Zolpidem at supratherapeutic doses can cause drug abuse, dependence and withdrawal seizure.

Zolpidem is a non-benzodiazepine hypnotic drug, acts selectively through omega 1 receptors of GABA A . It is thought to be safer than benzodiazepines but we report a case of zolpidem drug abuse, dependence and withdrawal seizure. © was re-instituted in dose of 20mg per day and then gradually tapered over few days during hospitalization. At the time of discharge he was on phenytoin sodium 300 mg per day. DISCUSSION This patient was taking zolpidem frequently for long time and in supratherapeutic doses and he became dependant on it. He had a withdrawal seizure after 48 hours of its abstinence. Other than drug withdrawal there was no other explanation for the seizure. He did not have past history of any seizure and head injury, he was not taking any other drug that could cause seizure, and MRI brain was normal. During withdrawal period he was very restless and required zolpidem again to get relief.