The effects of brotizolam, a new hypnotic, on cardiac and respiratory function in volunteers.

In a double-blind, cross-over study we measured the effect of a 0.5-mg oral dose of brotizolam, a new thienodiazepine hypnotic, on cardiac and respiratory functions in 12 healthy volunteers. No deleterious effects on pulse, blood pressure, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 s, respiratory rate, mouth occlusion pressure (P0.1) and ventilatory responses to carbon dioxide occurred over a 6-hour period. In the usual therapeutic dose, brotizolam does not suppress cardiac and respiratory functions in healthy volunteers.