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Zolpimist and Depression
Zolpimist (zolpidem oral spray) is a prescription sleep medication that can cause depression. In clinical trials that studied the potential side effects of this drug, depression was reported as one of the most common side effects. If depression occurs while you are taking Zolpimist, be sure to notify your healthcare provider immediately.
Zolpimist® (zolpidem oral spray) is a prescription insomnia medication. Depression is a possible side effect of this medication. In fact, depression is actually one of the more common side effects of Zolpimist.
Before medicines are approved, they must go through several clinical studies in which thousands of people are given a particular medicine and compared to a group of people not given the medicine. In these studies, side effects are always documented. This way, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group taking a placebo (with no active ingredients). Side effects are then usually separated into those that occur in more than 1 percent of people (common side effects) and those that occur in less than 1 percent of people (infrequent or rare side effects).
Depression was reported in up to 2 percent of people taking Zolpimist during clinical studies lasting between four and seven weeks long, compared to only 1 percent of people taking the placebo. Depression was not reported for shorter studies.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD