Ambien Street Price & Prescription Cost

Ambien is the brand name for a prescription medication called zolpidem. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved zolpidem to treat insomnia (trouble falling or staying asleep).

As a sedative-hypnotic, zolpidem slows down your central nervous system, causing drowsiness. It can also have side effects like headache and dizziness.

Along with helping you fall asleep, Ambien can also cause euphoria (intense joy). That’s why some people buy it on the street, where its price differs from its prescription price.

Ambien Street Prices

On the black market, Ambien typically costs between $2 and $10 per pill. However, as with other street drug prices, the exact street value of Ambien depends on certain factors, especially the dosage and location.

Dosage

Ambien comes in two dosages: 5 mg and 10 mg. There’s also an extended-release formulation called Ambien CR, which comes in 6.5 mg and 12.5 mg dosages. In general, the higher the dosage, the higher the price.

Location

In most cases, the closer you live to a big city, the less Ambien costs. That’s because big cities tend to have higher supplies of Ambien and other drugs, which leads to lower prices.

How Does The Street Price Of Ambien Compare To Other Street Drugs?

Ambien generally costs less than illicit drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine.

It also tends to cost less than opioid painkillers like oxycodone (OxyContin) and hydrocodone (Vicodin). It’s about the same price as benzodiazepines like alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), and lorazepam (Ativan).

Ambien Prescription Costs

The average cost of prescription Ambien depends on the dosage and amount of pills prescribed.

Generally, a prescription for 5 mg Ambien costs about:

• $200 to $300 for 10 pills
• $300 to $400 for 15 pills
• $600 to $800 for 30 pills
• $1,000 to $1,600 for 60 pills
• $2,000 to $2,500 for 90 pills

A prescription for 10 mg Ambien costs about:

• $200 to $300 for 10 pills
• $300 to $400 for 15 pills
• $700 to $800 for 30 pills
• $1,000 to $1,200 for 45 pills
• $2,000 to $2,500 for 90 pills

The exact price will depend on the pharmacy and whether or not you have health insurance. Most major insurance plans will likely cover some or all of the cost of Ambien.

Dangers Of Ambien Abuse

As a controlled substance, Ambien has a relatively high abuse potential. People abuse Ambien by using it in a manner not prescribed by a doctor.

Examples of abuse include:

• use without a prescription
• use of higher doses than prescribed
• using it more often than prescribed
• mixing it with other drugs

Ambien Overdose

Like other types of prescription drug abuse, Ambien abuse can lead to an overdose.

Common symptoms of Ambien overdose include:

• extreme drowsiness
• slowed breathing and/or heartbeat
• loss of consciousness

If you or someone you know experiences these symptoms, seek medical help right away. When left untreated, an Ambien overdose can be fatal, especially if it has been laced with other drugs.

In recent years, many drug dealers have started lacing prescription pills with fentanyl, an opioid responsible for numerous overdose deaths.

Ambien Addiction

Along with overdose, people who abuse Ambien also face a high risk of addiction.

Common symptoms of Ambien addiction include:

• feeling unable to stop using Ambien even if you want to
• needing increasingly higher or more frequent doses of Ambien to feel the desired effects (also called tolerance)
• experiencing unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety and nausea, when you don’t use Ambien (also called physical dependence)
• losing interest in activities you once enjoyed
• losing motivation at work or school
• avoiding friends and family members to spend more time using Ambien

People who struggle with Ambien addiction should seek help at a drug addiction treatment program. These programs offer a variety of services to help you manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings as you stop using Ambien.

Get Help Today

To learn more about Ambien addiction treatment options, please contact Northeast Addictions Treatment Center. We offer mental health counseling, support groups, and other substance abuse treatments to help you or your loved one stay drug-free.