title: Zolpidem Overdose: A Medical and Ethical Dilemma.
abstract: Acute altered mental status can be caused by a broad range of etiologies, including cerebrovascular, neurologic, traumatic, metabolic, infectious, psychiatric, medications, etc. We present a case of a 53-year-old healthcare professional with an acute altered mental status after a trip to Africa. The patient was extensively worked up for infectious, cardiovascular, and neurologic etiologies, and all results were within normal limits. Further history revealed an overdose of a self-medicated hypnotic (zolpidem) for insomnia. The patient was conservatively managed and discharged on trazadone for insomnia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, United Regional Health Care System, Wichita Falls, TX.
authors.forename: Waqas
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shuaib
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beatrice
authors.forename: Ahmad G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Abazid
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression; D003693:Delirium / Q000139:chemically induced*; D062787:Drug Overdose; D004989:Ethics; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000506:poisoning*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D011725:Pyridines / Q000506:poisoning*; D012306:Risk; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D000077334:Zolpidem
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011725:Pyridines; D000077334:Zolpidem