Midazolam and oxazepam in the treatment of insomnia in hospitalized patients.

Abstract

Fifty‐nine hospitalized patients participated in a double‐blind study: 19 received 15 mg midazolam, 20 received 50 mg oxazepam, and 20 placebo. The three groups were comparable with regard to age, sex, height, weight, and degree and type of insomnia. The sleep‐onset latency was shorter with midazolam than with placebo or oxazepam (Mann‐ Whitney test, alpha less than 0.05). With regard to total sleep duration and the number of nocturnal awakenings, there was no difference between the midazolam and oxazepam groups, whereas there was a difference between these two groups and placebo. More subjects of the midazolam group felt calm and refreshed on awakening. Safety, assessed by clinical examination and laboratory tests, was excellent. This study confirms the usefulness of midazolam in treating ‘early’ insomnia, i.e. difficulty in falling asleep.

Pharmacological interventions to improve sleep in hospitalised adults: a systematic review

“…The studies by Feldmeier and Kapp and Gallais et al reported a statistically significant reduction in sleep latency with midazolam (15 mg orally) compared to placebo (median difference of 30–53%, p<0.05); however, only Feldmeier and Kapp 34 found oxazepam (15 mg orally) to be superior to placebo (median difference 16%, p<0.05). Gallais et al 35 found midazolam 15 mg orally to be superior to oxazepam 50 mg orally ( table 3 ) as did Lupolover et al 36 (15 mg doses for midazolam and oxazepam), but only after 3 days of treatment ( table 3 ).…”

“…Two randomised controlled trials, Feldmeier and Kapp 34 (n=50) and Gallais et al 35 (n=51), compared the effects of midazolam and oxazepam to placebo. One randomised controlled trial by Lupolover et al 36 (n=78) compared midazolam to oxazepam.…”

Midazolam nasal spray to treat intermittent, stereotypic episodes of frequent seizure activity: pharmacology and clinical role, a comprehensive review

“…Manu studies report significant decreases in the onset of sleep and increases in duration of sleep. 25,27 There are also no remarkable hangover effects experienced in patients, as it normally is with other BZDs. 25,27 In anesthesiology, midazolam's water-soluble property is advantageous over other induction medications due to its rapid onset of action.…”

Efficacy and safety of midazolam in the treatment of night terrors in children.

“…In recent years, however, recognition of the stage 4 suppressant effect of the benzodiazepines has led to their use, with some success, in the treatment of night terrors (Fisher et al, 1973;McLeod & Fisher, 1978). In view of these promising results, it was decided to investigate the usefulness in this indication of the new short-acting benzodiazepine midazolam which, in adult insomniacs, has been shown to be rapid in onset and very well tolerated (Gallais et al, 1983;Vogel & Vogel, 1983 (1978).…”