Comparison of a new hypnotic (Finorgal) with placebo in a double-blind trial

The hypnotic effects of Finorgal (ethchlorvynol with diphenhydramine) were compared with those of placebo in a double-blind study with crossover of treatments in thirty-five hospital in-patients. During the four-week period of Finorgal treatment there was a significant reduction in the mean time elapsing between the administration of the hypnotic and the onset of sleep, and a significant increase in the duration of sleep, compared with the four weeks of placebo treatment. There was also a significant increase in the proportion of nights when the patients felt they had slept well, and in the incidence of morning 'hangover' and nocturnal confusion during the Finorgal treatment periods. Patients had to be actively woken in the morning significantly more often following Finorgal administration. In patients experiencing pain in the night there was a significant reduction in the occurrence of pain during the nights when Finorgal had been given.