Research and Clinical Trials on Zolpidem (Ambien, Stilnoct)

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By Dr Greg Mulhauser

This list of current clinical research trials on Zolpidem (Ambien, Stilnoct) is followed by a short set of abstracts from the most recent research articles published on the drug.

Article Contents

Zolpidem (Ambien, Stilnoct) Clinical Research Trials

From our searchable database at ClinicalTrialsFeeds.org, this list includes all the latest information about clinical trials involving Zolpidem (Ambien, Stilnoct).

 

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Current Research Literature on Zolpidem (Ambien, Stilnoct)

Here are abstracts for some of the latest research articles to have appeared on Zolpidem (Ambien, Stilnoct):

Zolpidem modulation of phasic and tonic GABA currents in the rat dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus.

Neuropharmacology. 2010 Mar 10;
Gao H, Smith BN
Zolpidem is a widely prescribed sleep aid with relative selectivity for GABA(A) receptors containing alpha1-3 subunits. We examined the effects of zolpidem on the inhibitory currents mediated by GABA(A) receptors using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from DMV neurons in transverse brainstem slices from rat. Zolpidem prolonged the decay time of mIPSCs and of muscimol-evoked whole-cell GABAergic currents, and it occasionally enhanced the amplitude of mIPSCs. The effects were blocked by flumazenil, a benzodiazepine antagonist. Zolpidem also hyperpolarized the resting membrane potential, with a concomitant decrease in input resistance and action potential firing activity in a subset of cells. Zolpidem did not clearly alter the GABA(A) receptor-mediated tonic current (I(tonic)) under baseline conditions, but after elevating extracellular GABA concentration with nipecotic acid, a nonselective GABA transporter blocker, zolpidem consistently and significantly increased the tonic GABA current. This increase was suppressed by flumazenil and gabazine. These results suggest that GABA(A) receptors with alpha1-3 subunits are expressed on synaptic GABA(A) receptors on DMV neurons. The baseline tonic GABA current is likely not mediated by these same low-affinity, zolpidem-sensitive GABA(A) receptors. However, when the extracellular GABA concentration is increased, zolpidem-sensitive extrasynaptic GABA(A) receptors containing alpha1-3 subunits contribute to the I(tonic).

Ethanol-induced locomotor sensitization in DBA/2J mice is associated with alterations in GABA(A) subunit gene expression and behavioral sensitivity to GABA(A) acting drugs.

Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2010 Feb 26;
Linsenbardt DN, Boehm SL
Repeated exposure to ethanol may produce increased sensitivity to its acute locomotor stimulant actions, a process referred to as locomotor sensitization. Neuroadaptation within certain brain circuits, including those possessing GABA(A) receptors, may underlie locomotor sensitization to ethanol. Indeed, GABA(A) receptors are documented mediators of ethanol's cellular and behavioral actions. Moreover, because subunit composition of this receptor is predictive of its pharmacology, it is possible that alterations in subunit composition contribute to the expression of locomotor sensitization to ethanol. The goal of the present study was to determine if alterations in GABA(A) subunit composition are associated with the expression of locomotor sensitization in DBA/2J mice, a strain known to be particularly susceptible to the development of this behavioral phenomenon. Following a modified 14day sensitization procedure (Phillips et al., 1994) relative changes in GABA(A) subunit gene expression were assessed in discrete mesolimbic brain regions. To determine if the observed changes in gene expression produced functional changes in the locomotor responses to drugs known to either preferentially or generally activate GABA(A) receptors normally possessing the significantly altered subunits, separate cohorts of animals were challenged with one of several low doses of zolpidem (alpha1-selective), etomidate (beta2/3-selective), or flurazepam (gamma2-directed) and assessed for locomotor alterations. Sensitized animals displayed increased expression of the alpha1, beta2, and gamma2 (v1) subunits in the Nucleus Accumbens (NAc) but not Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA). Additionally, sensitized animals displayed altered sensitivity to the locomotor actions of etomidate and flurazepam. These results support the hypothesis that neuroadaptive changes in GABA(A) subunit composition participate in the expression of locomotor sensitization.

Severe dependency on zolpidem in a patient with multiple sclerosis suffering from paraspasticity.

World J Biol Psychiatry. 2010 Mar; 11(2 Pt 2): 516-8
Damm J, Eser D, Moeller HJ, Rupprecht R
Zolpidem, a non-benzodiazepine hypnotic, acts selectively via the alpha(1)-subunit of GABA(A) receptors at therapeutic doses. It is therefore thought to lack both benzodiazepine properties such as anxiolysis, anticonvulsion, muscle relaxation, and side effects such as dependency. We report a case of severe dependency of zolpidem taken because of percieved myorelaxation in a patient with multiple sclerosis and paraspasticity. The observations in the patient described here suggest that zolpidem looses alpha1-receptor selectivity at higher doses, thereby leading to the same risks and benefits such as benzodiazepines. This should be taken into account by doctors when prescribing higher doses. Zolpidem may improve symptoms of spasticity in high doses via affection of GABA alpha2-receptor and alpha3-receptor subunits.

General and Efficient Copper-Catalyzed Three-Component Coupling Reaction towards Imidazoheterocycles: One-Pot Synthesis of Alpidem and Zolpidem.

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2010 Mar 8;
Chernyak N, Gevorgyan V

Thoracic spine injury after a high-speed motor vehicle crash.

Air Med J. 2010 Mar-Apr; 29(2): 58-61
Tilney P
In late October, a hospital-based flight team was activated at 9:30 pm for an approximately 30-year-old man involved in a high-speed motor vehicle crash into a tree. Per emergency medical services (EMS) documentation, flight service was requested for advanced airway management and rapid transport of the patient to a Level 1 trauma center. Ground transport was estimated at 60+ minutes, whereas actual flight time was less than 15 minutes. On the crew's arrival at the designated landing zone, they were escorted to an ambulance where a 100-kg man was immobilized on a stretcher. Because the landing area was at a remote location, the flight team did not witness the scene; however, the ground paramedic reported that the patient was the single-occupant driver of a small sedan. Given the extent of damage to the front and passenger side of the vehicle, it was determined that the patient was driving at a high rate of speed when he struck the tree. He required approximately 20 to 25 minutes of extrication. An empty bottle of zolpidem (Ambien) was found on the floor of the vehicle; the 30-day prescription had been filled approximately a week before the accident occurred.

 

This page was last reviewed by Dr Greg Mulhauser, Sunday, 31 January 2010.

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