Zolpidem is a prescription drug used for the short-term treatment of insomnia (sleeping pill). It works quickly (usually within 15 minutes) and has a short half-life (2-3 hours), but will last longer in patients with hepatic failure. Some trade names of zolpidem are Ambien®, Stilnox® Stilnoct®, or Myslee®. Its sedative effects are similar to those of the benzodiazepines, but it is actually classified as an imidazopyridine, and the anticonvulsant and muscle relaxant effects only appear at 10 and 20 times the dose required for sedation, respectively. However, it has never been approved for either muscle relaxation or seizure prevention.

The patent on zolpidem is held by the French pharmaceutical corporation Sanofi-Aventis.

Uses
Zolpidem is approved for the short-term treatment of insomnia, but it has been studied for nightly use up to six months in a single-blind, open-label trial published in 1991,] an open-label study lasting 180 days published in 1992 (with continued efficacy in patients who had kept taking it as of 180 days after the end of the trial),] and in an open-label trial lasting 179 days published in 1993.

The United States Air Force uses Zolpidem under trade name Ambien as "no-go pills" to help the pilots sleep after the mission. (Cf. the "go-pills", amphetamine served under the name Dexedrine as a stimulant for the pilots).

It is also used off-label to treat restless leg syndrome.

Side-effects
Larger doses of the drug can result in a variety of unwanted side effects: hallucinations, delusions, poor motor coordination, increased appetite, increased sex drive, poor judgment, and, following use, inability to remember events that took place while under the influence of the drug. Some users take zolpidem recreationally for these side effects. Zolpidem can also become psychologically addictive if taken for extended periods of time, due to dependence on its ability to put one to sleep or to the unique sense of euphoria it can produce. Under the influence of the drug it is common to take more zolpidem than is necessary due to forgetting that one has already taken a pill. Users are advised to keep additional zolpidem away to avoid this risk.

The source of this article is Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL
 

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