Abstract
1 Midazolam, in an oral dose of 15 mg, and placebo were administered to 15 children aged 6-15 years in treatment of night terrors.
2 After an initial adaptation night, the patients received placebo for 2 nights, followed by 15 mg midazolam for 2 nights and placebo again on the final 2 nights. Eight-hour nocturnal polygraphic recordings were made after the administration of both placebo and midazolam. The patients were continuously monitored by means of closed circuit infra-red television.
3 Ten of the patients manifested simple episodes while five had attacks associated with motor automatisms and EEG anomalies.
4 The total sleep time was lengthened by midazolam in most of the children; sleep architecture was favourably modified, mainly in terms of the amount and proportion of REM sleep (accompanied by dreams) and stage 2 sleep. Night terrors were eliminated by midazolam in all except one patient. REM sleep latency also decreased as did the number of nocturnal arousals (clinical and/or EEG). In the five cases with a background of organic cerebral disorders, the EEG anomalies and these attacks were suppressed by midazolam especially during the first sleep cycles.
5 Patients' subjective assessment of the quality of sleep was favourable. Midazolam was well tolerated with no side-effects.
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Selected References
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