Drugs › gamma-Aminobutyric acid A receptor positive modulator
Brand name · Zolpidem tartrate
Zolpidem: adverse event reports filed with FDA
18,405 reports list it as a suspect or interacting product, 2004–2026. Class: gamma-Aminobutyric acid A receptor positive modulator. Also reported as Zolpidem Tablet 10mg, Zolpidem Tablet 5mg, Zolpidem Nos.
- 18,405
- reports as suspect product
- 0.1% of all reports · about 821 a year
- 956
- reports, 12 months to June 2026
- 1,200 in the 12 months before
- 90.7%
- marked serious by the reporter
- 80.3% across the class
- 30.8%
- record death among outcomes, as reported
- 5,670 reports · not verified by FDA
Between February 2004 and June 2026, 18,405 adverse event reports received by FDA list the brand name Zolpidem (zolpidem tartrate) as a suspect or interacting product. Reports that mention it only as a concomitant medication (32,846) are left out of every figure here.
In the 12 months to June 2026, 956 reports listed it, down 20% from 1,200 in the 12 months before. FDA releases FAERS data quarterly, so the newest months are incomplete and grow in later releases. Over its reporting history that is about 821 reports a year and 0.1% of the 20,646,523 reports in the database, and 51.7% of the reports for the gamma-Aminobutyric acid A receptor positive modulator class. How many people take it is not in the data, so a count is not a rate of occurrence.
The reactions recorded most often are completed suicide (16.5%), toxicity to various agents (15.1%) and drug abuse (10.9%). A report can list several reactions, so shares add to more than 100%; 1,572 different terms appear across these reports. Completed suicide is recorded in 16.5% of these reports, a larger share than in the median gamma-Aminobutyric acid A receptor positive modulator drug (12.8%).
90.7% of the reports are marked serious by the reporter (80.3% across the class); 30.8% record death among the outcomes and 38.3% record hospitalisation, as reported. 36.7% of the reports came from physicians, and the largest patient age group is 45 to 64 (29.7%). FDA states that "a causal relationship cannot be established between product and reactions listed in a report" and that for any given report "there is no certainty that a suspected drug caused the event."
Reports by month, five years
Reports by the month FDA received them. FDA releases FAERS data quarterly, so the newest months are incomplete and grow in later releases.
By year received
2026 covers reports received through June 2026 only.
Reactions recorded in the reports
share of Zolpidem reports recording the termmedian drug in gamma-aminobutyric acid a receptor positive modulator
- Completed suicidedeath by suicide16.5%3,034
- Toxicity to various agentspoisoning or toxic effect of one or more substances15.1%2,786
- Drug abusemisuse of a medicine10.9%1,999
- Drug ineffectivethe medicine did not work as expected7.8%1,428
- Intentional overdosea deliberate overdose5.7%1,045
- Somnolencedrowsiness5.6%1,029
- Suicide attempta suicide attempt5.2%952
- Overdosea dose above the recommended amount5.2%951
- Drug dependencedependence on a medicine4.9%909
- Drug interactionan interaction between medicines4.4%809
- Confusional stateconfusion4.3%787
- Falla fall4.2%779
- Coma3.9%720
- Insomniadifficulty sleeping3.5%650
- Cardiac arrestthe heart stopped3.3%613
- Intentional product misusedeliberate use not as intended3.1%568
- Hypotensionlow blood pressure3.1%564
- Respiratory arrestbreathing stopped2.9%529
- Cardio-respiratory arrestthe heart and breathing stopped2.9%527
- Anxietyanxiety2.8%516
- Deaththe patient died; cause not stated by this term2.8%507
- Amnesiamemory loss2.7%505
- Off label useused for a purpose or in a way not on the label2.7%488
- Nauseafeeling sick2.5%468
- Vomitingbeing sick2.3%428
- Loss of consciousnesspassing out2.3%421
- Headachehead pain2.2%402
- Intentional self-injury2.2%397
- Poisoning2.1%384
- Drug use disorder2%376
Top 30 of 1,572 MedDRA preferred terms recorded across these reports, with a plain-language gloss where one is available. One report can record several terms. The hollow bar is the median share across the 3 drugs in the gamma-aminobutyric acid a receptor positive modulator class; it describes the reports, not the patients. FDA states that adverse event reports "represent a small percentage of total usage numbers of a product", that "common products may have a higher number of adverse events due to the higher total number of people using the product", and that the data "by themselves are not an indicator of the safety profile of the drug or biologic."
Outcomes recorded
Outcome flags as the reporter set them; a report can carry several, and "other serious" is FDA's own category for serious reports outside the named outcomes. Grey bar: all 35,609 reports in the class. FDA has not verified any outcome and states that the reports "cannot be used to estimate the incidence of these events."
Patients and reporters
Patient age
Patient sex
Who reported
Age and sex as stated in the report; the reporter's qualification is the primary source recorded by FDA. 45.2% of reports give the United States as the country of the event or reporter.
Reason for use recorded
| Indication as recorded (MedDRA) | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Insomnia | 2,714 | 14.7% |
| Sleep disorder | 707 | 3.8% |
| Suicide attempt | 336 | 1.8% |
| Depression | 329 | 1.8% |
| Intentional overdose | 119 | 0.6% |
| Drug abuse | 100 | 0.5% |
The indication field is filled in by the reporter and is often blank; shares are of all 18,405 reports.
Drugs most often listed in the same reports
| Drug (any role in the report) | Reports | Share of Zolpidem reports |
|---|---|---|
| Alprazolam | 2,512 | 13.6% |
| Quetiapine | 1,361 | 7.4% |
| Diazepam | 1,259 | 6.8% |
| Lorazepam | 1,197 | 6.5% |
| Acetaminophen | 1,181 | 6.4% |
| Clonazepam | 1,139 | 6.2% |
| Gabapentin | 1,021 | 5.5% |
| Tramadol | 967 | 5.3% |
| Mirtazapine | 898 | 4.9% |
| Venlafaxine | 825 | 4.5% |
Other products listed in reports where Zolpidem is a suspect product, whatever their own role. Co-listing means the two were recorded together; it says nothing about either product's part in the event. Only the 2,500 most-reported names are counted here.
In context
| Measure | Zolpidem | gamma-Aminobutyric acid A receptor positive modulator | All reports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reports as suspect product | 18,405 | 35,609 | 20,646,523 |
| Share of that pool | — | 51.7% | 0.1% |
| Reports, latest 12 months | 956 | — | 1,332,454 |
| Marked serious | 90.7% | 80.3% | 57.4% |
| Death recorded among outcomes, per 1,000 reports | 308 | 230 | 91 |
| Hospitalisation recorded, per 1,000 reports | 383 | 313 | 213 |
| Consumer-filed share | 13.1% | 27.4% | 45.8% |
| Top term, share of reports | Completed suicide 16.5% | median 12.8% | 0.4% |
Shares are of reports, not of patients treated. The number of people taking a product is not in the data, so none of these figures is a rate, and differences between columns reflect who takes a product, who reports and how long it has been sold. FDA states that adverse event reports "represent a small percentage of total usage numbers of a product", that "common products may have a higher number of adverse events due to the higher total number of people using the product", and that the data "by themselves are not an indicator of the safety profile of the drug or biologic."
Other drugs in the gamma-aminobutyric acid a receptor positive modulator class
| Drug | Name type | Reports | Latest 12 months | Marked serious |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ambien | brand | 8,781 | 346 | 59.5% |
| Zolpidem tartrate | generic | 8,423 | 540 | 79.4% |
Ordered by report count for navigation only. FDA states that adverse event reports "represent a small percentage of total usage numbers of a product", that "common products may have a higher number of adverse events due to the higher total number of people using the product", and that the data "by themselves are not an indicator of the safety profile of the drug or biologic." A brand and its generic are separate rows because reporters name them separately.
Questions about Zolpidem reports
How many adverse event reports has FDA received for Zolpidem?
18,405 reports list Zolpidem as a suspect or interacting product in the openFDA FAERS release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through June 2026. 956 of them arrived in the latest 12 months. Another 32,846 list it only as a concomitant medication.
What reactions are recorded in Zolpidem reports?
completed suicide (16.5%), toxicity to various agents (15.1%), drug abuse (10.9%), drug ineffective (7.8%) and intentional overdose (5.7%). These are MedDRA preferred terms coded from what the reporter described; a report can list several, and a term's presence is not a finding that Zolpidem was responsible.
How serious are the reports?
90.7% are marked serious by the reporter. Among the outcomes recorded, 30.8% of reports include death and 38.3% include hospitalisation. FDA has not verified these outcomes and states that the reports "cannot be used to estimate the incidence" of the events.
Who files these reports?
physician (36.7%), other health professional (31.2%) and pharmacist (14.9%). Most reports reach FDA through the manufacturer, which must forward reports it receives.
Are reports for Zolpidem rising?
956 reports in the 12 months to June 2026, down 20% from 1,200 in the 12 months before. FDA releases FAERS data quarterly, so the newest months are incomplete and grow in later releases. Counts also move with how many people take a product, its time on the market and publicity.
Do these reports show that Zolpidem was responsible for these reactions?
No. FDA states that "a causal relationship cannot be established between product and reactions listed in a report" and that for any given report "there is no certainty that a suspected drug caused the event." The reaction may relate to the condition being treated, to other medicines, or to something else.
Is this a list of the side effects of Zolpidem?
No. It is a count of what was reported to FDA. The adverse reactions observed in clinical studies are printed on the FDA-approved label, which a pharmacist or clinician can go through with you.
How do I report an adverse event?
Consumers and health professionals can report to FDA through MedWatch (Form FDA 3500 online, or 1-800-FDA-1088), or to the manufacturer, which must pass reports on. See the guide on how to report.
Where this comes from. Counts are built from the openFDA Drug Adverse Event (FAERS) bulk export released 28 Sep 2026, which holds reports FDA received through 30 Jun 2026. Drug names are as reported, resolved to the brand or generic name on the FDA label where openFDA's harmonisation matched them; classes are the pharmacologic class (EPC) from the label and the National Drug Code Directory of 17 Sep 2026. A report counts here when it lists Zolpidem as a suspect or interacting product; reports listing it only as a concomitant medication (32,846) are excluded. No report narrative, lot number, patient detail or reporter identity is published. See the methodology and sources; FDA's record is authoritative, and corrections are handled within five working days.
Drug data (FAERS) through 30 Jun 2026; device data (MAUDE) through 31 Aug 2026. Not medical advice.