Which description best fits zolpidem?

• A. Barbiturate
• B. Antidepressant
• C. Short-acting, non-benzodiazepine hypnotic
• D. Long-acting benzodiazepine

Answer: (C)

This best fits as a short-acting, non-benzodiazepine hypnotic. Zolpidem is in the Z-drug class and is used for sleep issues, acting on the same GABA-A receptor complex as benzodiazepines but with greater selectivity for the subunit that mediates sleep. This gives you the hypnotic effect without the broader benzodiazepine profile (fewer daytime anxiolytic or muscle-relaxant effects) and makes it distinct from barbiturates and antidepressants. Its short action is ideal for helping with sleep onset, though extended-release forms exist for sleep maintenance if needed.