Sleep Related Eating Disorder as an Unexpected Effect of Zolpidem

Abstract

Zolpidem is a sedative-hypnotic drug used to treat in sleep disorders, and it is the most commonly prescribed drug for insomnia. It reduces sleep latency and increases total sleep time. However, some studies have reported that zolpidem might induce sleep related eating disorder (SRED). SRED is characterized by recurrent episodes of compulsive and involuntary eating during night sleep, accompanied by partial consciousness and limited subsequent recall. The pathophysiology of SRED is unknown. Patients with SRED usually suffer from other sleep disorders such as sleepwalking, restless legs syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea. In this article, we present an overview of case reports on SRED induced by zolpidem.