Zolpidem dependence with frontal lobe syndrome: a case report

Abstract

Zolpidem is a non-benzodiazepine sedative hypnotic that binds to the benzodiazepine binding site on the gammaaminobutyric acid type A (GABA-A) receptors. It is the most commonly prescribed sleep medication which has been shown to be effective for treating insomnia on a short-term basis with fewer side effects than traditional benzodiazepines, which are feared for their abuse and dependence potential. Many studies have reported efficacy and safety of zolpidem in treatment of insomnia keeping in mind about its low abuse, and dependence capability. We present a case of zolpidem dependence in a 36-year-old male to emphasize that zolpidem also should be judiciously prescribed under supervision so that it does not develop tolerance, abuse and dependence.

‘Z-trip’? A Comprehensive Overview and a Case-series of Zolpidem Misuse

“…Zolpidem dosages ranging 30 to 450 mg daily. Three subjects were affected with a mood disorder (e.g., Dysthymic Disorder or MDD) accompanied with a secondary insomnia, which is comparable with clinical cases previously described [45,46,50,53,71,88,[90][91][92][95][96][97][98]. Two cases reported previous traumatic experiences (physical and/or sexual and/or psychological abuse) which may partially explain zolpidem abuse as a tool to relieve and cope with stress-related disorders, as previously reported in literature [52,89].…”