Lack of sedative effects after vespertine intake of oxazepam as hypnotic in healthy volunteers.
OBJECTIVE
An objective physiological test was used to investigate the hangover effect, its time course and dose relationship compared to placebo and an herbal relaxant.


METHODS
Pupillographic Sleepiness Test as an objective measurement, Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS) and visual analogue scales (VAS) were used. Study design included: (a) randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled crossover trial; (b) double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised study. Primary end point was the Pupillary Unrest Index (lnPUI).


RESULTS
Oxazepam 10 mg did not increase PUI. In the VAS and SSS, there was no increase in sleepiness after the three treatment periods. Neither 10 nor 30 mg oxazepam caused sedation in healthy volunteers. Subjective and objective sleepiness measures correlated significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
The lack of sedative effects after vespertine intake of oxazepam (10/30 mg) seems to be relevant with respect to product safety. With regard to the subjective perception at 30 mg, fatigue rather than sleepiness may be the underlying reason.
Wilhelm
Barbara
B
STZ eyetrial at the Centre for Ophthalmology, University Tübingen, Schleichstr. 12-16, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. barbara.wilhelm@stz-biomed.de
Kellert
Renate
R
Schnell
Rainer
R
Lüdtke
Holger
H
Petrini
Orlando
O
D000328:Adult; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000379:methods*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D041743:Herb-Drug Interactions / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010076:Oxazepam / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011680:Pupil / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000187:drug effects*
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D010076:Oxazepam