The influence of age-dependent pharmacokinetics on the pharmacodynamics of hypnotic drugs: comparison of two hypnotics with different half-lives.
Drugs with a short elimination half-life should display fewer side effects than longer acting drugs in the treatment of sleep disturbances due to their smaller tendency to accumulate, especially in the elderly. This hypothesis could be confirmed in a double blind study of zopiclone versus flurazepam.
Bergener
M
M
Rheinische Landesklinik Köln, Federal Republic of Germany.
Gola
R
R
Hesse
C
C
D000368:Aged; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects; D053961:Azabicyclo Compounds; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005479:Flurazepam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006207:Half-Life; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000187:drug effects
D053961:Azabicyclo Compounds; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D010879:Piperazines; C515050:zopiclone; D005479:Flurazepam