In the last 12 months, several articles have come out that have forced neurologists to seriously reconsider their basic understanding of vegetative states and coma.

From the March 2007 issue of Annals of Neurology, we have yet another article detailing the little understood yet dramatic effects Zolpidem (Ambien) can have on patients with severe hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (i.e., as is typically seen in cardiac arrest when there is a lack of blood flow and oxygen to the brain).

From the EurekAlert:

…researchers conducted a study of a 48 year-old woman who developed akinetic mutism due to oxygen deprivation to her brain following an attempted suicide by hanging. The patient was totally dependent, unable to speak or walk, and was using a feeding tube for nourishment, although she was able to understand single words. Two years after the suicide attempt, she was given zolpidem for a bout of insomnia; 20 minutes later, she was able to communicate to her family, eat by herself, and move. These effects lasted for up to three hours.

Ironically, Zolpidem (Ambien) is a widely prescribed sleeping pill.

The near-miraculous effects this drug can have on patients with severe brain injury were discussed in this earlier Smarkit article.

Reference: "Clinical and Imaging Evidence of Zolpidem Effect in Hypoxic
Encephalopathy," Christine Brefel-Courbon, Pierre Payoux, Fabienne Ory,
Agnes Sommet, Tarik Slaoui, Gaelle Raboyeau, Beatrice Lemesle, Michele Puel, Jean Louis Montastruc, Jean-Francois Demonet, Dominique Cardebat, Annals of Neurology, March 2007

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