Question

Case Study:

A 54 year old woman has had problems with insomnia "off and on for a few years" and has tried over the counter medications, herbal remedies, and prescription drugs. She likes to drink a glass of wine each night before going to bed. Today she is visiting the clinic for a checkup and asks for a prescription for secobarbital because that was the last drug she tried several years ago. The physician prescribes zaleplon instead. She says she can't understand why the doctor won't refill her prescription for secobarbital.

• What would you say to the patient?
• Why do "you" think the doctor changed her prescription?
• When educating the patient, what interactions should be be cautioned about while on zaleplon?
• What other patient education is important?

Answer 1

Step 1

Insomnia is a sleep disorder in which a person has trouble falling and/or staying asleep.

Step 2

secobarbital belonging to the barbiturate class is not the first-choice medicine for insomnia because it's very addictive and only works well for 2 weeks. As compared to secobarbital zaleplon makes a person less addictive moreover it can be used for more than 2 weeks.

Drinking alcohol while taking secobarbital will increase the chances of dizziness, nausea, long-term addiction and death. Also, she could become addictive of secobarbital so the doctor may have changed the prescription.

Zaleplon should be cautioned against engaging in hazardous occupations requiring complete mental alertness or motor coordination.

Zaleplon is in a class of medications called hypnotics. It works by slowing activity in the brain to allow sleep. Zaleplon should be only taken at bedtime. Do not take two doses at one time.

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