title: Increased arousal in a patient with anoxic brain injury after administration of zolpidem.
abstract: A 35-yr-old man sustained an anoxic brain injury resulting from cardiac arrest, with subsequent extreme lethargy and lack of response to stimuli. The patient's lethargy was unresponsive to trials of several medications in attempts to increase arousal. Administration of twice-daily zolpidem 8 mos after injury resulted in a dramatic increase in the level of alertness, including improved speech and gait. When the patient was not able to receive zolpidem for a brief period, the patient's lethargy returned, and he became bedbound until the medication was resumed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Stanford University, California, USA.
authors.forename: Sara I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Thao T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Duong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects*; D018755:GABA Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D002534:Hypoxia, Brain / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077334:Zolpidem
chemical_list: D018755:GABA Agonists; D011725:Pyridines; D000077334:Zolpidem