Sleep-wake states are impaired in various neurological disorders. Impairment of sleep-wake states can be an early condition that exacerbates these disorders. Therefore, treating sleep-wake dysfunction may prevent or slow the development of these diseases. Although many gene products are likely to be involved in the sleep-wake disturbance, hypnotics and psychostimulants clinically used are limit...

The hypnotic and residual sedative effects of the first and seventh of seven regular night-time doses of nitrazepam 5 mg, temazepam 20 mg, and placebo were studied in 58 elderly inpatients. Plasma temazepam and nitrazepam concentrations rose by about 50% and 113% respectively between the mornings of day 1 and day 7. Patients reported sleeping well more often after the first dose of either hypno...

We examined the behavioral effects of the dietary constituents tryptophan and tyrosine on human mood, sensorimotor performance and pain sensitivity. Tryptophan and tyrosine are neurotransmitter precursors present in varying amount in protein-containing foods. Tryptophan (50 mg/kg) increased subjective drowsiness and fatigue but unlike many hypnotics did not impair sensorimotor performance. Tryp...

There exist a large number of drugs belonging to the benzodiazepine family. These include the 1,4-benzodiazepines such as diazepam, temazepam and oxazepam, the often more potent diazolo- and triazolo-groups represented by alprazolam, midazolam, triazolam etc. These drugs represent a large range of potencies from submilligram doses to over 100 mg and a range of polarities. Consequently, blood or...

non-medical use of prescription drugs (also known as medication diversion) is a common problem in middle and low income countries where monitoring capacities and law enforcement mechanisms are not efficiently developed (1-3). prescribed central nervous system (cns) stimulants, sedative hypnotics and long-lasting opioids are the most important drugs diverted throughout the world (1-4). non-medic...


 Introduction and purpose: Drug poisoning is one of the more common reasons for patients being hospitalized in toxicology wards. The wide availability ease obtaining a variety drugs supplements are cause adverse reactions associated with their use. Increasing life expectancy emerging chronic diseases also require use sometimes many to control people's health. This can lead poly-pragmasy, ...

BACKGROUND the number of centenarians increases rapidly. Yet, little is known about their health and use of medications. OBJECTIVE to investigate pharmacological drug use in community-dwelling and institutionalised centenarians compared with nonagenarians and octogenarians. METHODS we analysed data on dispensed drugs for centenarians (n = 1,672), nonagenarians (n = 76,584) and octogenarians...

BACKGROUND The prevalence of multimorbidity is increasing worldwide, presumably leading to an increased use of medicines. During the last decades the use of hypnotic and anxiolytic benzodiazepine derivatives and related drugs has increased dramatically. These drugs are frequently prescribed for people with a sleep disorder often merely designated as "insomnia" in the medical records and lacking...

PURPOSE To determine the proportion of patients receiving hypnotics upon admission to a palliative care unit, the frequency and intensity of withdrawal symptoms after rapid hypnotic discontinuation, and the effect of discontinuation on insomnia and cognitive failure. PATIENTS AND METHODS 120 consecutive admitted patients. Rapid hypnotic discontinuation (1-4 days) was attempted. Insomnia (visu...