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. Daytime sleepiness was used as a new, potentially crucial criterion in such trials. Oxazepam (O) and flurazepam [F] were effective im improving some polysomnographically defined measures of nocturnal sleep in 14 patients with chronic insomnia; F produced substantial daytime sleepiness and O did not. O produced some rebound insomnia consisting of .apprx. 1 h reduction of polysomnographically defined sleep but without gross mood disturbance or the patients'' awareness of sleep loss.