[Effect of phenazepam on the nocturnal sleep of patients with the alcoholic abstinence syndrome].

The authors studied the effect of phenazepam, a benzodiazepine derivative, on sleep disorders in alcoholic patients at the first period following alcohol intake discontinuation. Polygraphic registration of the sleep pattern was performed for two nights in 18 patients, receiving the drug and in ten patients of the control group. The drug use was associated with the following events: the latent period of falling asleep diminished, the total duration of sleep increased, the duration of consciousness "inside the sleep" decreased. As a result of the second stage recovery, the duration of the phase of slow sleep enhanced with no evidence of delta-sleep recovery. The duration of the fast sleep phase increased. The patients showed a marked improvement of sleep quality.