"Zolpidem is a hypnotic which acts at the GABA A receptor and is indicated for short-term insomnia. Sleep related disorders including somnambulism, sleep related eating and sleep-driving have been reported with zolpidem," researchers in the United States report (see also Eating Disorders).

"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," wrote R. Hoque and colleagues, Louisiana State University, Sleep Disorders Center.

The researchers concluded: "We report the results and a review of the literature regarding other unintended effects seen with zolpidem use."

Hoque and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine (Zolpidem-Induced Sleepwalking, Sleep Related Eating Disorder, and Sleep-Driving: Fluorine-18-Flourodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomograph Analysis, and a Literature Review of Other Unexpected Clinical Effects Zolpidem. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 2009;5(5):471-476).

For additional information, contact R. Hoque, Louisiana State University, School Medical, Dept. of Neurology, Sleep Disorders Center, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA 71105, USA.

Publisher contact information for the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine is: American Acad Sleep Medicine, One Westbrook Corporate Center, Ste. 920, Westchester, IL 60154, USA.