Description
What is Zolpidem?
Zolpidem is the name of the active ingredient in the first approved non-benzodiazepine sleep aid medication. It was introduced to the market in France in 1988 by Synthalabo. Synthalabo and Searle collaborated to bring it to market in the US, and it was approved for use in the United States by the FDA in 1992 under the brand name “Ambien”. In 2007 when the patent expired, zolpidem became available in generic versions.
It is a GABA receptor agonist and works by increasing GABA effects in the central nervous system by binding to the GABA receptors. By specifically targeting the neuro transmitters that affect sleep, and by not working as an anticonvulsant or muscle relaxant Ambien sleeping pills are considered more suitable for Insomnia and various other sleep disorders. Sedative hypnotic medications such as Z drugs are also considered less habit forming than benzodiazepines.
Although it is primarily used for sleep conditions, zolpidem also proves effective for the treatment of anxiety or stressed based insomnia. Too many sleepless nights are attributed to this and all too often people spend more time worrying about their problem than getting the adequate amount of sleep to deal with the underlying cause. By working to relax people with a high level of apprehension, Ambien helps to get the required amount of sleep, ensuring a less stressful and more productive day.
