Diazepam and 3-hydroxydiazepam (temazepam) and sleep of middle age.

1 Effect of diazepam (5 and 10 mg) and temazepam (10, 20 and 30 mg) on the sleep of six healthy middle aged (45-55 years) males was studied using electroencephalography for sleep measures, and analogue scales for subjective assessments of well being and sleep quality. 2 In placebo studies the sleep of the group was compared with that of young adults (20-29 years). In the older group there was a marked reduction in total sleep time (P < 0.01), an increase in latency to stage 3 sleep (P < 0.01), and an increase in percentage of stage 1 (drowsy) and stage 2 sleep (P < 0.05 and 0.001 respectively). There were no changes in percentage or latency of rapid eye movement sleep. 3 With the middle aged group there was no increase in total sleep time with diazepam and temazepam. Sleep onset latencies were shortened by 5 and 10 mg diazepam (P < 0.05), but there was no change with temazepam. Number of awakenings was reduced by 30 mg temazepam (P < 0.01), and the duration of awakenings was reduced by 5 and 10 mg diazepam (P < 0.05) and by 20 and 30 mg temazepam (P < 0.01). Awake activity was reduced by 5 and 10 mg diazepam (P < 0.001) and by 10 mg (P < 0.05) and 20 and 30 mg (P < 0.001) temazepam. The subjects assessed their sleep as improved with diazepam and with temazepam without residual effects on well-being. 4 Though the effect of diazepam (5-10 mg) and temazepam (10-20 mg) may not be so pronounced as that of other hypnotics, they are likely to be useful over an age range which includes, at least, young adulthood and late middle age. A particular advantage of these drugs is that within these dose ranges they are without residual effects on performance.