Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with vomiting and severe unsteady walk after zolpidem poisoning
By Czopowicz, M et al.·Published in Australian veterinary journal·2010·Department of Clinical Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Zolpidem poisoning in a cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 16-year-old neutered cat suddenly became disoriented, lethargic, and started vomiting after accidentally ingesting a sleep medication called zolpidem. The cat was treated with supportive care since there was no established antidote for this type of poisoning in cats. Fortunately, the cat received prompt treatment, which helped manage the symptoms. Pet owners should be aware that as more humans use zolpidem, the risk of accidental poisoning in pets may rise.
People also search for: cat vomiting after eating zolpidem · cat disorientation treatment · what to do if my cat eats human medication
Abstract
Zolpidem (Stilnox) is a non-benzodiazepine hypnotic drug of the imidazopyridine class intended for treatment of insomnia in humans. A 16-year-old neutered cat, weighing 3.8 kg, was presented with sudden onset of stupor, disorientation, severe ataxia, vomiting and hypersalivation. Symptomatic treatment was given when ingestion of 1.25 mg/kg zolpidem (half of a 10-mg tablet) was confirmed, because no information on the efficacy and safety of the use of flumazenil in the treatment of zolpidem poisoning in cats has been published to date. As zolpidem is prescribed with increasing frequency in humans, the occurrence of accidental poisonings of pets is likely to increase.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20633172/