Zolpidem Therapy for Movement Disorders

Zolpidem is a selective agonist of the benzodiazepine subtype receptor BZ1. The highest density of this receptor is in the output structures of the basal ganglia. The basal ganglia are pathologically involved in many movements disorders. Thus, zolpidem has accumulated attention for a possible drug to treat neurological signs and symptoms in Parkinsonian diseases. In this mini-review, I reviewed effects of zolpidem as movement disorders including Parkinson's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, dystonia and so on. In addition, I reviewed a possible mechanism of zolpidem for movement disorders.