Sleep self-intoxication and sleep driving as rare zolpidem-induced complex behaviour.
BACKGROUND
The GABA(A) receptor agonist zolpidem has been used for treatment of insomnia since years, but special side effects have been reported. These side effects were called zolpidem-induced sleep-related complex behaviour. Such complex behaviour is associated with somnambulism and includes sleepwalking, sleep eating, sleep conversation and sleep driving.


METHODS
Two cases of zolpidem-induced sleep-related complex behaviour following self-intoxication, sleep driving and amnesia are presented. In both cases, the subjects reported the voluntary intake of only one zolpidem tablet of 10 mg and amnesia for the time afterwards. Shortly after the onset of the drug's action, both individuals drifted into a somnambulism-like state and toxicological blood analysis suggested the intake of the remaining zolpidem tablets which might be called "sleep intoxication". Later, the subjects were arrested by police after driving under drug influence and not realizing the situation. Retrospectively, both subjects suffered from psychiatric disorders and in case 2, the subject was treated for depression with doxepin. Consequently, these co-factors may have increased the risk for the occurrence of the sleep-related complex behaviour.


CONCLUSIONS
Involuntary self-intoxication should be taken into account in addition to the known pattern of zolpidem-induced complex behaviour. In legal cases, the forensic expert has to assess the blood concentration of zolpidem in evaluating this strange behaviour.


CONCLUSIONS
Amnesia and incoherence of speech, disorganization of behaviour, inability to realize the situation and mood changes may indicate a zolpidem-induced somnambulism-like state with sleep-related complex behaviour.
Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Frankfurt/Main, Kennedyallee 104, 60596, Frankfurt/Main, Germany, paulke@em.uni-frankfurt.de.
Alexander
A
Paulke
Cora
C
Wunder
Stefan W
SW
Toennes
D000328:Adult; D000647:Amnesia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy; D004316:Doxepin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D062787:Drug Overdose; D005260:Female; D058785:GABA-A Receptor Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011725:Pyridines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D000077334:Zolpidem
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D058785:GABA-A Receptor Agonists; D011725:Pyridines; D004316:Doxepin; D000077334:Zolpidem