Development of a Web Application for Simulating Plasma Drug Concentrations in Patients with Zolpidem Intoxication

Zolpidem is a widely prescribed hypnotic Z-drug used to treat short-term insomnia. However, a growing number of individuals intentionally overdose on these drugs. This study aimed to develop a predictive tool for physicians to assess patients with zolpidem overdose. A population pharmacokinetic (PK)...

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Main Authors: Hwa Jun Cha (Author), Sungpil Han (Author), Kwan Cheol Pak (Author), Hyungsub Kim (Author)
Format: Book
Published: MDPI AG, 2024-05-01T00:00:00Z.
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Summary:Zolpidem is a widely prescribed hypnotic Z-drug used to treat short-term insomnia. However, a growing number of individuals intentionally overdose on these drugs. This study aimed to develop a predictive tool for physicians to assess patients with zolpidem overdose. A population pharmacokinetic (PK) model was established using digitized data obtained from twenty-three healthy volunteers after a single oral administration of zolpidem. Based on the final PK model, a web application was developed using open-source R packages such as rxode2, nonmem2rx, and shiny. The final model was a one-compartment model with first-order absorption and elimination with PK parameters, including clearance (CL, 16.9 L/h), absorption rate constant (K<sub>a</sub>, 5.41 h<sup>−1</sup>), volume of distribution (V<sub>d</sub>, 61.7 L), and lag time (ALAG, 0.394 h). Using the established population PK model in the current study, we developed a web application that enables users to simulate plasma zolpidem concentrations and visualize their profiles. This user-friendly web application may provide essential clinical information to physicians, ultimately helping in the management of patients with zolpidem intoxication.
Item Description:10.3390/pharmaceutics16050689
1999-4923