Summary
Zolpidem is indicated for short-term treatment of insomnia (2-6 weeks maximum). It selectively binds to BZ1 receptors, providing strong hypnotic effects but weak anxiolytic and muscle relaxant properties compared to benzodiazepines. Notable for causing bizarre hallucinogenic effects, amnesia, complex sleep behaviors (sleep-walking, sleep-driving, sleep-eating), and delusions of sobriety at recreational doses. Use extreme caution; have a trip sitter present. Do not take on a full stomach.
Dose Information
| ROA | Light | Common | Strong | Heavy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral | 10-20mg | 20-30mg | 30-50mg | 50mg+ |
Light
Common
Strong
Heavy
Onset, Duration & After-effects
| ROA | Onset | Comeup | Peak | Offset | After Effects | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral | 15-45 min | 30-45 min | 3-6 hrs | 4-5 hrs | 2-4 hrs | 3600-0 min |
Tolerance
Build-up
develops within 1–2 weeks of nightly use; cross-tolerant with benzodiazepines
Reset
1–2 weeks; rebound insomnia common
Cross-tolerance
Effects
Positive
- Physical euphoria
- Muscle relaxation
- Helps with insomnia/sleep
- Muscle Relaxation
- Anxiolytic
Negative
- Nausea
- Respiratory depression
- Respiratory Depression
- Sedation
- Sedative
Positive
- Cognitive euphoria
- Anxiety suppression
Negative
- Amnesia
- Motor control loss
- Delusions
- Delusions of sobriety
- Compulsive redosing
- Thought disorganization
- Analysis suppression
- Emotion suppression
- Memory suppression
- Dizziness
- Information processing suppression
- Language suppression
- Thought deceleration
- Time distortion
- Consciousness disconnection
Positive
- Increased libido
- Appetite enhancement
Negative
- Disinhibition
- Double vision
- Acuity suppression
- Tactile suppression
- Visual disconnection
- Drifting
- External hallucination
- Autonomous entity
- Internal hallucination
- Auditory hallucination
- Tactile hallucination
- Hallucinations through all physical senses
- Increased or decreased libido
- Auditory hallucinations