Effects of temazepam on sleep quality and subsequent mental efficiency under normal sleeping conditions and following delayed sleep onset.

A group of 24 healthy, normal sleepers participated in 2 experiments. The 1st experiment was designed to investigate the effects of 2 nocte doses of temazepam on subjective sleep quality and performance next morning. In contrast to placebo or no-capsule conditions both temazepam 10 and 20 mg improved a number of assessments of sleep quality, although no residual effects on performance were detected. The 2nd experiment was designed to study the effects of temazepam 20 mg on daytime sleeping and subsequent performance following a simulated night shift. Compared to placebo, temazepam had favourable effects on the subjective duration and quality of daytime sleep, but had no overall beneficial or detrimental residual effects on performance.