Zolpidem affect on stage 3 and 4 (slow wave sleep)?

[HopefulDoc2007]

I did a quick google search and found conflicting answers (some said zolpidem increases stages 3 and 4, others said it has no effect. Does anyone have a good source that can clear this up for board purposes (Kaplan, DIT, etc)?

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[aashkab]

i have no clue but benzo's typically SHORTEN stage 3-4 sleep giving you a poorer quality of sleep right?

although zolpidem acts similarly as a benzo, are you saying that it may in fact promote stage 4 sleep? i wouldn't have thought so..

 

[HopefulDoc2007]

Yeah, my understanding was that, although it resembles the benzo MOA, it's effect on sleep stages was different. Anyone know for sure?

 

[Dakayus]

I use it and it gives you ok but a little crappier than average sleep. Diphenhydramines are absolutely terrible. So I'd say it has some affect on stage 3 and 4 just through personal experience
Also if you're taking it, try not to take it more than 4 days. Gives you pretty bad reflex insomnia. Just 1 or 2 days is ok.

 

[HopefulDoc2007]

Haha, thanks for the 1st hand experience, anybody else know the answer?

 

[knuckles]

Haha, thanks for the 1st hand experience, anybody else know the answer?

Is this in First Aid?

 

[HopefulDoc2007]

No I don't believe so.

 

[badasshairday]

MOA of zolpidem is like a benzodiazepine, but it affects stage 3/4 sleep much less. So I would say it preserves sleep architecture. In terms of increasing stage 3/4 vs. no effect, I wouldn't worry about that for Step 1. Just know that it does not decrease stage 3/4 sleep like a benzo.