[The use of andante in the therapy of insomnia]

Thirty patients with psychophysiological insomnia (mean age 46,2+/-9,8 years) have been examined. All patients received 10 mg andante (zaleplone) in the evening 15 minutes before going to sleep during 7 days. A comparative assessment was conducted on the 1st and 7th days using a questionnaire for assessment of subjective sleep characteristics, the Obstructive Sleep Apnea Questionnaire, the Epworth Sleepiness scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale and the Beck Depression Inventory. Polysomnographic recording of night sleep was conducted in 15 patients. A significant decrease of anxiety and depression on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale and the Beck Depression Inventory (p<0,05) was found to the 7th day. After the treatment, the mean value on the questionnaire for assessment of subjective sleep characteristics increased by 63,6% from baseline and reached the normal level (p<0,05). Patients with initial pathological changes of the hypnogram had the following improvements: the significant increase of duration and percentage of stage 4 and delta sleep; decrease of falling asleep time, fast sleep latency period and awakenings during sleep; sleep quality index had reached the normal level (p<0,05) in 66% of cases. Forty percents of patients rated the efficacy of therapy as "very good", 34% as "good" and 13% as "moderate". No side-effects of andante were reported.