Are non-benzodiazepine hypnotics (zopiclone, zolpidem) really safer than benzos (temazepam, etc) for seniors with insomnia

June 2013

Are non-benzodiazepine hypnotics (zopiclone, zolpidem) really safer than benzos (temazepam, etc) for seniors with insomnia?

Non-benzos aren't as safe as you might think. ER visits due to zolpidem are up...mostly with older patients.

Both non-benzos and benzos work at GABA-A receptors for their hypnotic effects.

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Table of Contents

Diabetes Canadian guidelines will affect the way you manage diabetes patients and address the growing diabetes epidemic
Smoking Cessation patients using OTC nicotine replacement therapy do NOT have to stop smoking first
Hypertension another angiotensin receptor blocker for hypertension called Edarbi (eh-DAR-bee, azilsartan)
Infectious Diseases more focus on treating Clostridium difficile
Supplements the safety and benefits of L-carnitine
Gastroenterology more opportunities to help manage gastroparesis
Multiple Sclerosis the second ORAL drug for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), Tecfidera (TEK-fi-de-rah, dimethyl fumarate)
Psychiatry new patch called Neupro (NU-pro, rotigotine) for Parkinson's disease and restless legs syndrome
Insomnia Are non-benzodiazepine hypnotics (zopiclone, zolpidem) really safer than benzos (temazepam, etc) for seniors with insomnia
Cardiology whether it's okay for patients on clopidogrel (Plavix, etc) to take a PPI
Supplements if enzyme supplements help gas and bloating