Zolpidem and Possible Side Effects on Brain Circulation: A Case Report and Review of Literature

The brain is one of the most sensitive organs to hypoxia and the most vulnerable to ischemia and vascular events. Zolpidem, as a GABA-A receptor agonist, has an inhibiting effect on the central nervous system. In this study, the possible side effects of zolpidem on brain perfusion were reported in...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Fatemeh Mohammadian, Sassan Mohammadi, Niayesh Mohebbi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Research Center for Rational Use of Drugs (RCRUD) 2022-12-01
Series:Journal of Pharmaceutical Care
Subjects:
Online Access:https://jpc.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jpc/article/view/532
_version_ 1797943715052912640
author Fatemeh Mohammadian
Sassan Mohammadi
Niayesh Mohebbi
author_facet Fatemeh Mohammadian
Sassan Mohammadi
Niayesh Mohebbi
author_sort Fatemeh Mohammadian
collection DOAJ
description The brain is one of the most sensitive organs to hypoxia and the most vulnerable to ischemia and vascular events. Zolpidem, as a GABA-A receptor agonist, has an inhibiting effect on the central nervous system. In this study, the possible side effects of zolpidem on brain perfusion were reported in a patient with zolpidem addiction. Moreover, the correlated literature has been reviewed. The patient was a 33-year-old man who was referred with a complaint of cognitive impairment, gait disturbance, confusion, and seizure. The patient reported taking the daily dose of 270 mg of zolpidem. He developed acute dystonia, rigidity, and bradykinesia during treatment with haloperidol in the psychiatric ward. Brain MRI and EEG were requested due to the prolongation of cognitive impairment and parkinsonism symptoms. The Neurologist utilized Brain MRA to determine the source of microvascular lesions found in the brain MRI. Unexpectedly, a reduction in Anterior Cerebral Artery (ACA) perfusion was detected after a comprehensive evaluation by Brain MRA. In addition, impairment of several cognitive domains was observed in the follow-up visit. Zolpidem could reduce cerebral perfusion in various vascular territories. It seems that in patients who take zolpidem with higher than therapeutic doses, vascular complications and a decreased cerebral perfusion have occurred, resulting in more neurological complications, including cognitive disorders and vascular events. A holistic investigation of the patient with zolpidem abuse and neurological symptoms would be recommended to determine the probable vascular complication of zolpidem.
first_indexed 2024-04-10T20:28:33Z
format Article
id doaj.art-688bc38dee9543c2ae9a9e9012f0299e
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2322-4630
2322-4509
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-10T20:28:33Z
publishDate 2022-12-01
publisher Research Center for Rational Use of Drugs (RCRUD)
record_format Article
series Journal of Pharmaceutical Care
spelling doaj.art-688bc38dee9543c2ae9a9e9012f0299e2023-01-25T07:55:23ZengResearch Center for Rational Use of Drugs (RCRUD)Journal of Pharmaceutical Care2322-46302322-45092022-12-0110410.18502/jpc.v10i4.11587Zolpidem and Possible Side Effects on Brain Circulation: A Case Report and Review of LiteratureFatemeh Mohammadian0Sassan Mohammadi1Niayesh Mohebbi2Department of Psychiatry, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Research Center for Rational Use of Drugs, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. The brain is one of the most sensitive organs to hypoxia and the most vulnerable to ischemia and vascular events. Zolpidem, as a GABA-A receptor agonist, has an inhibiting effect on the central nervous system. In this study, the possible side effects of zolpidem on brain perfusion were reported in a patient with zolpidem addiction. Moreover, the correlated literature has been reviewed. The patient was a 33-year-old man who was referred with a complaint of cognitive impairment, gait disturbance, confusion, and seizure. The patient reported taking the daily dose of 270 mg of zolpidem. He developed acute dystonia, rigidity, and bradykinesia during treatment with haloperidol in the psychiatric ward. Brain MRI and EEG were requested due to the prolongation of cognitive impairment and parkinsonism symptoms. The Neurologist utilized Brain MRA to determine the source of microvascular lesions found in the brain MRI. Unexpectedly, a reduction in Anterior Cerebral Artery (ACA) perfusion was detected after a comprehensive evaluation by Brain MRA. In addition, impairment of several cognitive domains was observed in the follow-up visit. Zolpidem could reduce cerebral perfusion in various vascular territories. It seems that in patients who take zolpidem with higher than therapeutic doses, vascular complications and a decreased cerebral perfusion have occurred, resulting in more neurological complications, including cognitive disorders and vascular events. A holistic investigation of the patient with zolpidem abuse and neurological symptoms would be recommended to determine the probable vascular complication of zolpidem. https://jpc.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jpc/article/view/532Zolpidem; Brain Perfusion; Complication
spellingShingle Fatemeh Mohammadian
Sassan Mohammadi
Niayesh Mohebbi
Zolpidem and Possible Side Effects on Brain Circulation: A Case Report and Review of Literature
Journal of Pharmaceutical Care
Zolpidem; Brain Perfusion; Complication
title Zolpidem and Possible Side Effects on Brain Circulation: A Case Report and Review of Literature
title_full Zolpidem and Possible Side Effects on Brain Circulation: A Case Report and Review of Literature
title_fullStr Zolpidem and Possible Side Effects on Brain Circulation: A Case Report and Review of Literature
title_full_unstemmed Zolpidem and Possible Side Effects on Brain Circulation: A Case Report and Review of Literature
title_short Zolpidem and Possible Side Effects on Brain Circulation: A Case Report and Review of Literature
title_sort zolpidem and possible side effects on brain circulation a case report and review of literature
topic Zolpidem; Brain Perfusion; Complication
url https://jpc.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jpc/article/view/532
work_keys_str_mv AT fatemehmohammadian zolpidemandpossiblesideeffectsonbraincirculationacasereportandreviewofliterature
AT sassanmohammadi zolpidemandpossiblesideeffectsonbraincirculationacasereportandreviewofliterature
AT niayeshmohebbi zolpidemandpossiblesideeffectsonbraincirculationacasereportandreviewofliterature