Polygraphic sleep recordings before and after the administration of flunitrazepam.

By means of polygraphia sleep recordings {EEG, EOG, EMG, ECG' EDG, Respirogram, Positogram), neurologic-psychologic investigation^ and questionnaires on subjective feeling, ten patients aged from 22 to 40 years {mean: 29 years), who suffered from irregular disturbances in falling asleep and in sleeping continuously, were examined over a period of ten consecutive nights. The first investigation night was reserved for adaptation of the patients and could therefore not be evaluated. On the j'ollowing three evenings placebo {Placebo I) was given, then 2 mg of flunitrazepam for the ensuing three nights and placebo again {Placebo U) for the last three nights. Thus, 90 investigation nights could be evaluated. The following results were obtained: 1. Latency times until the patients fell asleep and up to the first deep sleep were reduced significantly by the active preparation. Latency times up to the first REM-phase were prolonged. 2. The frequency of nocturnal awakenings was lessened significantly. Thus, disturbances in sleeping continuously disappeared for the duration of the treatment. Duration of wakefulness after having woken during the night decreased considerably. 3. Duration of wakefulness during the total night WCLS reduced considerably, deeper sleep stages, such as D {stage 111) and E{stage IV) were prolonged. 4. Duration of the REM-phases was reduced slightly. This reduction was not significant according to the t-test. 5. According to these results, the preparation showed a clear es'ect. A placebo-effect can be excluded, since the improvements mentioned were not found when placebo was given before administration of the medication and afterwards {Placebo I and II). 6. When comparing our results to those of other authors, who described the effects of various preparations, we found that the substance flimitrazepam showed different es'ects.