Abstract
The effects of oral, bedtime triazolam 0.5 mg and flurazepam 30 mg, on the laboratory sleep of 12 insomniacs were compared in a double blind, crossover study. A 22 consecutive night schedule was used: Nts. 1–2 placebo; 3–6 first drug; 7–8 placebo; 9–14 no drugs; 15–16 placebo; 17–20 second drug; 21–22 placebo. In 6 Ss first drug was triazolam and second drug was flurazepam. In the other 6 Ss the drug order was reversed. Effects on sleep were assessed objectively by conventional EEG/EOG/EMG sleep recordings and subjectively by questionnaires administered each morning. Side or toxic effects were assessed by physical exams, clinical lab tests, and twice daily questionnaires. During their administration the two drugs were practically indistinguishable in their effects. Both significantly reduced objective and subjective measures of insomnia, such as total wake time and sleep latency. On discontinuation the drugs differentially affected sleep, e.g., on the first post flurazepam night total sleep time was significantly more than baseline whereas on first post triazolam night, total sleep time was significantly less than baseline. There were no remarkable side or toxic effects with either drug.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Akindele, M. O., Evans, J. I., Oswald, I.: Mono-amine oxidaze inhibitors, sleep and mood. Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol. 29, 47–56 (1970)
Dunleavy, D. L. F., Oswald, I.: Phenelzine, mood response, and sleep. Arch. gen. Psychiat. 28, 353–356 (1973)
Greenblatt, D. J., Shader, R. I., Koch-Weser, J.: Flurazepam hydrochloride. Clin. Pharmacol. Ther. 17, 1–14 (1975)
Kales, A., Allen, C., Scharf, M. B., Kales, J.: Hypnotic drugs and their effectiveness. Arch. gen. Psychiat. 23, 226–232 (1970)
Kales, J., Kales, A., Bixler, E. O., Slye, E. S.: Effects of placebo and flurazepam on sleep patterns in insomniac subjects. Clin. Pharmacol. Ther. 12, 691–697 (1971)
Kales, A., Malstrom, E. J., Scharf, M. B., Rubin, R. T.: Psychophysiological and biochemical changes following use and withdrawal of hypnotics. In: Sleep physiology and pathology. A Symposium, A. Kales, ed., pp. 331–343. Philadelphia: J. P. Lippincott 1969
Rechtschaffen, A., Kales, A.: A manual of standardized terminology, techniques and scoring system for sleep stages of human subjects. U.S. Dept. HEW Public Health Service, NIH Publication No. 204. Bethesda, Maryland: National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness, Neurological Information Network 1968
Siegel, S.: Nonparametric statistics for the behavioral sciences. New York: McGraw-Hill 1956
Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, Michigan: Material on file with clinical pharmacology section
Vogel, G. W.: REM deprivation. III. Dreaming and psychosis. Arch. gen. Psychiat. 18, 312–329 (1968)
Vogel, G. W., Thompson, F. C., Thurmond, A., Rivers, B. A.: The effect of REM deprivation on depression. Psychosomat. 14, 104–107 (1973)
Vogel, G., Thurmond, A., Gibbons, P., Edwards, K., Sloan, K. B., Sexton, K.: The effect of triazolam on the sleep of insomniacs. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) 41, 65–69 (1975)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vogel, G.W., Barker, K., Gibbons, P. et al. A comparison of the effects of flurazepam 30 mg and triazolam 0.5 mg on the sleep of insomniacs. Psychopharmacology 47, 81–86 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00428706
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00428706