A survey of the literature over 10 years (1970-1980) shows that the phenomenon of ‘rebound’ can appear after withdrawal of a large number of drugs belonging to various chemical classes and also, as a physiologic compensatory mechanism of the central nervous system, without drugs. Among the various drugs, benzodiazepine hypnotics are also mentioned in problems related to ‘rebound’ (insomnia, anxiety). Controversial opinions are expressed regarding the appearance of rebound insomnia or anxiety. It seems that those authors who believe in the existence of rebound relate it either to therapy with high doses of drugs or to hypnotics with short to intermediate half-life.

In a multicentre, double‐blind, parallel study performed in 78 hospitalized patients who complained of mild, moderate or severe insomnia, the efficacy and safety of 15 mg midazolam were compared with those of 15 mg oxazepam, both orally administered. The results showed statistically significant better results in the onset of sleep in the patients treated with midazolam. Other sleep parameters, such as quality and duration of sleep as well as the condition of the patients on morning awakenings, were also improved in more patients treated with midazolam. Safety (clinical and biological) was very good in both groups of patients.

No abstract