Side-Effect vs. Effective "Side-Use" (e.g., off-lable)

 Historic basis for off-label use of certain drugs: Minoxidil(R) was originally created as an anti-hypertensive, but research showed it had a side-effect that stimulated hair growth (essentially all over the body).  Voila!  Rogaine(R) was born.

The nighttime sleep-aid, Ambien(R), has been associated with the side-effect of (various terms): sleep-eating, Ambien-eating, unconscious food forays, midnight binge-eating and other terms.  Among others, the Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center in Minneapolis (MN) is researching the problem as are researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester (MN), who have noted similar findings.

Numerous patients (personal communications) have noted that the urge to sleep-eat when taking Ambien(R) is a dose-related phenomenon.   They can separate the dose that will enhance their rest from the dose that will cause both the sleep-eating urge and the amnesia for any noctournal behavior, eating or otherwise.  These patients have noted that 2.5 to 5 mg Ambien(R) at bedtime will allow them to sleep and, if they do awaken during the night, they have no urge to eat.  In addition, at 2.5 to 5 mg, they remember awakening during the night and can recall whatever activity they engaged in during that time.

However, when they take the commonly-prescribed 10 mg tablet they experience the AmBien-eating phenomenon and amnesia for most, if not all, noctournal activities.

Turning Side-Effect into an effective "side-use" ... (e.g., off-lable use)

One wonders if controlled, peer-reviewed studies of dose-related responses to Ambien(R) in patients with Anorexia Nervosa or chemotherapy-induced anorexia might reveal a level of drug that would enhance appetite without the more serious side-effects (e.g., amnesia, other behaviors ... driving a car, walking away from home, brandishing a weapon ... during sleep-state).   Testing might reveal yet another beneficial use for the zolpidem molecule in its present or a future, possibly modified biochemical form.

REFERENCE TO Google Search for "Ambien eating" articles:
https://www.google.com/search?q=AmBien+eatting&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a#hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=L8U&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&sa=X&ei=saIQT_7kD5HCsQLDqPzdAw&ved=0CBsQvwUoAQ&q=AmBien+eating&spell=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=467b4e8ff95f01bd&biw=1022&bih=700

"Ambien(R)" is produced by Sanofi-Aventis, a French pharmaceutical company.  Also sold as Stilnox and Stilnocht in Europe.
"Minoxidil(R)" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minoxidil)