Preference Studies of Triazolam with Standard Hypnotics in Out-Patients with Insomnia

One hundred and four patients suffering from insomnia took part in four different two-night double-blind crossover trials of triazolam. In three separate studies, triazolam 0·5 mg was compared to placebo, flurazepam 30 mg and chloral hydrate 500 mg. Triazolam 0·5 mg was found to be preferred and to be superior to placebo, flurazepam and chloral hydrate in the treatment of insomnia. Analysis of sleep questionnaire data showed triazolam to be superior to the other treatments on the following: How much did the medication help you sleep, onset of sleep, duration of sleep and number of awakenings. Additionally, triazolam was superior to chloral hydrate on the feeling in the morning parameter. In another comparison of triazolam 0·25 mg to flurazepam 15 mg, triazolam was not significantly better than flurazepam on any of the efficacy parameters except that the patients felt more alert the morning following triazolam than following flurazepam. On all efficacy endpoints, trends for all parameters favoured triazolam 0·25 mg over flurazepam 15 mg. Untoward side-effects in these four studies were minimal.