[Research Progress on Forensic Toxicology of Z-drugs].

Abstract

The Z-drugs (zolpidem, zopiclone, and zaleplon), as the innovative hypnotics, have an improvement over the traditional benzodiazepines in the management of insomnia. Z-drugs have significant hypnotic effects by reducing sleep latency and improving sleep quality, though duration of sleep may not be significantly increased. As benzodiazepines, Z-drugs exert their effects through increasing the transmission of γ-aminobutyric acid. Z-drugs overdose are less likely to be fatal, more likely would result in poisoning. Z-drugs can be detected in blood, urine, saliva, and other postmortem specimens through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques. Zolpidem and zaleplon exhibit significant postmortem redistribution. Z-drugs have improved pharmacokinetic profiles, but incidence of neuropsychiatric sequelae, poisoning, and death may prove to be similar to the other hypnotics. This review focuses on the pharmacology and toxicology of Z-drugs with respect to their adverse effect profile and toxicity and toxicology data in the field of forensic medicine.

• Authors: Yong-zhi Zhang, Hong-yuan He, Cai-meng She, Jie Lian
• Journal: Fa yi xue za zhi (Fa Yi Xue Za Zhi) Vol. 31 Issue 4 Pg. 293-7 (Aug 2015) ISSN: 1004-5619 [Print] China
• PMID: 26665884 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Acetamides
• Azabicyclo Compounds
• Hypnotics and Sedatives
• Piperazines
• Pyridines
• Pyrimidines
• zopiclone
• Zolpidem
• zaleplon

Topics

• Acetamides (adverse effects, pharmacology, poisoning)
• Azabicyclo Compounds (adverse effects, pharmacology, poisoning)
• Drug Overdose
• Forensic Medicine (trends)
• Forensic Toxicology (trends)
• Humans
• Hypnotics and Sedatives (adverse effects, pharmacology, poisoning)
• Piperazines (adverse effects, pharmacology, poisoning)
• Pyridines (adverse effects, pharmacokinetics, poisoning)
• Pyrimidines (adverse effects, pharmacology, poisoning)
• Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders (drug therapy)
• Zolpidem