Amnesia possibly associated with zolpidem administration.

Two patients experienced amnesia after taking zolpidem 5 and 10 mg. Neither patient could recall telephone conversations that took place within an hour of taking the drug. The first patient placed a call shortly after ingestion; the second took the dose, fell asleep, and was awakened by the call. Health care providers should be aware of the possibility that in some patients, sedative-hypnotic agents such as zolpidem may produce amnesia that begins a short time after ingestion and may persist into the sleep cycle. This may be particularly important in individuals who, after taking a hypnotic agent, may have to make significant decisions that they must be able to remember.