A randomized placebo-controlled polysomnographic study of eszopiclone in Japanese patients with primary insomnia.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and dose-response effect of eszopiclone on sleep latency and sleep maintenance in Japanese patients with primary insomnia.


METHODS
In this randomized, double-blind, five-way crossover study, 72 patients received placebo, eszopiclone 1mg, 2mg, and 3mg, and zolpidem 10mg in random order for two consecutive nights with a washout period between treatments. Objective sleep measures from polysomnography (PSG) and subjective patient reports were collected.


RESULTS
All active treatments produced significant improvement in objective and subjective sleep latency compared with placebo (P<0.05 for all comparisons); linear dose-response relationships were observed for eszopiclone. PSG-determined wake time after sleep onset (WASO), sleep efficiency, and number of awakenings (NA), and patient-reported measures of WASO, NA, sleep quality, sleep depth, and daytime functioning significantly improved following treatment with eszopiclone 2mg and 3mg and zolpidem 10mg versus placebo (P<0.05). Eszopiclone at all doses increased total sleep time and stage 2 sleep time (P<0.001 for both comparisons), but did not alter REM or slow-wave sleep. Eszopiclone was generally well tolerated; the most frequently reported adverse event was mild dysgeusia.


CONCLUSIONS
In Japanese patients with primary insomnia, eszopiclone 2mg and 3mg significantly improved PSG-determined and patient-reported sleep latency and sleep maintenance relative to placebo.
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Japan. naohisa@med.kurume-u.ac.jp
Naohisa
N
Uchimura
Atsushi
A
Kamijo
Hiroo
H
Kuwahara
Makoto
M
Uchiyama
Tetsuo
T
Shimizu
Shigeru
S
Chiba
Yuichi
Y
Inoue
D000328:Adult; D053961:Azabicyclo Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D000069582:Eszopiclone; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017286:Polysomnography; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult
D053961:Azabicyclo Compounds; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D010879:Piperazines; D000069582:Eszopiclone