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General safety profile of zolpidem: safety in elderly, overdose and rebound effects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

H Allain  and
J Monti
H Allain
Affiliation:
Laborutoire de Pharmacologie Clinique, Centre Hospitalier Régional et Universitaire de Rennes, avenue du Pr-Léon-Bernard, 35043Rennes, France
J Monti
Affiliation:
Departamiento de Fannacología y Terapeutica, Facultad de Medicina, Hospital de Clinicas, 11600Montevideo, Uruguay
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Summary

The different aspects of general safety of zolpidem are reviewed after analysing the safety data obtained in adults as well as in elderly patients. The low incidence of reported adverse events during the first three years of utilisation of zolpidem have corroborated the results of the clinical studies. The most frequent adverse effects are central nervous system (CNS) related but they can be largely prevented by respecting the recommended doses and prescription rules. In cases of acute overdoses, no severe complications have been attributed to zolpidem taken alone. In most of the studies carried out within the recommended treatment duration, abrupt treatment discontinuation was not associated with clinically significant rebound insomnia, and the available pre-clinical and clinical data indicate that the risk of abuse or dependence is minimal when prescribed according to the recommended doses of 10 mg in adults and 5 mg in elderly. Thus, with now well-established arguments on a large patient basis going in the same direction, the safety of zolpidem can authorise and justify its wide prescription in the short-term treatment of insomnia.

Keywords

zolpidemhypnotictolerancesafetyintoxicationrebounddependence
Type
Research Article
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 12 , Issue S1 , 1997 , pp. 21S - 29S
Copyright
Copyright © Elsevier, Paris 1997

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