Management of insomnia--the role of zaleplon.
BACKGROUND
Insomnia is the most frequently reported sleep symptom, severely affecting up to 15% of the US population. The need to effectively treat this disorder is underscored by the significant adverse consequences on the productivity, safety, overall health, and quality of life of the affected individual. Pharmacologic intervention has traditionally involved the use of benzodiazepine receptor agonists (BzRAs), for which efficacy and general safety have been established.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this paper is to examine the potentially unique role of zaleplon in the treatment of insomnia.


METHODS
The clinical experience of the authors was critically applied to peer-reviewed published papers or abstracts regarding zaleplon, which were identified via MEDLINE (1995-September 2000).


RESULTS
Adverse effects, usually related to residual sedation, impose limits on the use of older BzRAs and have prompted the development of new sleep medications with advantageous adverse event profiles. Zaleplon demonstrates a very rapid onset and offset of effect that permits symptomatic rather than prophylactic administration, resulting in comparable efficacy and reduced risk of the adverse effects associated with longer half-life agents.


CONCLUSIONS
The characteristics of zaleplon may translate into distinct and significant clinical advances in the treatment of insomnia.
Richardson
Gary S
GS
Sleep Disorders and Research Center, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA.
Roth
Thomas
T
Kramer
Jeffrey A
JA
D000081:Acetamides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010380:Peer Review; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000081:Acetamides; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011743:Pyrimidines; C085665:zaleplon