Diazepam and 3-hydroxydiazepam (temazepam) and sleep of middle age.

Effect of diazepam (5 and 10 mg) and temazepam (10, 20 and 30 mg) on the sleep of six healthy middle aged (45-55 years) males was studied using electroencephalography for sleep measures, and analogue scales for subjective assessments of well being and sleep quality. In placebo studies the sleep of the group was compared with that of young adults (20-29 years). In the older group there was a marked reduction in total sleep time ( < 0.01), an increase in latency to stage 3 sleep ( < 0.01), and an increase in percentage of stage 1 (drowsy) and stage 2 sleep ( < 0.05 and 0.001 respectively). There were no changes in percentage or latency of rapid eye movement sleep. With the middle aged group there was no increase in total sleep time with diazepam and temazepam. Sleep onset latencies were shortened by 5 and 10 mg diazepam ( < 0.05), but there was no change with temazepam. Number of awakenings was reduced by 30 mg temazepam ( < 0.01), and the duration of awakenings was reduced by 5 and 10 mg diazepam ( < 0.05) and by 20 and 30 mg temazepam ( < 0.01). Awake activity was reduced by 5 and 10 mg diazepam ( < 0.001) and by 10 mg ( < 0.05) and 20 and 30 mg ( < 0.001) temazepam. The subjects assessed their sleep as improved with diazepam and with temazepam without residual effects on well-being. Though the effect of diazepam (5-10 mg) and temazepam (10-20 mg) may not be so pronounced as that of other hypnotics, they are likely to be useful over an age range which includes, at least, young adulthood and late middle age. A particular advantage of these drugs is that within these dose ranges they are without residual effects on performance.