1. [Controlled clinical study on the effect of quazepam versus triazolam in patients with sleep disorders]
- Author
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ALTAMURA AC, COLACURCIO F, MAURI MC, DE VANNA M, RIGAMONTI R, VELTRO F, PANCHERI P, DELLE CHIAIE R, PORTA M., MAJ, Mario, Altamura, Ac, Colacurcio, F, Mauri, Mc, DE VANNA, M, Rigamonti, R, Maj, Mario, Veltro, F, Pancheri, P, DELLE CHIAIE, R, and Porta, M.
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,Adolescent ,Triazolam ,Middle Aged ,Benzodiazepines ,Anti-Anxiety Agents ,Double-Blind Method ,Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ,Drug Evaluation ,Humans ,Multicenter Studies as Topic ,Female ,Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic - Abstract
Quazepam (QZP), a new long half-life benzodiazepine, seems to have a more specific hypnotic activity and a "physiological" mechanism of action. This study assessed its clinical efficacy and any withdrawal symptoms occurring after the treatment with QZP and triazolam (TRZ). Sixty-five patients (mean age 41.4 yrs +/- 12.43 SD) with sleep disorders were included in the study. The patients were treated with placebo for 4 days (run-in period) and if no amelioration of insomnia was observed, were then randomly allocated to 15 mg QZP (33 patients) or TRZ (32 patients) for 8 weeks and finally placebo for another week. Sleep quality, efficiency, side-effects and withdrawal effects were assessed by specific rating scales. In comparing data obtained from the two treatments, the following conclusions were drawn: 1) both drugs showed a hypnoinductive efficacy but patients treated with QZP had significantly fewer night awakenings; 2) at the end of treatment only patients treated with TRZ had longer awakenings and rebound symptoms; 3) a lower withdrawal symptom incidence was observed in patients treated with QZP. Therefore, QZP seems to have a good hypnotic effect without inducing withdrawal symptoms. In contrast TRZ turned out to be a merely hypno-inducing drug presenting higher risks of rebound effects after withdrawal.
- Published
- 1989