Uses of Somna: - Insomnia Insomnia Hypersensitivity. Severe hepatic impairment. Lactation.

How to use Zaleplone: Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Do not chew, crush or break it. Zaleplone is to be taken empty stomach. Administration: May be taken with or without food. Do not take w/ or immediately after a heavy or high fat meal. Adult Dose: Oral Insomnia Adult: 5-10 mg before bedtime. Max: 20 mg daily. Elderly: >65 yr: 5 mg before bedtime. Max: 10 mg daily. Hepatic impairment: Mild to moderate: 5 mg at bedtime. Severe: Contra-indicated. Child Dose: Not recommended Renal Dose: Renal Impairment Mild to moderate impairmet: No dose adjustment necessary Severe impairment: Not studied

Additive CNS effects may occur with CNS depressants e.g. TCA, alcohol, antihistamines, narcotic analgesics, thioridazine and diphenhydramine. Cytochrome P450 CYP3A4 inducers e.g. rifampicin, phenytoin, carbamazepine and phenobarbital decrease zaleplon concentrations. Increased zaleplon concentration with cimetidine and CYP 3A4 inhibitors e.g. erythromycin, ketoconazole.

Hypersensitivity. Severe hepatic impairment. Lactation.

Common - Dizziness - Lightheadedness - Impaired coordination - Paresthesia (tingling or pricking sensation) >10% Headache (38%) 1-10% Dizziness (7-9%),Nausea (6-8%),Abdominal pain (6%),Weakness (5-7%),Dysmenorrhea (3-4%),Eye pain (3-4%),Amnesia (2-4%),Parasthesia (3%),Tremor (2%) <1% Fever,Photosensitivity,Anorexia,Colitis,Periphipheral edema,Amnesia,Anxiety,Depersonalization,Hallucination,Hypesthesia,Vertigo,Epistaxis,Abnl vision,Ear pain,Hyperacusis,Parosmia

Precaution: May precipitate new psychiatric abnormalities. Depression; hepatic impairment. History of drug or alcohol dependence or abuse, elderly and debilitated patients. Childn <18 yr. Pregnancy. May impair ability to drive or operate machinery. Do not take zaleplon if there is <4 hr of sleep. Dose reduction or withdrawal of drug should be done gradually.

Zaleplon, a pyrazolopyrimidine, is a sedative and hypnotic agent structurally unrelated to the benzodiazepines and other sedative-hypnotic agents. It is shown to interact with GABA subtype A complex by binding selectively to benzodiazepine type 1 receptor. It reduces sleep latency without affecting sleep duration.