Zaleplon shortens subjective sleep latency and improves subjective sleep quality in elderly patients with insomnia

Insomnia Is a frequent complaint In the elderly population. Hypnotic agents , including benzodiazepines, with longer pharmacological halt-lives have be en associated with side effects, including residual sedation, memory impair ment, and discontinuation effects. Zaleplon is a short-acting (elimination hall-life of hour), non-benzodiazepine hypnotic that acts on the benzodiaze pine type 1 site of the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA(A)) receptor c omplex. The pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of zaleplon suggest a safety profile that is improved over other hypnotics. The objective of this placeb o-controlled study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of zaleplon (5 a nd 10 mg) in elderly (greater than or equal to 65 years.) out patients with primary Insomnia. This was a multicenter, double blind, randomised, placeb o-controlled 2-week outpatient study. Postsleep questionnaires were used to record subjective sleep variables: sleep latency, sleep duration. number o f awakenings. and sleep quality. Zaleplon significantly reduced subjective sleep Latency during both weeks of the study with both 5- and 10-mg doses. Subjective sleep quality was improved for significantly more patients treat ed with zaleplon 10 mg than those treated with placebo during both weeks of treatment. There was a weak indication of rebound insomnia after discontin uation of treatment with the IO-mg dose, but no significant difference In c ommon treatment-emergent adverse events across treatment groups. Zaleplon i s an effective and safe hypnotic for the treatment of insomnia in the elder ly. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.