A 34-Year-Old Woman with Sleep Problems Comes to the Office

A 34-year-old woman with sleep problems comes to the office.  Over the last year, she has had increasing difficulty falling asleep at night and is exhausted during the day.  The patient does not use alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drugs.  She has a family history of heart disease and depression.  The patient has failed a number of nonpharmacological approaches, including cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia.  She requests pharmacologic treatment and is prescribed a short course of zolpidem.  Which of the following is the most likely mechanism of action of this medication?

A) Dopamine receptor antagonism
B) GABA receptor agonism
C) Histamine receptor antagonism
D) Melatonin receptor agonism
E) Orexin receptor antagonism
F) Serotonin receptor agonism

Correct Answer:

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