Feasibility of an every-other-night regimen in insomniac patients: subjective hypnotic effectiveness of quazepam, triazolam, and placebo.

BACKGROUND

Rebound insomnia, a worsening of sleep difficulty beyond baseline levels, can complicate the physician's attempt to use regularly scheduled drug holidays in the management of insomniac patients. Quazepam, a benzodiazepine with a long half-life, has been shown to exhibit carryover effectiveness for the first night or two following withdrawal. This finding suggests a potential utility for an alternate-night drug regimen in which the withdrawal features of the compound serve as a potential benefit.

METHOD

A randomized, double-blind, three-compartment, parallel-group design of 5 weeks' duration, comparing quazepam 15 mg, triazolam 0.5 mg, and placebo, was conducted in 65 insomniac subjects. This study was a nonpolysomnographic study utilizing sleep questionnaires.

RESULTS

No differences were noted between quazepam and triazolam on treatment nights. Evidence of carryover effectiveness with quazepam and rebound effects with triazolam were noted on off-treatment nights.

CONCLUSION

The efficiency of alternate-night therapy with quazepam should be rigorously evaluated using polysomnographic determinations.