International journal of geriatric psychiatry
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Int J Geriatr Psychiatry · Aug 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialZaleplon shortens subjective sleep latency and improves subjective sleep quality in elderly patients with insomnia. The Zaleplon Clinical Investigator Study Group.
Insomnia is a frequent complaint in the elderly population. Hypnotic agents, including benzodiazepines, with longer pharmacological half-lives have been associated with side effects, including residual sedation, memory impairment, and discontinuation effects. Zaleplon is a short-acting (elimination half-life of 1 hour), non-benzodiazepine hypnotic that acts on the benzodiazepine type 1 site of the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA(A)) receptor complex. ⋯ Subjective sleep quality was improved for significantly more patients treated with zaleplon 10 mg than those treated with placebo during both weeks of treatment. There was a weak indication of rebound insomnia after discontinuation of treatment with the 10-mg dose, but no significant difference in common treatment-emergent adverse events across treatment groups. Zaleplon is an effective and safe hypnotic for the treatment of insomnia in the elderly.
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In the United Kingdom there are some key facts which have implications for policies and services for people with dementia. The first group are to do with older people and their position in the total population. Overall the population of this country is projected to increase, but only by 0.2%. ⋯ Both of these will have an effect on who is available to care. But we also need to look at the implications of population change in the EU which have implications for the UK. Some of the implications and issues of these population aspects are then discussed.