Zolpidem-Associated Consequences: An Updated Literature Review With Case Reports

J Nerv Ment Dis. 2020 Jan;208(1):28-32. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000001074.

Abstract

A post-2000 literature search reviewed prevalence of health consequences associated with zolpidem, plus two salient case reports. Common zolpidem-related harms encompassed accidents, falls, overdoses, delirium, and infections. Risks to others included assaults, vehicular accidents, various crimes, and civil actions that occurred during zolpidem-induced delirium, withdrawal, and other impediments. Remarkably, much harm occurred while patients were taking therapeutic doses of licitly prescribed zolpidem (10-30 mg). Zolpidem-associated health, behavioral, and social problems comprise an international pandemic of preventable heath misfortunes.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Delirium / chemically induced
  • Hallucinations / chemically induced
  • Homicide
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Rage / drug effects
  • Risk Factors
  • Sleep Aids, Pharmaceutical / adverse effects*
  • Sleep Aids, Pharmaceutical / therapeutic use
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / drug therapy
  • Violence
  • Zolpidem / adverse effects*
  • Zolpidem / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Sleep Aids, Pharmaceutical
  • Zolpidem