Zolpidem-induced amnesia and somnambulism have been reported in 5.1% of Taiwanese patients. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Zolpidem-induced amnesia and somnambulism: rare occurrences?
Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2009 Jan;19(1):74-6. Epub 2008 Sep 25. PMID: 18819779
Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital, Taiwan, ROC.
Zolpidem, a non-benzodiazepine hypnotic of the imidazopyridine class, is very effective in treating insomnia with previous claims of little adverse effects. However, zolpidem-induced somnambulism and amnesic sleep-related behavioral problems were begun to be reported in literature but no systemic investigation has been undertaken in non-Western cultures. In our current retrospective survey, 5.1% (13 out of 255) of Taiwanese patients reported change in sleep-related behavior as adverse effects. This serves as a reminder for clinicians to inquire regarding any unusual behavior of parasomniac activities when prescribing zolpidem.