Lower doses of sublingual Zolpidem are more effective than oral Zolpidem to anticipate sleep onset in healthy volunteers

ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy of sublingual Zolpidem (5 and 10 mg) to conventional oral Zolpidem (10 mg).MethodsThis was an open, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, controlled, and single center study. The study took place at the Laboratory of Clinical Neurophysiology and total number of participants was 58 volunteers completed the study whose demographics of age, gender, body mass index (BMI) were similar among everyone. Scores in Epworth, Pittsburgh, Beck and Hamilton Scales did not differ among groups. A model of transient insomnia was determined by the sleep anticipation in 120 minute. Subjects were randomly divided in three groups for drug administration (5 m SL; 10 mg SL and 10 mg oral), given in a single dose prior to polysomnography (PSG). Sleep parameters were assessed by PSG and post-sleep questionnaires.ResultsA significant main treatment effect was evident considering the sleep onset latency (SOL) and persistent sleep latency (PSL). An earlier sleep onset was induced by SL Zolpidem 10 mg (SOL = p < 0.004; PSL = p < 0.006) and SL Zolpidem 5 mg (SOL = p < 0.025; PSL = p < 0.046) compared to oral Zolpidem 10 mg. Subjects that received SL Zolpidem 10 mg reported an earlier sleep onset (latency to sleep and latency until persistent sleep) when compared to subjects from other groups (p < 0.005).ConclusionsSublingual Zolpidem, both 5 and 10 mg, induced faster sleep initiation than 10 mg oral Zolpidem. A subjective perception of earlier sleep onset was reported by subjects using SL 10 mg.