Efficacy and side effects of chloral hydrate and tryptophan as sleeping aids in psychogeriatric patients.

The effects of placebo, L-tryptophan 3 g, and chloral hydrate 500 mg on sleep were studied in 19 nonpsychotic, mildly demented, geriatric inpatients. Only chloral hydrate was more effective in inducing and maintaining sleep than placebo. Neither chloral hydrate not L-tryptophan had any significant side effects, but withdrawal of chloral hydrate was associated with insomnia.