two ways to sleep induction
TRANSCRIPT
rand d
TWO WAYS TO SLEEP INDUCTION
Quazepam: the pharmacological approach .. When the benzodiazepine hypnotic quazepam [Sch 16.1 34; Schering US] was given to 15 chronic insomniacs in doses of
7 .S-45mg night ly for J nights, the highest dose produced
effects on sleep from the first night onwards. while the lower doses of 7 .S- 15ms had no significant effects until the third
night, At all doses there was evidence of accumulation, although a sedative 'carryover ' effect, upon abrupt withdrawal
of the drug, wa.'i seen only on the highest dose. TielZ, E.I. et a!.: An:oeimittel·Forsch\ln& 31: (96) (Nov 1981)
and OSIP: a more physiological approach? Delta·sleep-inducing peptide (OSIP) is a synthetic nonapeptide
which induces delta-EEG sleep, slow wave sleep and rapid eye movemenl (REM) sleep in a physiological, rather than
pharmacologicaJ. manner. Six volunteers were given a single dose of 25nmol/ kg (2 1.23J.1g/ kg) IV ovcr 20 min, in the
morning, when spontaneous sleep would not be expected.
Saline was also given under double-blind, crossover conditions. Immediately followin g the DSIP infusion,S subjects felt a
'pressure to sleep' , with feelings of warmth, heaviness, dry
mouth , deep respiration and (in I case) headache and some
nausea. Over the next 130 min, subjects slept for a mean 47.25
min13.5-lI9.5 minhner DSIP and ror 29.75 min (0-108 .5
min) after placebo. Over the next 2-4 hours, alertness remained unimpaired <relative to placeoo) and there were no differences
in mood, cunrentration or sleepiness during the rest of the day.
However, that same night, subjects were found to h.ave a more
rapid sleep onset, longer deep sleep (stage II, slow wave sleep,
REM sleep) and shorter light sleep (stage I). The initial sleepiness immediately after tbe injecLion was descr ibed as 'pleasant' and quite different from the sedative
effects of other drugs. Natural sleep, that night, was considered
'more efficient' and DSIP clearly sustains its enhancing effect on natural sleep for some time after its administration. One subject , who slept less well during the experimental day and
night, slept better the following night in<>tead. Schneider·Helmert, D . et aI. , International Journal of ainical Pl\ilrnlacology,
Ther .. py and Toxiool"KY 19, 341 (Aug 19811
0156-2703/81/ 1205_0005 $00.50/0 O AD.S Press INPHARMA 5 De<: 1981 5
rand d
TWO WAYS TO SLEEP INDUCTION
Quazepam: the pharmacological approach .. When the benzodiazepine hypnotic quazepam [Sch 16.1 34; Schering US] was given to 15 chronic insomniacs in doses of
7 .S-45mg night ly for J nights, the highest dose produced
effects on sleep from the first night onwards. while the lower doses of 7 .S- 15ms had no significant effects until the third
night, At all doses there was evidence of accumulation, although a sedative 'carryover ' effect, upon abrupt withdrawal
of the drug, wa.'i seen only on the highest dose. TielZ, E.I. et a!.: An:oeimittel·Forsch\ln& 31: (96) (Nov 1981)
and OSIP: a more physiological approach? Delta·sleep-inducing peptide (OSIP) is a synthetic nonapeptide
which induces delta-EEG sleep, slow wave sleep and rapid eye movemenl (REM) sleep in a physiological, rather than
pharmacologicaJ. manner. Six volunteers were given a single dose of 25nmol/ kg (2 1.23J.1g/ kg) IV ovcr 20 min, in the
morning, when spontaneous sleep would not be expected.
Saline was also given under double-blind, crossover conditions. Immediately followin g the DSIP infusion,S subjects felt a
'pressure to sleep' , with feelings of warmth, heaviness, dry
mouth , deep respiration and (in I case) headache and some
nausea. Over the next 130 min, subjects slept for a mean 47.25
min13.5-lI9.5 minhner DSIP and ror 29.75 min (0-108 .5
min) after placebo. Over the next 2-4 hours, alertness remained unimpaired <relative to placeoo) and there were no differences
in mood, cunrentration or sleepiness during the rest of the day.
However, that same night, subjects were found to h.ave a more
rapid sleep onset, longer deep sleep (stage II, slow wave sleep,
REM sleep) and shorter light sleep (stage I). The initial sleepiness immediately after tbe injecLion was descr ibed as 'pleasant' and quite different from the sedative
effects of other drugs. Natural sleep, that night, was considered
'more efficient' and DSIP clearly sustains its enhancing effect on natural sleep for some time after its administration. One subject , who slept less well during the experimental day and
night, slept better the following night in<>tead. Schneider·Helmert, D . et aI. , International Journal of ainical Pl\ilrnlacology,
Ther .. py and Toxiool"KY 19, 341 (Aug 19811
0156-2703/81/ 1205_0005 $00.50/0 O AD.S Press INPHARMA 5 De<: 1981 5