Zolpidem-induced sleepwalking, sleep related eating disorder, and sleep-driving: fluorine-18-flourodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography analysis, and a literature review of other unexpected clinical effects of zolpidem.
Zolpidem is a hypnotic which acts at the GABAA receptor and is indicated for short-term insomnia. Sleep related disorders including somnambulism, sleep related eating and sleep-driving have been reported with zolpidem. A 51-year-old insomniac who used zolpidem 10 mg nightly starting at 44 years of age is described. A few weeks after starting zolpidem she began walking, eating, and had one episode of driving while asleep. Episodes of sleep related eating, sleepwalking, and sleeptalking occurred 3 nights per week, 1 to 2 h after sleep onset. After her evaluation, the patient's zolpidem was gradually discontinued, and all sleep related activities immediately ceased. An 18F-FDG-PET was obtained 2 months after discontinuation of zolpidem. The following day, FDG was administered 1 h after oral administration of 10 mg zolpidem, and then a second PET was performed. We report the results and a review of the literature regarding other unintended effects seen with zolpidem use.
Hoque
Romy
R
Sleep Disorders Center, Department of Neurology, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, Shreveport, LA, USA. romy.hoque@gmail.com
Chesson
Andrew L
AL
D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011859:Radiography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D013009:Somnambulism / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000077334:Zolpidem
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011725:Pyridines; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D000077334:Zolpidem