Long-term, non-nightly administration of zolpidem in the treatment of patients with primary insomnia.
BACKGROUND
While it is common practice that hypnotics are used on a non-nightly basis, few investigations have been undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of the intermittent dosing strategy. The present study was designed to further evaluate this issue within a large scale, double-blind, placebo-controlled, long-term trial.


METHODS
Patients who met DSM-IV criteria for primary insomnia participated in the study from January 2000 through October 2001. Patients were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatment groups (zolpidem 10 mg or placebo) for a period of 12 weeks. Ten pills were provided in foil packs on an every-other-week basis, and patients were instructed to take no fewer than 3 and no more than 5 pills per week. Sleep was evaluated daily with sleep diaries. Pill use was recorded in the sleep diaries.


RESULTS
199 patients (mean +/- SD age = 41.0 +/- 12.8 years; 71% female) were randomly assigned to treatment. On mean, patients receiving zolpidem exhibited (vs. baseline) a 42% decrease in sleep latency, a 52% reduction in number of awakenings, a 55% decrease in wake time after sleep onset, and a 27% increase in total sleep time. These positive clinical gains did not diminish with time and were not associated with dose escalation. There was also no evidence of rebound insomnia.


CONCLUSIONS
Over a period of 12 weeks of intermittent treatment with zolpidem, sleep continuity was significantly improved, the clinical gains were sustained, and there was no evidence of subjective rebound insomnia between doses or increases in the amount of medication used during the study interval.
Sleep and Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester, and the University of Rochester Medical Center, Neurosciences Program, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. Michael_Perlis@URMC.Rochester.edu
Michael L
ML
Perlis
W Vaughn
WV
McCall
Andrew D
AD
Krystal
James K
JK
Walsh
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D011725:Pyridines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077334:Zolpidem
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D010919:Placebos; D011725:Pyridines; D000077334:Zolpidem