A Double-Blind Controlled Trial of a Non-Barbiturate Hypnotic—Nitrazepam

Abstract

The need for an acceptable, effective non-barbiturate hypnotic has long been recognized. Nitrazepam (Mogadon), an analogue of chlordiazepoxide with a chemical formula: 1,3-dihydro-7-nitro-5-phenyl-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one recently became available for trial. It has been reported to be a safe and effective hypnotic (General Practitioner Research Group, Report No. 79, 1965). Peck and Shervington (1966) found 10 mg. of nitrazepam as effective as 200 mg. of amylobarbitone in general hospital patients. In a previous investigation (Haider, 1967) I reported the efficacy of nitrazepam as an hypnotic agent, in comparison to a placebo, in a group of elderly psychiatric inpatients.