[Controlled clinical study on the effect of quazepam versus triazolam in patients with sleep disorders].

Abstract

Quazepam (QZP), a new long half-life benzodiazepine, seems to have a more specific hypnotic activity and a "physiological" mechanism of action. This study assessed its clinical efficacy and any withdrawal symptoms occurring after the treatment with QZP and triazolam (TRZ). Sixty-five patients (mean age 41.4 yrs +/- 12.43 SD) with sleep disorders were included in the study. The patients were treated with placebo for 4 days (run-in period) and if no amelioration of insomnia was observed, were then randomly allocated to 15 mg QZP (33 patients) or TRZ (32 patients) for 8 weeks and finally placebo for another week. Sleep quality, efficiency, side-effects and withdrawal effects were assessed by specific rating scales. In comparing data obtained from the two treatments, the following conclusions were drawn: 1) both drugs showed a hypnoinductive efficacy but patients treated with QZP had significantly fewer night awakenings; 2) at the end of treatment only patients treated with TRZ had longer awakenings and rebound symptoms; 3) a lower withdrawal symptom incidence was observed in patients treated with QZP. Therefore, QZP seems to have a good hypnotic effect without inducing withdrawal symptoms. In contrast TRZ turned out to be a merely hypno-inducing drug presenting higher risks of rebound effects after withdrawal.

• Authors: A C Altamura, F Colacurcio, M C Mauri, M De Vanna, R Rigamonti, M Maj, F Veltro, P Pancheri, R Delle Chiaie, M Porta
• Journal: Minerva psichiatrica (Minerva Psichiatr) 1989 Jul-Sep Vol. 30 Issue 3 Pg. 159-64 ISSN: 0374-9320 [Print] Italy
• Vernacular Title: Studio clinico controllato dell'effetto del quazepam vs triazolam in pazienti con disturbi del sonno.
• PMID: 2691808 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Anti-Anxiety Agents
• Benzodiazepines
• Triazolam
• quazepam

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Anti-Anxiety Agents
• Benzodiazepines (therapeutic use)
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Evaluation
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Multicenter Studies as Topic
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
• Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders (drug therapy)
• Triazolam (therapeutic use)