HYPNOTIC EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF TRIAZOLAM ADMINISTERED DURING THE POSTOPERATIVE PERIOD

This study examined the hypnotic efficacy and safety of short-term use of triazolam following elective surgery. One hundred women (ages 26-6 9) who had received 0.125 mg of triazolam the evening before breast ca ncer surgery were enrolled in a randomized, doubled-blind study compar ing triazolam to placebo. Study medication was begun on the first or s econd evening following surgery, depending on the patient's level of p ostoperative alertness, and was administered in the hospital for three consecutive evenings. The starting dose of triazolam was 0.125 mg, wi th the option of increasing the dose to 0.25 mg on subsequent nights i f sleep response was inadequate. Relative to patients in the placebo g roup, patients in the triazolam group reported significantly (p < 0.05 ) less difficulty falling asleep, fewer nighttime awakenings, better o verall sleep quality, and a greater sense of restfulness. No clinicall y significant adverse reactions were encountered and no adverse reacti ons occurred more frequently in the triazolam group than in the placeb o group. Results indicate that administration of triazolam is a safe a nd effective method of improving sleep in patients recovering from sur gery.