title: Effect of zolpidem in chronic disorders of consciousness: a prospective open-label study.
abstract: Zolpidem has been reported as an "awakening drug" in some patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC). We here present the results of a prospective openlabel study in chronic DOC patients. Sixty patients (35±15 years; 18 females; mean time since insult ± SD: 4±5.5 years; 31 with traumatic etiology) with a diagnosis of vegetative state/unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (n=28) or minimally conscious state (n=32) were behaviorally assessed using the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) before and one hour after administration of 10 mg of zolpidem. At the group level, the diagnosis did not change after intake of zolpidem (p=0.10) and CRS-R total scores decreased (p=0.01). Twelve patients (20%) showed improved behaviors and/or CRS-R total scores after zolpidem administration but in only one patient was the diagnosis after zolpidem intake found to show a significant improvement (functional object use), which suggested a change of diagnosis. However, in this patient, a double-blind placebo-controlled trial was performed in order to better specify the effects of zolpidem, but the patient, on this trial, failed to show any clinical improvements. The present open-label study therefore failed to show any clinically significant improvement (i.e., change of Effect of zolpidem in chronic disorders of consciousness: a prospective open-label study diagnosis) in any of the 60 studied chronic DOC patients.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thonnard
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gosseries
authors.forename: Athena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Demertzi
authors.forename: Zulay
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lugo
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vanhaudenhuyse
authors.forename: Marie-Aurélie
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.forename: Camille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chatelle
authors.forename: Aurore
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thibaut
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Charland-Verville
authors.forename: Dina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Habbal
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schnakers
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laureys
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003244:Consciousness Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011725:Pyridines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077334:Zolpidem
chemical_list: D011725:Pyridines; D000077334:Zolpidem