Zolpidem
Overview
Zolpidem is a prescription medication
used for the short-term treatment of insomnia
, as well as some brain disorders. It is a short-acting nonbenzodiazepine
hypnotic
of the imidazopyridine
class that potentiates gamma-aminobutyric acid
(GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter
, by binding to GABAA receptors at the same location as benzodiazepines. It works quickly (usually within 15 minutes) and has a short half-life (2–3 hours). Zolpidem is a hypnotic/sleep-aid under effects classification.
Zolpidem has not adequately demonstrated effectiveness in maintaining sleep; however, it is effective in initiating sleep.
Prescription drug
A prescription medication is a licensed medicine that is regulated by legislation to require a medical prescription before it can be obtained. The term is used to distinguish it from over-the-counter drugs which can be obtained without a prescription...
used for the short-term treatment of insomnia
Insomnia
Insomnia is most often defined by an individual's report of sleeping difficulties. While the term is sometimes used in sleep literature to describe a disorder demonstrated by polysomnographic evidence of disturbed sleep, insomnia is often defined as a positive response to either of two questions:...
, as well as some brain disorders. It is a short-acting nonbenzodiazepine
Nonbenzodiazepine
The nonbenzodiazepines, also called benzodiazepine-like drugs, are a class of psychoactive drugs pharmacologically resembling the benzodiazepines, with similar benefits, side effects and risks, despite having dissimilar or entirely different chemical structures.-Classes:There are currently three...
hypnotic
Hypnotic
Hypnotic drugs are a class of psychoactives whose primary function is to induce sleep and to be used in the treatment of insomnia and in surgical anesthesia...
of the imidazopyridine
Imidazopyridine
The imidazopyridines are a class of drugs defined by their chemical structure. They are generally GABAA receptor agonists, however recently proton pump inhibitors in this class have been developed as well. Despite usually being similar to them in effect, they are not chemically related to...
class that potentiates gamma-aminobutyric acid
Gamma-aminobutyric acid
γ-Aminobutyric acid is the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system. It plays a role in regulating neuronal excitability throughout the nervous system...
(GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter
Neurotransmitter
Neurotransmitters are endogenous chemicals that transmit signals from a neuron to a target cell across a synapse. Neurotransmitters are packaged into synaptic vesicles clustered beneath the membrane on the presynaptic side of a synapse, and are released into the synaptic cleft, where they bind to...
, by binding to GABAA receptors at the same location as benzodiazepines. It works quickly (usually within 15 minutes) and has a short half-life (2–3 hours). Zolpidem is a hypnotic/sleep-aid under effects classification.
Zolpidem has not adequately demonstrated effectiveness in maintaining sleep; however, it is effective in initiating sleep.
