Pharmacokinetics of N-demethyldiazepam in patients suffering from insomnia and treated with nortriptyline.
1 Hospitalized patients suffering from insomnia were treated with N-demethyldiazepam (30 mg p.o.) for 10 days, while continuing treatment with nortriptyline (75 or 100 mg daily). 2 Clinical evaluation performed by objective rating scales showed a positive therapeutic effect. No correlation was found however between drug plasma levels and clinical efficacy. A high inter-individual variability was observed. 3 In three cases the N-demethyldiazepam disappearance curve showed a biexponential decay, with a slow first component followed by a faster one. 4 Compared with diazepam the tested drug has a longer plasma apparent half-life and a lower relative clearance.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003975:Diazepam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D003708:Nordazepam / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*
D010919:Placebos; D003708:Nordazepam; D009661:Nortriptyline; D003975:Diazepam