Common brands: Belbien, Stilnox

Zolpidem HF 10mg
The active ingredient zolpidem belongs to the group of Z-substances (also Z-drugs) and is used for the short-term treatment of insomnia. The sleeping pill acts as an agonist on GABAA receptors and thus induces sleep.

How to Use:
Zolpidem is used for the short-term treatment of sleep disorders in adults and should only be used for sleep disorders of clinically significant severity.
Before prescribing a hypnotic, underlying medical conditions should be investigated and treated. If there is no improvement in the sleep disorder after 7 to 14 days of treatment, the patient should be evaluated for possible primary mental or physical illness.
Mode of administration

Zolpidem is approved for the German market in the form of film-coated tablets in strengths of 5 mg and 10 mg. The film-coated tablet should be taken immediately before going to bed with sufficient liquid.

When prescribing Z substances, as when prescribing benzodiazepines, the 5-K rule of the Drug Commission of the German Medical Association should be observed:

1. use only with a clear indication
2. use of the smallest possible dose
3. use over the shortest possible period of time
4. no abrupt discontinuation
5. contraindications must be observed
Mechanism of action

The active ingredient zolpidem is chemically a cyclopyrrolone derivative. It interacts with the α- and γ-subunit of the GABAA receptor. The consequence of this interaction with the GABAA receptor is the enhancement of responses to GABA, which has been shown by electrophysiological methods. Zolpidem and zaleplon have some selectivity for the α1-subunit of the GABAA receptor, but this has not been described for zopiclone.

Zolpidem has:
– sedative
– hypnotic
– anxiolytic
– muscle relaxant
– anticonvulsive

Compared to the benzodiazepines, Z-substances seem to have less influence on the sleep architecture, especially the REM sleep phases seem to be less affected.