Zolpidem, a prescription drug that is frequently used to treat insomnia and other sleep-related issues, is marketed under the name Ambien. Sedative-hypnotics are the name given to this family of medications. In patients with sleep disorders, zolpidem acts by rebalancing specific brain chemicals that may be out of balance. The pharmaceutical drug zolpidem, sometimes known as Ambien, is frequently used to treat insomnia and other sleep-related issues. It's a member of the sedative-hypnotic drug class. The way zolpidem acts on the brain involves influencing certain chemicals that may be out of balance in those who have trouble falling asleep.