R. Blois et al., EFFECT OF ZOLPIDEM ON SLEEP IN HEALTHY-SUBJECTS - A PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL WITH POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC RECORDINGS, Clinical therapeutics, 15(5), 1993, pp. 797-809
The aims of this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, conducted in
a group of healthy young adults with normal sleep patterns, were to as
certain the effect of various doses of zolpidem on polysomnographic va
riables and to determine whether zolpidem disrupts sleep architecture.
Of the 15 subjects recruited, 8 were included in the final analysis.
Subjects underwent four experimental sessions during three nights, of
which the first night was used for adaptation, the second for zolpidem
(10, 20, and 40 mg) or placebo administration, and the third for plac
ebo administration. Sleep was assessed by conventional sleep parameter
s (latency, duration, wakefulness) and by subjective questionnaire. Po
lysomnographic recordings were analyzed for sleep stage, paradoxical s
leep, graphic features, and longitudinally with reference to sleep sta
ge. Zolpidem had little effect on polysomnographic variables, except f
or a trend toward a hypnotic effect and a slight, transient inhibition
of paradoxical sleep at the highest dose. In particular, the clearcut
reduction of stage 4 sleep and increase in spindle density often obse
rved with benzodiazepine administration was not observed with zolpidem
. Adverse effects were restricted to three reports of daytime drowsine
ss each after zolpidem 10 and 40 mg and placebo, and one amnesic episo
de after the highest dose (40 mg). There were no signs of ataxic sympt
omatology.