Description
Slifoxx (Zaleplon) 10 mg
Slifoxx 10 mg contains zaleplon, a short-acting sedative-hypnotic medicine used for short-term treatment of insomnia, especially difficulty falling asleep. It is a prescription sleep medicine and is not intended to treat all sleep problems.
Active Ingredient and Medicine Class
The verified active ingredient is zaleplon. It belongs to the non-benzodiazepine hypnotic class, often grouped with “Z-drugs.” Zaleplon acts on benzodiazepine-related sites on the GABAA receptor complex and has a very short half-life, which is associated with its rapid sleep-onset effect.
Established Medical Uses
Zaleplon is established for the short-term treatment of insomnia in adults. Regulatory information shows benefit mainly in reducing the time needed to fall asleep. It has not been shown to reliably increase total sleep time or reduce the number of night awakenings.
How It Works
Zaleplon enhances the calming effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. This slows central nervous system activity and can make it easier to fall asleep. Its short duration of action is one reason it is mainly used for sleep-onset insomnia.
Important Safety Information
Zaleplon should not be used in people with a known hypersensitivity to zaleplon or its excipients, and it is contraindicated in patients who have experienced complex sleep behaviours after taking it. Important warnings include sleepwalking, sleep-driving, and other activities performed while not fully awake, which can cause serious injury.
Clinically significant interactions occur with alcohol and other central nervous system depressants, including benzodiazepines, opioids, tricyclic antidepressants, and other sedative-hypnotics. These combinations can increase sedation and next-day psychomotor impairment. Caution is also advised in patients with depression, compromised respiration, hepatic impairment, or a history of substance misuse. Zaleplon may increase fall risk, especially in older adults.
Possible Side Effects
Common adverse effects include drowsiness, dizziness, headache, sleepiness, impaired coordination, lightheadedness, and visual disturbance. Memory impairment and abnormal dreams may also occur.
More serious reactions can include complex sleep behaviours, allergic reactions such as angioedema, worsening of mood symptoms, hallucinations, and withdrawal-type symptoms after abrupt stopping in some patients.
Scientific Evidence
Randomized clinical studies have shown that zaleplon 10 mg shortens sleep latency in adults with insomnia, with effects mainly on falling asleep rather than maintaining sleep. A systematic review and network meta-analysis also found that zaleplon reduced subjective sleep-onset latency in young and middle-aged adults.
Medical Information Notice
This page is an educational summary based on sources available at the time of review. It does not replace the official patient leaflet, prescribing information, or assessment by a qualified healthcare professional.
Medical Sources
- DailyMed / FDA label: Zaleplon Capsules USP CIV. Official prescribing information
- Fry J, Scharf M, Mangano R, Fujimori M, Zaleplon Clinical Study Group. “Zaleplon improves sleep without producing rebound effects in outpatients with insomnia.” Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 2000. PubMed article
