Sedative or Tranquillizer? A Comparison of the Hypnotic Effects of Chlordiazepoxide and Amylobarbitone Sodium

¹ Lecturer, Senior Registrar, Department of Psychiatry, London Hospital, London, E.1., Academic Department of Psychiatry, Middlesex Hospital Medical School, London, W.1
² Professor, Academic Department of Psychiatry, Middlesex Hospital Medical School, London, W.1

Chlordiazepoxide and sodium amylobarbitone, which have a known dose-equivalent ratio for relieving anxiety, have been compared for hypnotic actions. In a double-blind trial, which included a placebo, the EEG effects and subjective ratings of sleep were measured in psychiatric patients with insomnia; the subjects acted as their own controls.

Both drugs were hypnotics, but sodium amylobarbitone had a significantly greater effect than chlordiazepoxide when compared at the doses found equivalent for relieving anxiety. The hypnotic effect of chlordiazepoxide was not clearly related to dosage. The barbiturate decreased REM sleep, as expected, but chlordiazepoxide did not.

The difference in actions of these two drugs is discussed briefly in terms of the site of action and the relief of insomnia by alleviating anxiety.