Zaleplon

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Reactions 970 - 27 Sep 2003 Zaleplon First report of CNS depression: case report A 20-year-old man developed symptoms of CNS depression, resulting in driving impairment, after taking zaleplon. The man reported inhaling three crushed zaleplon [‘Sonata’] 10mg tablets and ingesting three tablets an unknown time before hitting another vehicle while driving. He was unsteady on his feet, had slow movements and reactions, poor co- ordination and poor attention. An hour later blood tests revealed concentrations of zaleplon 0.13 µg/mL, chlorphenamine 0.03 µg/mL and dextromethorphan 0.08 µg/mL; no alcohol was present. [Patient outcome not stated]. Author comment: "The concentration of zaleplon alone in the absence of any other drug would reasonably attributed [sic] to impairment. The chlorpheniramine concentration could possibly have an additive effect but was within therapeutic range. The dextromethorphan concentration was determined to be insignificant to psychomotor performance." Stillwell ME. Zaleplon and driving impairment. Journal of Forensic Sciences 48: 677-679, May 2003 - USA 807214078 » Editorial comment: A search of AdisBase and Medline did not reveal any previous case reports of CNS depression associated with zaleplon. The WHO Adverse Drug Reactions database contained seven reports of ataxia, one report of abnormal co-ordination and two reports of stupor associated with zaleplon. 1 Reactions 27 Sep 2003 No. 970 0114-9954/10/0970-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved

Transcript of Zaleplon

Page 1: Zaleplon

Reactions 970 - 27 Sep 2003

★Zaleplon

First report of CNS depression: case reportA 20-year-old man developed symptoms of CNS

depression, resulting in driving impairment, after takingzaleplon.

The man reported inhaling three crushed zaleplon [‘Sonata’]10mg tablets and ingesting three tablets an unknown timebefore hitting another vehicle while driving. He was unsteadyon his feet, had slow movements and reactions, poor co-ordination and poor attention. An hour later blood testsrevealed concentrations of zaleplon 0.13 µg/mL,chlorphenamine 0.03 µg/mL and dextromethorphan0.08 µg/mL; no alcohol was present. [Patient outcome notstated].

Author comment: "The concentration of zaleplon alone inthe absence of any other drug would reasonably attributed[sic] to impairment. The chlorpheniramine concentrationcould possibly have an additive effect but was withintherapeutic range. The dextromethorphan concentration wasdetermined to be insignificant to psychomotor performance."Stillwell ME. Zaleplon and driving impairment. Journal of Forensic Sciences 48:677-679, May 2003 - USA 807214078

» Editorial comment: A search of AdisBase and Medline didnot reveal any previous case reports of CNS depressionassociated with zaleplon. The WHO Adverse Drug Reactionsdatabase contained seven reports of ataxia, one report ofabnormal co-ordination and two reports of stupor associatedwith zaleplon.

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Reactions 27 Sep 2003 No. 9700114-9954/10/0970-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved