Temazepam withdrawal in elderly hospitalized patients: a double blind randomised trial comparing abrupt versus...

31 of 36 elderly mainly confused hospitalized patients (69-98 years) taking temazepam 10 mgs nocte for more than one month completed a double blind randomised placebo controlled trial comparing abrupt versus gradual withdrawal of temazepam. Hours of sleep were recorded for all patients during a 7 day baseline period while taking temazepam 10 mg nocte. Then the abrupt withdrawal (AW) group (n = 15) received placebo for 10 nights and the gradual withdrawal (GW) group (n = 16) received temazepam 5 mg for the first 4 nights, 2 mg for the next 4 nights and placebo for the last 2 nights. There was no significant difference in mean hours of nightly sleep during the baseline period between the AW group (5.9 +/- 1.1 SD) and GW group (5.8 +/- 1.1 SD) and between the baseline and withdrawal periods in each group (withdrawal periods, AW 5.6 +/- 1.2, GW 5.6 +/- 1.0). There was no rebound insomnia when temazepam was withdrawn either abruptly or gradually in long-term hospitalised elderly patients and may not be effective as a long-term hypnotic.