A new study has shown that Ambien CR® (zolpidem tartrate extended-release) CIV tablets 12.5 mg caused significant improvement in the sleep patterns of patients with comorbid insomnia and major depressive disorder (MDD) who were administered a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) for depression.

Improvement was reported in sleep onset, sleep maintenance, and total sleep time over the 8-week period in which the study took place. Additionally, patients reported improved sleep-related next-day functioning.

“Current therapies for MDD effectively treat depression symptoms, but may not sufficiently address the sleep difficulties frequently associated with the disorder, which are primarily difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep,” says Maurizio Fava, MD, professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. “The extended release formulation of zolpidem tartrate was found to be an effective adjunctive treatment option that helped patients fall asleep and stay asleep in this study, but may also have a positive effect on some secondary symptoms such as fatigue and lack of motivation.”