Randomized, double blind trial of zolpidem 10 mg versus triazolam 0.25 mg for treatment of insomnia in general practice.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy of two short acting hypnotics, the benzodiazepine triazolam and the imidazopyridine zolpidem, for treatment of insomnia in general practice.


METHODS
Randomized double-blind study. Patients were given triazolam 0.25 mg or zolpidem 10 mg for 14 days.


METHODS
Multi-practice comprising 40 general practitioners.


METHODS
178 patients suffering from insomnia were included in the study, data from 139 patients were used in the analyses.


METHODS
Sleep quality was recorded in the morning (duration of sleep in hours, number of awakenings, and sleep quality on a visual analogue scale (VAS)), and day quality was recorded in the evening (tired/rested, unalert/alert, tired/fresh, all on VAS-scales) during the 14 days' treatment period.


RESULTS
We found no statistically significant differences between the two groups regarding sleeping time, number of awakenings, or sleep quality (VAS). Morning feeling (VAS) and day feeling (VAS) were numerically better for zolpidem, although not statistically significant. There was no statistically significant difference in the number of patients experiencing side effects in the two treatment groups.


CONCLUSIONS
On a short-term basis administration of zolpidem (10 mg) appeared as effective and well tolerated as triazolam (0.25 mg)--and thus zolpidem constitutes a suitable alternative for the treatment of insomnia in general practice.
Rosenberg
J
J
Ahlstrøm
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011725:Pyridines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014229:Triazolam / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077334:Zolpidem
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011725:Pyridines; D014229:Triazolam; D000077334:Zolpidem