title: Comparative effectiveness of nine hypnotic drugs: sleep laboratory studies.
abstract: The effectiveness of nine hypnotic drugs was compared using a standard protocol in separate sleep laboratory drug evaluation studies. All of these drugs were relatively effective in improving sleep with initial and short-term use. However, with intermediate-term use (two weeks), most of the drugs showed a marked decrease in their effectiveness. Following withdrawal, sleep was similar to baseline with most of the drugs, continued to be improved with flurazepam (Dalmane), 30 mg, and worsened beyond baseline levels with triazolam (U33030), 0.5 mg. The determination of a drug's effectiveness with continued use is most important clinically in enabling the physician to rationally and effectively use hypnotic drugs in the adjunctive treatment of insomnia.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004576:Electromyography; D004585:Electrooculography; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives