Zolpidem For Alzheimer's Disease

    Zolpidem is a relatively new sleep-inducing drug. It is an imidazopyridine, a non-benzodiazepine drug. Zolpidem shortens the time to fall asleep and prolongs the amount of time spent in restful sleep [215]. Zolpidem does not cause rebound insomnia or impair memory the next day [216].
    Zolpidem induces sleep at doses of 10 to 20 milligrams, taken just before going to bed. At lower doses, the drug controls anxiety and agitation in alzheimer patients. One study reports on two highly-agitated alzheimer patients, whose agitation was not controlled by haloperidol or thioridazine. Doses of 2.5 milligrams, given before the morning routine of dressing and bathing, made these two patients calmer and easier to manage [217].

    Zolpidem is also effective for alzheimer patients who wander. A study finds that two alzheimer patients who spent the night hours wandering, instead of sleeping, had normal restful sleep restored when given zolpidem in doses of 10 to 15 milligrams at sleep time [218].
    Zolpidem has some adverse effects. Gastrointestinal upset, drowsiness, and orthostatic hypotension are known side effects of the drug. Zolpidem can be given with other drugs, such as cimetidine,chlorpromazine,warfarin,and digoxin. Cimetidine and zolpidem can sometimes decrease alertness. Zolpidem and imipramine can sometimes cause anterograde amnesia. Zolpidem does not have withdrawal effects and does not cause habituation [219].

---