We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

How Effective Is Zolpidem for Anxiety?

By Nicole Etolen
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 14,306
References
Share

Zolpidem is a prescription sedative used to treat insomnia, and it is not approved for use in treating other conditions. Doctors rarely prescribe zolpidem for anxiety, although some patients taking it for insomnia may notice a decrease in their anxiety symptoms. In other patients, the medication can actually worsen anxiety conditions, so it is important to take the medication only for the prescribed reason and not to rely on it for off-label uses.

As part of a sedative class of medications, zolpidem works by balancing certain chemicals in the brain and suppressing some signals exchanged between the brain and the nervous system. The active ingredient in zolpidem is very similar to benzodiazepine, a type of sedative known for its ability to help control anxiety. This similarity may lead patients to believe that they can also use zolpidem, but the drug's chemical structure is different enough that it does not work quite the same way.

Although doctors do not prescribe zolpidem for anxiety because it does not work in the same manner as other sedatives, some of its primary actions can help reduce anxious thoughts in select patients. Zolpidem inhibits the parts of the brain responsible for cognitive thought. Essentially, this feature of the medication works by quieting the mind so that the user can fall asleep faster. Racing thoughts and frequent worrying are part of anxiety disorder, and inhibiting the part of the brain responsible for these thoughts may help reduce the symptoms of the conditions, although further research is needed to validate this potential benefit.

If racing thoughts, constant worry, and feelings of anxiousness are caused by a lack of sleep rather than a chemical imbalance in the brain, zolpidem for anxiety may be beneficial. In this case, however, the medication is not actually controlling anxiety, but rather eliminating the condition that led to it in the first place. Sleep deprivation can cause numerous negative effects on the body that may be resolved once the patient is able to get several nights of quality rest.

The risks of taking zolpidem for anxiety may outweigh any possible benefits. Anxiety and depression often go together, and patients with a history of depression should not take zolpidem for anxiety or for any other reason, as the medication can actually worsen the symptoms of depression. This medication is highly addictive, both physically and psychologically. Patients with a history of addiction to drugs or alcohol should not take zolpidem. Doctors typically do not recommend it for long-term use, generally prescribing only enough for one to two weeks.

Zolpidem cannot be taken unless the user is able to spend an entire seven to nine hours sleeping without interruption, and it may cause side effects such as memory loss or sleepwalking. It should only be purchased through reputable sources and with a doctor’s prescription. Patients should never use a medication for reasons other than those for which it is approved unless under the guidance of a medical professional.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/how-effective-is-zolpidem-for-anxiety.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.