Zolpidem

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In pharmacology, zolpidem is an agonist of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Zolpidem's pharmacological action is in the category of hypnotics and sedatives. Zolpidem is one of the Z drugs (zopiclone, eszopiclone, zolpidem, and zaleplon).

While it is a controlled substance in the Drug Enforcement Administration Schedule IV, its risk of dependency is nonzero but low, especially when compared to benzodiazepines or barbiturates.

Efficacy

In treating persistent insomnia in adults, 6 weeks of zolpidem 10 mg nightly along with weekly sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy followed by 6 months of monthly sessions and no medications yielded the most remission of insomnia in a randomized controlled trial.[1]

In geriatrics, the benefits of zolpidem to not clearly exceed the drug toxicity.[2][3]

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