zolpidem

[ zohl-pi-dem, zohl-pid-uhm ]

noun

, Pharmacology.

1. a sedative hypnotic drug, (C 19 H 21 N 3 O) 2 ·C 4 H 6 O 6, closely related in effect to the benzodiazepines, used in the treatment of insomnia.

Word History and Origins

Origin of zolpidem¹

First recorded in 1950–55; abbreviation of (a)zol(e) + p(yrim)id(ine) + alteration of amide

Example Sentences

Another drug, zolpidem, appears to rapidly rouse a small fraction of cases, says Whyte.

From MIT Technology Review

By 2013, laboratory studies and driving simulations had shown that eight hours after taking zolpidem, women were more likely than men to have enough of the drug left in their blood to impair driving and increase their risk of traffic accidents.

From MIT Technology Review