Summary
Zaleplon is indicated for short-term treatment of insomnia (2-4 weeks maximum). At prescribed doses it facilitates sleep onset without significantly affecting sleep maintenance. However, at recreational doses (typically 40+ mg), zaleplon can produce atypical hallucinogenic effects including visual hallucinations, cognitive disconnection, and deliriant-like experiences that differ markedly from both benzodiazepines and classical hallucinogens. These effects are accompanied by severe amnesia and compulsive behavior. Due to its ultra-short half-life (~1 hour), risk of next-day impairment is minimal when taken with adequate sleep time (7-8 hours).
Dose Information
| ROA | Light | Common | Strong | Heavy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral | 2.5-5mg | 5-10mg | 10-20mg | 20mg+ |
Light
Common
Strong
Heavy
Onset, Duration & After-effects
| ROA | Onset | Comeup | Peak | Offset | After Effects | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral | 15-30 min | 15-30 min | 60 min | 1-2 hrs | 60-0 min | 180-0 min |
Tolerance
Build-up
develops within 1–2 weeks of nightly use
Reset
1–2 weeks
Cross-tolerance
Effects
Positive
- Muscle relaxation
- Physical euphoria
- Muscle Relaxation
- Anxiolytic
- Muscle relaxant
Negative
- Motor impairment
- Respiratory Depression
- Sedation
- Sedative
- Dystaxia
Positive
- Anxiety suppression
- Cognitive euphoria
Negative
- Amnesia
- Motor control loss
- Analysis suppression
- Memory suppression
- Thought disorganization
- Dizziness
- Motor Control Loss
- Time distortion
Positive
- Pattern recognition enhancement
- Tracers
Negative
- Disinhibition
- Acuity Suppression
- Visual drifting
- External hallucinations
- Dulled perception
- Metallic Taste
- Visual Drifting
- External Hallucinations