The thymoleptic action of two salts of flurazepam (‘Dalmane’)

Summary

A double-blind comparison was made of two dose levels (15 and 30 mg.) of the mono-hydrochloride and dihydrochloride salts of flurazepam (‘Dalmane’) in 40 hospitalised patients requiring a night-time hypnotic.

Each patient in the four drug I dose groups was his own control and took a placebo for 3 nights followed by the active compound for a further 3 nights. On waking each morning a mood state questionnaire was completed.

The results indicate that flurazepam is not only an effective hypnotic, but that it has an apparent anxiolytic effect the following morning. Patients report feeling less anxious and more cheerful following drug administration and this result was most noticeable with the 15 mg. monohydrochloride dose.

Key words::

• Hypnotics and sedatives
• flurazepam
• sleep