting a fire. But it's a strange way to word it, and a strange warning for a drug reference, period.
5. 
   Feb 4, '03

   That is a very strange reference, but I agree with Stargazer.
6. 
   Feb 4, '03

   It could be what you said Stargazer. It just struck me as funny. And then I couldn't think logically. DH said "maybe it catches on fire if they are smoking" LMBO
7. 
   Feb 4, '03

   OK, I just had to share this.
   
   I myself have never taken Ambien, but I just learned that it is apparently very popular among our night shift people for helping them sleep during the day.
   
   This one woman was commenting that she took it as soon as she got home, but then she decided she wanted some mac & cheese. She was cooking it, and the next thing she knew the smoke detectors were going off. She started walking towards the smoke detector to shut it off, and her hubby started screaming at her that er shirt was on fire! She had no clue.
   
   Then they all (nights) chimed in and agreed that you absolutely cannot take it until you have done everything and are lying in bed. Knocks you out that quickly.
   
   I guess I can see why you should exstinguish your cigarette first!
   
   Heather
8. 
   Feb 4, '03

   Wow. I didn't know it worked that fast either! Thanks, Heather.
9. 
   Feb 4, '03

   Wow Heather, that's pretty incredible. I've taken Tylenol PM before and that takes at least a half hour to start kicking in.
10. 
    Feb 4, '03

    We've got a lot of elderly people and Ambien is one of the sleepers we ask the docs NOT to prescribe because in addition to that, it makes older folks confused, combative, and more prone to falls.
    
    We prefer restoril.
11. 
    Feb 4, '03

    Had a guy last night that got 10 mg of Ambien at 2100. 2200 he calls and says it's not working....2230 he calls again. I call his doc and he said to give another 10 mg....isn't that WAY too much? He had only started taking it 2 days ago.....????
    
    Kristy
12. 
    Feb 4, '03

    Some people are just like that..... they can take tons and tons of meds and not even be touched. I have given a pt 12 mg of Morphine IVP (staggered doses of course ...over an hr and obviously under the order of the MD) and they were as clear and coherent as if they'd never gotten it. And the pain was still there just as strong as before. Me on the other hand....I tremendous pain two years ago because of a greatly needed root canal....waiting for my appt to get it the dentist prescribed Tylenol #3 .... I took one and for a whole 24 hrs I was incoherent!!!!!!
13. 
    Feb 4, '03

    We use Restoril. Ambien makes the old folks wacky!
14. 
    Feb 4, '03

    Ambien does have a way of making the sundowners see the sunset for two days straight....hehehehehe

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