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Extraordinary arousal from semi-comatose state on Zolpidem


RP Clauss
W M Giildenpfennig
H W Nel
M M Sathekge
R R Venkannagari

Abstract

A young semi-eomatose male patient was investigated using 99mTc hexamethyl-propylene amine oxime (99mTc HMPAO) brain single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) before and after administration of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) agonist zolpidem. It was observed that 15 minutes after application of the drug the patient awoke from his semi-eomatose condition and remained awake for the next 3 - 4 hours. When drug action subsided he returned to his semi-comatose state. Brain SPECT before drug application showed large hypo-active areas in certain parts of the brain. Brain SPECT after drug application showed a generalised cortical activation relative to the cerebellum and a marked and amplified activation of the areas that were hypo-active before drug application.


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eISSN: 2078-5135
print ISSN: 0256-9574