Display options
Cite
Chang AY, Weirich E. Trial of Zolpidem, Eszopiclone, and Other GABA Agonists in a Patient with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. Case Rep Med. 2014;2014:107064doi: 10.1155/2014/107064.
Chang, A. Y., & Weirich, E. (2014). Trial of Zolpidem, Eszopiclone, and Other GABA Agonists in a Patient with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. Case reports in medicine, 2014107064. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/107064
Chang, Andrew Young, and Weirich, Erica. "Trial of Zolpidem, Eszopiclone, and Other GABA Agonists in a Patient with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy." Case reports in medicine vol. 2014 (2014): 107064. doi: https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/107064
Chang AY, Weirich E. Trial of Zolpidem, Eszopiclone, and Other GABA Agonists in a Patient with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. Case Rep Med. 2014;2014:107064. doi: 10.1155/2014/107064. Epub 2014 Sep 16. PMID: 25371679; PMCID: PMC4209775.
Copy Download .nbib Format: NLM
Share it on

Case Rep Med. 2014;2014:107064. doi: 10.1155/2014/107064. Epub 2014 Sep 16.

Trial of Zolpidem, Eszopiclone, and Other GABA Agonists in a Patient with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.

Case reports in medicine

Andrew Young Chang, Erica Weirich

Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, 300 Pasteur Drive, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA.
  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, 300 Pasteur Drive, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA ; Palo Alto Medical Foundation, 795 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94301, USA.

PMID: 25371679 PMCID: PMC4209775 DOI: 10.1155/2014/107064

Abstract

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a progressive, debilitating neurodegenerative disease of the Parkinson-plus family of syndromes. Unfortunately, there are no pharmacologic treatments for this condition, as most sufferers of the classic variant respond poorly to Parkinson medications such as levodopa. Zolpidem, a gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) agonist specific to the α-1 receptor subtype, has been reported to show improvements in symptoms of PSP patients, including motor dysfunction, dysarthria, and ocular disturbances. We observed a 73-year-old woman with a six-year history of PSP, who, upon administration of a single 12.5 mg dose of sustained-release zolpidem, exhibited marked enhancements in speech, facial expressions, and fine motor skills for five hours. These results were reproduced upon subsequent clinic visits. In an effort to find a sustainable medication that maximized these beneficial effects while minimizing side effects and addressing some of her comorbid neuropsychological conditions, a trial of five other GABA receptor agonists was performed with the patient's consent, while she and her caregivers were blinded to the specific medications. She and her caretakers subsequently reported improvements, especially visual, while on eszopiclone, and, to a lesser degree, temazepam and flurazepam.

References

  1. J Med Chem. 2008 Nov 27;51(22):7243-52 - PubMed
  2. Arch Neurol. 1964 Apr;10:333-59 - PubMed
  3. Dysphagia. 1999 Summer;14(3):165-8 - PubMed
  4. Brain. 2009 Jan;132(Pt 1):156-71 - PubMed
  5. J Clin Neurosci. 2010 Mar;17(3):385-6 - PubMed
  6. Eur J Neurol. 2002 Mar;9(2):184-5 - PubMed
  7. N Engl J Med. 1999 Aug 12;341(7):543-4 - PubMed
  8. J Psychiatr Res. 1975 Nov;12(3):189-98 - PubMed
  9. Mov Disord. 1998 Jul;13(4):673-6 - PubMed
  10. Neurology. 2000 May 9;54(9):1768-73 - PubMed
  11. J Clin Sleep Med. 2007 Aug 15;3(5 Suppl):S11-5 - PubMed
  12. Neurology. 1995 Jan;45(1):127-34 - PubMed
  13. South Med J. 2004 Aug;97(8):791-2 - PubMed
  14. N Engl J Med. 2004 Jul 29;351(5):511-2 - PubMed
  15. Eur J Pharmacol. 1992 Apr 22;214(2-3):233-8 - PubMed
  16. N Engl J Med. 2004 Feb 26;350(9):949-50 - PubMed
  17. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2008 Mar;87(3):229-31 - PubMed

Publication Types