Treatment of insomnia with zaleplon, a novel sleep medication

Insomnia is a highly prevalent sleep problem that often results in poor daily functioning of the affected patient. Unfortunately, sedative hypnotic agents prescribed in the past often resulted in residual sedation, as well as impairment of cognitive and psychomotor performance, throughout the day after use. Newer agents with relatively rapid elimination require administration regularly each night before bedtime if symptoms of insomnia are to be prevented and next-day sedation is to be avoided. The availability of zaleplon challenges these standards of practice. The rapid elimination of zaleplon, combined with its unique receptor binding affinity, permits 10 mg of zaleplon to be taken at bedtime or later in the night with minimal concern for next-day residual effects. Clinical studies of zaleplon also identified the low risk of withdrawal syndrome or rebound insomnia after the discontinuation of nightly use. If used only on the nights when symptoms actually occur, the occurrence of such problems with zaleplon will be minimal.