Zolpidem: a review of its use in the management of insomnia.

Zolpidem (Ambien, Stilnox, Myslee, an imidazopyridine, is a nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic indicated for the short-term treatment of insomnia. Zolpidem improves sleep in patients with insomnia. Its overall tolerability is favourable when administered according to the manufacturer's prescribing information, with a low propensity to cause clinical residual effects, withdrawal, dependence or tolerance. In addition, most evidence suggests that the drug is associated with minimal rebound insomnia. In the only clinical trials that investigated the use of a hypnosedative drug in an 'as-needed' regimen, zolpidem produced a global improvement in sleep. Thus, zolpidem continues to be a useful therapeutic option in the pharmacological treatment of patients with insomnia.