Sublingual lormetazepam in the treatment of sleep disorders in general practice patients

• Published in: Human psychopharmacology Vol. 3; no. 2; pp. 139 - 144
• Main Authors: Sastre-Y-Hernandez, M., Visser, P., Schütt, B., Fichte, K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.06.1988
• Subjects: benzodiazepines; Insomnia; lormetazepam; sublingual administration
• ISSN: 0885-6222; 1099-1077
• DOI: 10.1002/hup.470030211

The sublingual form of the benzodiazepine hypnotic lormetazepam was developed with the aim of attaining greater flexibility in the treatment of sleep disorders. The object is to achieve rapid onset of hypnotic effect and provide patients with a form of medication which they can take after having gone to bed and only if they have difficulty in falling asleep. In a placebo‐controlled crossover double‐blind study the hypnotic effect, side‐effects and acceptance of lormetazepam sublingual (1 mg) were investigated in 60 patients with sleep disorders receiving treatment from physicians in independent practices. The study was conducted over a total of 2 weeks, the patients receiving lormetazepam and placebo for 7 days respectively, changing over in the second week. The results show that in the sublingual form lormetazepam (1) is distinctly better than placebo as regards hypnotic efficacy, particularly with respect to the reduction of sleep latency; (2) does not lead to a significantly higher rate of concomitant symptoms than placebo; and (3) is well accepted by the patientsin the wafer form.