The Effectiveness of Zolpidem for the Treatment of Disorders of Consciousness.

Approximately, five million people in the United States live with the residual effects of brain injury. The causes of acquired brain injury can be categorized as traumatic brain injury or non-traumatic brain injury. There are currently no treatments shown to consistently enhance recovery from disorders of consciousness (DOC). Sporadic recovery from DOC after the administration of various pharmacological agents has been described in several case reports. Increase in arousal after zolpidem administration is seen in patients with vegetative state or minimally conscious state for treatment of restlessness and disturbances of their sleep-wake cycle. The use of zolpidem could be reasonable in select patients with neurologic injury but promising integrity of brain structures, such as intact deep and superficial gray matter structures and white matter connections.