Efficacy and Side Effects of Lorazepam, Oxazepam, and Temazepam as Sleeping Aids in Psychogeriatric Inpatients

The efficacy and side effects of 2 mg of lorazepam, 30 mg of oxazepam, and 20 mg of temazepam as sleeping aids were investigated in 20 psychogeriatric inpatients. The drugs were administered in a random order, double-blind, for 7 night each. All of these short half-life benzodiazepines proved efficacious in maintaining sleep. None of them reduced initial sleep latency. Oxazepam and to a lesser degree temazepam induced withdrawal insomnia during the first night after the treatments. The withdrawal of lorazepam induced a delayed but prolonged insomnia in 3 patients. Both lorazepam and oxazepam had muscle relaxant side effects after awakening.