Measurement of cerebral perfusion after zolpidem administration in the baboon model

`A recent report showed that zolpidem (CAS 82626-48-0) can lead to the arou sal of a semi-comatosed patient. Zolpidem is clinically used for the treatm ent of insomnia. It belongs to the imidazopyridine chemical class and is a non benzodiazepine drug. It illicits its pharmacological action via the GAB A receptor system through stimulation of particularly the omega (1) recepto rs. In this study, the effect of zolpidem on brain perfusion was examined b y Tc-99m hexamethyl-propylene amine oxime (HMPAO) split dose brain SPECT on four normal baboons and in one baboon with abnormal neurological behaviour . The global and regional brain perfusion was not significantly affected in the normal brains. In some regions of the abnormal baboon brain, however, there was a disproportionate increase in perfusion after zolpidem.