Zolpidem

New meta-analysis shows that zolpidem preserves sleep architecture

Cutting-edge science and differentiation

In 1995 McCormack’s methods quickly identified that zolpidem could be differentiated as an hypnotic that enabled sleep but not at the effect of disrupting normal sleep architecture. These observations culminated in the first-ever exhaustive meta-analysis by McCormack of the effects of zolpidem upon sleep architecture. The results of this new analysis, which were updated in 2003 provided dramatic visual evidence that the use of zolpidem was associated with the preservation of sleep architecture.

Clinical implications of new teachings

At launch, zolpidem was differentiated as structurally-distinct from the classical benzodiazepine molecule, and was classed as an imidoazopyridine with an hypnotic effect that was selectively coupled with the omega 1 site of the GABAA receptor complex. However, clinicians needed robust evidence, derived across many studies, that such differences were associated with real clinical benefits.

Today, in 2013, if patent protection still existed for zolpidem, searching for value-related correlates of the protective effects of zolpidem upon sleep architecture would be a worthwhile investment.

Key outcomes

• Expansion of use within an approved indication