A comparison of the hypnotic effects of temazepam capsules and temazepam elixir

The effect of temazepam as a hypnotic was assessed with two different formulations, the solution-filled soft gelatin capsule and the more recently introduced elixir. Sixty psychiatric in-patients were included in the trial and 59 completed it. The study followed a double-blind crossover design for two consecutive nights. Patients took a capsule and elixir each night, but only one would contain the active ingredient (in a dose of 20 mg temazepam). In contrast to earlier work with volunteers, the elixir failed to reveal more of the characteristics of an ideal hypnotic. In fact, in those measures that were statistically significant, the balance favoured the capsule. We conclude that although there are many situations where an elixir is clearly clinically preferable, the essential hypnotic effect of the elixir is not conspicuously different to that of the capsule.