A Survey on the Perception and Current Status of Zolpidem Medication Counseling between Pharmacists and Patients in Local Pharmacy

Background: Zolpidem is widely prescribed for insomnia due to its rapid onset of action.However, concerns persist regarding its potential for misuse and serious adverse effects, such as complex sleep behaviors.This study aimed to evaluate the current status of zolpidem medication counseling in community pharmacies and identify perception gaps between pharmacists and patients.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from August to September 2025, involving 133 patients and 111 pharmacists.Questionnaire items included zolpidem usage/dispensing experience, status of medication counseling, and perceived barriers.Quantitative analysis was performed to compare perceptions of counseling topics and assess patients' objective knowledge.Results: A high proportion of patients (62.4%) had been taking zolpidem for more than six months.A notable discrepancy in perception was observed between the two groups regarding medication counseling.While pharmacists frequently reported emphasizing "misuse/dependence potential" (60.4%) and "complex sleep behaviors" (45.0%), a significantly lower proportion of patients (35.3 and 23.3%, respectively) recalled receiving such information.Patients showed the lowest objective knowledge regarding the "recommended maximum treatment duration" (40.2% correct), which was also identified as a major area of information deficiency.Pharmacists identified "patients' negative reactions" (52.3%) as the primary barrier to effective counseling.Conclusions: There is a substantial gap between the information provided by pharmacists and the information retained by patients regarding zolpidem safety.To ensure the safe use of zolpidem in community settings, systematic and patient-centered counseling strategies focusing on long-term safety, misuse risks, and standardized core messages are essential.