Table 2.
Description of clinical cases
| Patient | Socio-demographic features | Psychiatric history | Zolpidem (dosage, ROA) | Drugs/substances in combination (if any) | Clinical effects reported | Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Case 1 | 25 yr, M, unmarried, university student | Dysthymic disorder, previous SA (n = 1), previous CUD | 200 mg/d, OS | None | Sedative (taken at bedtime) whilst eu-phoria and increased energy (if taken during the day) Strange and bizarre nocturnal behaviour |
SER 150 mg/d BUP 300 mg/d QUE 25 mg/d |
| Case 2 | 28 yr, F, married, housewife | MDD, previous physical and psychological abuse, previous SA (n = 3) | 80 mg/d, OS | None | Dissociative effects, imperative hallu-cinations, amnesia | SER 150 mg/d TRA 100 mg/d MEL 3 mg/d |
| Case 3 | 35 yr, M, unmarried, general manager | ADHD, Narcissistic personality disorder, CoUD | 300 mg/d, OS 30 mg/d, IV |
Cocaine | Euphoria, ‘high’, hyperactivity | GABA 900 mg/d BUP 150 mg/d MEL 5 mg/d |
| Case 4 | 56 yr, F, married, unemployed | Previous BZD dependence, GAD, previous physical and psychological abuse, previous SA (n = 1) | 300 mg/d, OS | None | Anxiolysis, anxiety, mood and sleep improvement | TRA 100 mg/d PRE 300 mg/d Baclofen 10 mg/d MEL 2 mg/d |
| Case 5 | 52 yr, F, unmarried, general manager | Primary insomnia; Narcissistic personality disorder and a cyclothymic temperament | 450 mg/d, OS | None | Hyperactivity, euphoria, work efficiency, increased levels of work competence | PRE 300 mg/d BUP 150 mg/d TRA 150 mg/d |
| Case 6 | 23 yr, F, unmarried, unemployed | Primary insomnia | 30 mg/d, OS | Alcohol | Sexual disinhibition, hyperactivity, eu-phoria | TRA 50 mg/d |
| Case 7 | 36 yr, M, inmate, unemployed | Antisocial personality disorder, previous AUD, impulse dyscontrol | 240 mg/d, OS | None | Mood elevation, euphoria, loquacity, sexual disinhibition | FLU 20 mg/d GABA 900 mg/d |
| Case 8 | 47 yr, F, unmarried, unemployed | MDD, personality disorder, zolpidem-in-duced epileptic seizures | 120−140 mg/d, OS | None | Anxiolysis, mood enhancement | OLA 2.5 mg/d |
AUD, alcohol use disorder; BZDs, benzodiazepines; CoUD, cocaine use disorder; CUD, cannabis use disorder; F, female; FLU, fluoxetine; GABA, gabapentin; GAD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder; IV, intravenous; M, male; MDD, Major Depressive Disorder; OLA, olanzapine; OS, oral; PRE, pregabalin; QUE, quetiapine; ROA, route of administration; SA, suicide attempt; SER, sertraline; TRA, trazodone; ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; BUP, bupropion; MEL, melatonin.