Zolpidem dependence liability

Because all benzodiazepines have abuse and dependence liability, patients cannot be switched from one benzodiazepine to another in hopes of decreasing a pattern of drug abuse or dependence behavior. Zolpidem, a nonbenzodiazepine nonbarbiturate sedative, has been suggested to have little liability for physical dependence, but tolerance and withdrawal have been reported in association with its use as well."... 

From the published clinical studies, it would appear that the partial agonists bretazenil and abercamil are less likely to cause physiological dependence, have lower reinforcing effects and a lower incidence of subjective effects associated with abuse liability than the conventional 1,4-benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics. It is presently unclear whether the full agonists for the GABA-A receptor, zolpidem and zopiclone, offer a real advance in the treatment of insomnia although their adverse effect profiles and abuse liability may be lower than that of the conventional benzodiazepines. 

Zolpidem and a newer agent, zaleplon, are nonbenzodiazepines used in sleep disorders. They activate BZt receptors (reversed by flumazenil) and are more selective hypnotics because they are not effective in chronic anxiety, for seizure disorders, or for muscle relaxation. Possibly less tolerance and lower abuse liability and dependence than BZs. 

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