Multiclinic double-blind comparison of triazolam and flurazepam for seven nights in outpatients with insomnia

Abstract

In this two-clinic seven-day double-blind study, 0.5 mg triazolam (Halcion) was compared to flurazepam (Dalmane) in the treatment of insomnia. Two clinical investigators completed 118 outpatients, 61 on triazolam and 57 on flurazepam. Five patients, four on triazolam and one on flurazepam, discontinued because of side effects; and three patients, one on triazolam and two on flurazepam, discontinued because of ineffectiveness of the medication. Analysis of pooled data for the 110 evaluable patients showed that 0.5 mg triazolam was significantly better than 30 mg flurazepam on the following parameters: (1) how much the medication helped the patients sleep, (2) onset of sleep, (3) duration of sleep, (4) evaluation of duration of sleep, and (5) feeling of restfulness in the morning. The trend for all other parameters favored triazolam treatment, but the values did not reach statistical significance. Side effects were similar in both groups, with drowsiness being reported most frequently. No change in efficacy indicating tolerance development during the seven days of drug administration was observed in either group.