A food-effect study in 30 healthy male volunteers compared the pharmacokinetics of Ambien 10 mg when administered after fasting or 20 minutes after a meal. Results demonstrated that with food, mean AUC (area under the plasma concentration time curve) and maximum concentration were decreased by 15% and 25%, respectively, while mean time (exposure) was prolonged by 60% (from 1.4 to 2.2 hr). The half-life remained unchanged.These results suggest that, for faster sleep onset, Ambien should not be administered with or immediately after a meal.