Which non-benzodiazepine is used to treat insomnia?

• A. Diazepam
• B. Lorazepam
• C. Zolpidem
• D. Alprazolam

Answer: (C)

Insomnia treatment often uses drugs that act at the GABA-A receptor, but with different chemical classes. The non-benzodiazepine option among these is zolpidem, a Z-drug hypnotic. It binds to the same GABA-A receptor complex but is chemically distinct and tends to be more selective for the alpha-1 subunit, which mainly promotes sleep onset. This gives rapid effects to help you fall asleep, with less impact on anxiety, muscle relaxation, or anticonvulsant activity compared to classic benzodiazepines. It’s favored for short-term use when trouble is mainly with initiating sleep, though it still carries risks like dizziness, next-day sedation, and rare complex sleep behaviors. The other medications listed are benzodiazepines, which produce broader effects (anxiolysis, muscle relaxation, anticonvulsant action) and have higher potential for dependence and tolerance, so they aren’t the non-benzodiazepine option.