The effect of oxazepam on sleep in normal human volunteers

The effects of 25 mg of oxazepam, a benzodiazepine with a short half-life and no active metabolites, were compared with placebo in two healthy volunteers in a single-blind polygraphically recorded sleep study. The experiment lasted for 24 nights and recordings were made for 11 nights. It was found that 25 mg oxazepam induced sleep faster than placebo, and that the subjects awoke less often during the treatment period. The total amount of REM-sleep was not affected. However, REM-sleep was shortened during the first part of the night and extended during the latter part of the night. Slow-wave sleep diminished differently in the two subjects, possibly due to interindividual differences in the rate of elimination of oxazepam. The effect on blood pressure was small, and the normal physiological difference between bedtime and morning blood pressure was preserved.