Nighttime and daytime efficacy of flurazepam and oxazepam in chronic insomnia.

Abstract

Trials of hypnotic medications typically determine efficacy by examining changes in polysomnographically recorded sleep and in daytime performance. The authors employed daytime sleepiness as a new, potentially crucial criterion in such trials. Oxazepam and flurazepam were effective in improving some polysomnographically defined measures of nocturnal sleep in 14 patients with chronic insomnia; flurazepam produced substantial daytime sleepiness and oxazepam did not. Oxazepam produced some rebound insomnia, consisting of about an hour's reduction of polysomnographically defined sleep, but without gross mood disturbance or the patients' awareness of sleep loss.

• Authors: D Bliwise, W Seidel, D J Greenblatt, W Dement
• Journal: The American journal of psychiatry (Am J Psychiatry) Vol. 141 Issue 2 Pg. 191-5 (Feb 1984) ISSN: 0002-953X [Print] United States
• PMID: 6691478 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Oxazepam
• Flurazepam

Topics

• Chronic Disease
• Circadian Rhythm
• Electroencephalography
• Electromyography
• Electrooculography
• Flurazepam (blood, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Oxazepam (blood, therapeutic use)
• Research Design
• Sleep (drug effects)
• Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders (blood, drug therapy)
• Sleep Stages (drug effects)