Evaluation of temazepam and diphenhydramine as hypnotics in a nursing-home population

Seventeen nursing home residents with sleeping problems were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, crossover trial of temazepam 15 mg, diphenhydramine (DPH) 50 mg, and placebo. Each drug was given for five consecutive nights with a 72-hour washout period between drugs. Subjects were assessed three times weekly with tests of psychomotor and cognitive function and four times weekly with observer sleep diaries and morning sleep questionnaires. Three subjects failed to complete the study. By report of the subjects, DPH resulted in shorter sleep latency than did placebo (t = 2.77, p less than 0.05). On the fifth night, use of DPH was associated with longer duration of sleep than temazepam (t = 2.88, p less than 0.05). No significant difference in tests of neurologic function was noted although, compared with placebo, subjects performed more poorly on seven of eight tests while taking temazepam and five of eight tests while taking DPH. Several instances of daytime hypersomnolence were noted in subjects taking temazepam and DPH, but none in subjects given placebo.