Autonomic, EEG, and behavioral arousal signs in a PVS case after Zolpidem intake.

the paradoxical “arousing” effect of Zolpidem, a highly selective nonbenzodiazepine gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) agonist acting on the [omega]-1 site of the GABA A receptor, in persistent vegetative state (PVS), in minimally conscious state (MCS) patients, ischemic stroke cases, after brain injury, and in patients suffering hypoxic encephalopathy.1 We describe here this paradoxical arousing effect in a PVS case assessing autonomic, electroencephalographic (EEG), and behavioral changes, after Zolpidem uptake. This case report is the first to show the importance of using heart rate variability (HRV) methodology and EEG to assess autonomic and brain functional changes in a PVS case, during this pharmacological intervention.