Dependence on zolpidem: two case reports of detoxification with flumazenil infusion

Zolpidem is a hypnotic drug that is chemically distinct from benzodiazepines (BDZ). It has been suggested that it acts selectively on gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors. However, recent evidence has shown that the behavioural effects of zolpidem are generally similar to those of BDZs. Flumazenil is usually considered to be a BDZ antagonist. Nonetheless, in chronic BDZ users, it acts as a partial, bland agonist. We describe two cases of zolpidem dependence that were detoxified by the use of flumazenil infusion. BDZ dependence is usually treated with tapering of the medication. As an alternative, abrupt discontinuation of the medication and rapid detoxification using flumazenil has been used. Flumazenil may represent an alternative to detoxification treatment by employing a tapering approach, or by replacement therapy with BDZs with a long half-life, particularly where patients are hard to treat or have low compliance to treatment.