Zolpidem: what did the insomnia trial show?
1,018 adults aged 18–64 received zolpidem extended-release 12.5 mg (669 participants) or placebo (349), on three to seven nights weekly for 24 weeks in a randomized, double-blind trial.
At week 12, the primary patient-rated sleep-help outcome was favorable in 89.8% versus 51.4%. Sleep onset and maintenance reports also improved. Common adverse events included headache, anxiety and sleepiness.
Patient-reported outcomes in adults under 65; these findings are formulation-specific. The historical trial dose is not a current starting-dose recommendation. Separate FDA warnings address serious complex sleep behaviors.
These results apply to the studied population, formulation and follow-up.
What might this mean, and what would change the interpretation?
This is a selected trial summary, not a full literature review or formal quality appraisal.
What would clarify this: Further studies of long-term outcomes and different patient groups.
Findings reviewed · abstract
Checked Sep 23, 2026 against the linked abstract. This reading note is not a formal risk-of-bias appraisal.