Classified as a sedative-hypnotic drug, zolpidem slows brain activity to allow sleep and is used to treat insomnia. It is taken once per day at bedtime. The drug is available as a generic and can be administered as a tablet by mouth, as a sublingual tablet, as an oral spray, and as an extended-release tablet. 

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), healthcare providers should not prescribe zolpidem, eszopiclone, or zaleplon to patients who have previously experienced complex sleep behaviors, such as sleep walking, sleep driving, and engaging in other activities while not fully awake, because such behaviors have led to serious injuries or death in rare cases. Providers should instruct patients to discontinue the use of those medications if they experience even one episode of complex sleep behavior. For more information, visit FDA.gov.