EFFECTS OF ZOLPIDEM ON THE ARCHITECTURE AND CYCLICAL STRUCTURE OF SLEEP IN POOR SLEEPERS

Effects of zolpidem, a short acting non benzodiazepine hypnotic, have been studied in eight female poor sleepers, aged 25 to 54 years, docum ented during two consecutive adaptation nights. Subjects were recorded according to a 22 day single blind study. Placebo was given orally at bedtime on nights 2-4, zolpidem on nights 5-20 and finally placebo on nights 21-22. Polygraphic recordings (conventional analysis) were per formed on nights 1-6; 12, 13; 19-22. Parameters of sleep continuity, s leep architecture and cyclical structure of sleep were studied. Zolpid em 10 mg showed a hypnotic effect on poor sleepers. it reduced sleep l atency, increased total sleep time and decreased the number of awakeni ngs during all recorded nights. During the first post-drug night a reb ound insomnia was observed in two subjects only. Zolpidem did not incr ease specifically stage 2 to the detriment of stages 3 and 4 but it re stored them during the first nights of administration. Study of the ra pid eye movements-non rapid eye movements (REM-NREM) sleep cycles stru cture showed that the increase of stages 3 and 4 occurred only during the first part of the night. Finally, zolpidem had no effect on REM sl eep temporal distribution.