AUTHOR=Moshfeghinia Reza , Jazi Kimia , Kabaranzadghadim Shabnam , Malekpour Mahdi , Oji Bahare 

TITLE=Severe chronic abuse of zolpidem for over 10 years: a case report and review of similar cases

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1252397

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1252397

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=Background: Insomnia is a major health issue and zolpidem is an effective treatment for insomnia. However, high doses of zolpidem can cause dependence, abuse, and withdrawal symptoms, questioning its advantages.Case presentation: A 39-year-old woman who has been divorced and unemployed for two years was referred to an addiction treatment center with a chief complaint of "seizure-like withdrawal symptoms after consuming high doses of zolpidem (up to 6000 mg per day) for a decade". These symptoms were in the form of body tremors, nystagmus, stress, anxiety, hot flashes, and sweaty palms. She has been undergoing detoxification by clonazepam for almost 2 months. Except for the first few days, she did not have any withdrawal symptoms, and her insomnia caused by zolpidem has improved.Conclusions: Chronic abuse of zolpidem can cause dependence, withdrawal symptoms, and abuse. High doses can lead to extreme craving and dependence. Physicians must manage the withdrawal process.