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Zolpidem-induced compulsive evening eating behavior.
Hyung Ki Kim1, Jun Tack Kwon, Jeehun Baek
1*Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine; and †Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Sleep Disorders, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Cheonan Hospital, Cheonan, Korea.
Clinical Neuropharmacology
|September 19, 2013
Summary
Zolpidem, used for insomnia, may cause compulsive eating behaviors in wakeful states, distinct from sleep-related eating disorders. This behavior ceased upon zolpidem discontinuation in a reported case.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Sleep Medicine
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Zolpidem is a common hypnotic agent prescribed for insomnia.
- Previous research links zolpidem to sleep-related eating disorders, often with amnesia.
- Compulsive eating behaviors in a wakeful state are not typically associated with zolpidem use.
Observation:
- A 57-year-old female patient experienced new-onset compulsive evening eating behaviors.
- These behaviors occurred during a wakeful state while the patient was taking zolpidem for insomnia.
- The patient reported no memory of these eating episodes, similar to amnestic disorders.
Findings:
- The patient's compulsive eating behavior resolved completely after zolpidem treatment was stopped.
- This case suggests a potential link between zolpidem and compulsive eating, even in the absence of sleep.
- The behavior observed differs from typical sleep-related eating disorders associated with zolpidem.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider zolpidem as a potential cause of compulsive eating behaviors, even when patients are awake.
- Further research is warranted to understand the mechanism linking zolpidem to wakeful compulsive eating.
- This case highlights the importance of a thorough medication review in patients presenting with new-onset eating disorders.
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