Specific effects of sedative/hypnotic drugs in the treatment of incapacitating chronic insomnia.
Sedative/hypnotic drugs for the treatment of chronic insomnia are generally considered ineffective by most experts but helpful by many patients. Occasionally, insomnia-induced debilitations may be remedied by long-term use of sedative/hypnotic drugs; some examples are given. The present discrepancy between expert and patient opinion may be derived from current research practices. The improbability that series of sedative/hypnotic drug trials will be carried out for patients with insomnia further biases against observation of rarer but clinically significant distinctions among these drugs.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003975:Diazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004091:Hydromorphone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008702:Methaqualone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D008702:Methaqualone; D003975:Diazepam; D004091:Hydromorphone; D010634:Phenobarbital