Is zolpidem known to trigger sleepwalking episodes in some people?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Zolpidem (Ambien) can cause sleepwalking, along with other complex sleep behaviors such as sleep-eating, sleep-driving, and sleep-talking. These parasomnias may occur even when the user has no prior history of sleepwalking, and the person typically has no memory of the event afterward. The U.S. FDA has issued a boxed warning about these risks, as some incidents have resulted in serious injury or death.

If you've experienced sleepwalking, memory gaps, or unusual behaviors while taking zolpidem—or any concerning symptoms at all—it's important not to ignore them. Medication side effects can overlap with other underlying conditions, and pinpointing the cause quickly matters. Take a free, instant, online symptom check to better understand what may be going on and get clear guidance on your next steps.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/15/2026

Important Next Steps

Learn if zolpidem caused your sleepwalking Discover likely causes of sleepwalking episodes See if sleepwalking needs urgent care Find OTC options for safer sleep support Find a doctor for sleep disorders Discover home remedies for sleepwalking prevention Understand if zolpidem sleepwalking needs evaluation

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Explanation

Zolpidem is a medication often used to help with sleep problems. However, it can sometimes cause people to do things while they are still asleep, like sleepwalking.

Key Points:

Sleepwalking: According to the systematic review by Stallman et al., medications like zolpidem can trigger sleepwalking episodes in certain individuals.
Complex Behaviors: Dolder and Nelson highlight that hypnosedatives, including zolpidem, can lead to complex behaviors such as sleep driving and sleep self-intoxication, which occur without the person being fully awake.
Rare but Serious: Paulke et al. describe instances where zolpidem use resulted in sleep-related activities that are potentially dangerous, such as sleep driving.

If you or someone you know experiences these behaviors while taking zolpidem, it is important to talk to a healthcare provider. They can help determine the best course of action. To better understand your symptoms and get personalized insights, try Ubie's free AI symptom checker.

(References)

Stallman HM, Kohler M, & White J. (2018). Medication induced sleepwalking: A systematic review. Sleep medicine reviews, 28363449.
Paulke A, Wunder C, & Toennes SW. (2015). Sleep self-intoxication and sleep driving as rare zolpidem .... International journal of legal medicine, 24770472.
Dolder CR, & Nelson MH. (2008). Hypnosedative-induced complex behaviours : incidence, .... CNS drugs, 18998740.

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