Abstract
Zolpidem is among the most frequently prescribed hypnotic drugs for those who suffer from insomnia. Recent media reports drew attention to driving impairment after zolpidem misuse. This review summarizes the available data on the effects of recommended use and misuse of zolpidem on driving ability and traffic safety. Both experimental studies and roadside evidence were taken into account. From these studies it must be concluded that patients should fully comply with the prescription instructions of zolpidem, i.e. to take the medication just prior to a full 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. If this strategy is adopted, zolpidem is a safe alternative to benzodiazpine hypnotics and zopiclone who do show significant driving impairment the morning following bedtime administration. However, to ensure traffic safety higher dosages than recommended (10 mg) or allowing less than 8 hours between zolpidem intake and actual operation of a motor vehicle should be avoided.
Keywords: Zolpidem, driving, accidents, compliance
Current Drug Safety
Title: Zolpidem and Traffic Safety - The Importance of Treatment Compliance
Volume: 2 Issue: 3
Author(s): Joris C. Verster, Edmund R. Volkerts, Berend Olivier, William Johnson and Laura Liddicoat
Affiliation:
Keywords: Zolpidem, driving, accidents, compliance
Abstract: Zolpidem is among the most frequently prescribed hypnotic drugs for those who suffer from insomnia. Recent media reports drew attention to driving impairment after zolpidem misuse. This review summarizes the available data on the effects of recommended use and misuse of zolpidem on driving ability and traffic safety. Both experimental studies and roadside evidence were taken into account. From these studies it must be concluded that patients should fully comply with the prescription instructions of zolpidem, i.e. to take the medication just prior to a full 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. If this strategy is adopted, zolpidem is a safe alternative to benzodiazpine hypnotics and zopiclone who do show significant driving impairment the morning following bedtime administration. However, to ensure traffic safety higher dosages than recommended (10 mg) or allowing less than 8 hours between zolpidem intake and actual operation of a motor vehicle should be avoided.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Verster C. Joris, Volkerts R. Edmund, Olivier Berend, Johnson William and Liddicoat Laura, Zolpidem and Traffic Safety - The Importance of Treatment Compliance, Current Drug Safety 2007; 2 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157488607781668882
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157488607781668882 |
Print ISSN 1574-8863 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 2212-3911 |
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Hereditary Heterozygous C2 Deficiency: Variable Clinical and Serological Manifestations Among Three Sisters
Current Rheumatology Reviews Medicinal Chemistry and Therapeutic Potential of Agonists, Antagonists and Allosteric Modulators of A1 Adenosine Receptor: Current Status and Perspectives
Current Pharmaceutical Design Study of Convolvulus pluricaulis for Antioxidant and Anticonvulsant Activity
Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Tryptophan Catabolism in IDO+ Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells
Current Drug Metabolism Copper, An Ancient Remedy Returning to Fight Microbial, Fungal and Viral Infections
Current Chemical Biology Clinical Implications of Macrolide Therapy in Chronic Sinopulmonary Diseases
Current Pharmaceutical Design In silico and In vivo Toxicological Evaluation of Cissampelos Sympodialis Secondary Metabolites in Rattus Norvegicus
Current Drug Metabolism Strategy for the Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection
Current Pharmaceutical Design Strategies that Target Tight Junctions for Enhanced Drug Delivery
Current Pharmaceutical Design Editorial [Hot Topic: Drugs and Pregnancy (Guest Editor: Zaneta Kimber-Trojnar)]
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology An Overview on Natural Polysaccharides with Antioxidant Properties
Current Medicinal Chemistry Editorial:Hot Topic: [Exploiting Multivalency in Drug Design(Executive Editor: Diego Munoz-Torrero)]
Current Pharmaceutical Design Combinatorial Application of Multiple High-throughput Biotechnologies for the Study of Autoimmune Diseases
Current Pharmaceutical Analysis Colon as Target for Drug Delivery
Current Drug Therapy Evidence For A Functional Contribution of Adenosine Signalling in Inflammatory Airway Diseases
Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (Discontinued) Therapeutic Modulation of Gut Microbiota: Current Clinical Applications and Future Perspectives
Current Drug Targets Inhibition of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (MAPKs) as a Strategy to Prevent Intimal Hyperplasia Following Cardiovascular Interventions
Vascular Disease Prevention (Discontinued) Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLCs) for Drug Delivery: Role of Liquid Lipid (Oil)
Current Drug Delivery Prospective Function of Different Antioxidant Containing Natural Products in the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Inhibitors of the 5-Lipoxygenase Pathway in Atherosclerosis
Current Pharmaceutical Design