Abstract
Zolpidem is a sedative-hypnotic drug used to treat in sleep disorders, and it is the most commonly prescribed drug for insomnia. It reduces sleep latency and increases total sleep time. However, some studies have reported that zolpidem might induce sleep related eating disorder (SRED). SRED is characterized by recurrent episodes of compulsive and involuntary eating during night sleep, accompanied by partial consciousness and limited subsequent recall. The pathophysiology of SRED is unknown. Patients with SRED usually suffer from other sleep disorders such as sleepwalking, restless legs syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea. In this article, we present an overview of case reports on SRED induced by zolpidem.
Highlights
Insomnia is a very common condition worldwide
sleep related eating disorder (SRED) is characterized by recurrent episodes of involuntary eating and drinking during arousals from sleep with problematic consequences
Zolpidem is an effective hypnotic with a shorter half-life than other benzodiazepines
Summary
Insomnia is a very common condition worldwide. Many patients with insomnia have only transient difficulties in falling asleep or staying awake, which resolve in a few days. Approximately 20% of insomnia patients suffer from chronic insomnia [1]. Chronic insomnia impairs quality of life and reduces the ability to perform daily activities. Short-term treatments with benzodiazepine or non-benzodiazepine hypnotics are used to treat chronic insomnia [2]. Zolpidem is a non-benzodiazepine receptor agonist, and a highly effective hypnotic with a short half-life [3]. Zolpidem induces a pattern of sleep that is more similar to natural sleep. Several clinical trials that have evaluated zolpidem in the treatment of chronic insomnia have shown that the med-
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