Zolpidem (Ambien): potential as PD treatment
 

Zolpidem, a short-acting hypnotic drug, can improve motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease....

Zolpidem tartrate is Ambien.

Anyone take it?

Zolpidem modulates GABAA receptor function in subthalamic nucleus

The subthalamic nucleus occupies a position in the indirect pathway of basal ganglia circuit, which plays an important role in the movement regulation. Zolpidem is an imidazopyridine agonist with a high affinity on the benzodiazepine site of GABAA receptors containing α 1 subunit. Recently, zolpidem has been reported to be useful in treating subgroups of parkinsonian patients....

The present findings on the effect of zolpidem in subthalamic nucleus provide a rationale for further investigations into its potential in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...367a9e182e68bc

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Zolpidem Therapy for Movement Disorders

Author: Abe, Kazuo

Source: Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery, Volume 3, Number 1, January 2008

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.

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/conten...00001/art00007

'Z' drugs
 

In Canada, the similar drug used here is zopliclone (Imovane). I have Parkinsonism, possibly atypical, and until recently I thought it was just a sleeping pill, then I tried to wean myself off it - Wow! my symptoms of PD worsened badly. I followed some of the links posted here and see that it may have been helping me without my realizing it - and mornings used to be my best time, now I can hardly move then. I am seeing my MDS neuro in 2 weeks and will ask her about it, i.e. should I go back on a sleeping pill I don't need for sleeping but for PD relief.
thanks for the posting.