Flurazepam-induced sleep apnea syndrome in a patient with insomnia and mild sleep-related respiratory changes.

Abstract

Sleep EEG and respiratory measures were examined in a 38-year-old man with a long-standing history of insomnia and daytime sleepiness. He was found to have seven to 18 primarily obstructive apneas per night on four baseline recordings, a finding not generally considered to be indicative of pathology. On the first two nights on which he received 30 mg of the benzodiazepine hypnotic flurazepam, there were 22 and 100 apneas, and during the daytime he became extremely sleepy. Upon cessation of medication, his clinical condition improved, and the number of apneas decreased to 11 and 6 on withdrawal nights 4 and 6. Although respiratory depression is neither invariable nor unique to flurazepam, this case suggests that it may be a clinically significant problem with recommended oral doses in some individuals.

• Authors: W B Mendelson, D Garnett, J C Gillin
• Journal: The Journal of nervous and mental disease (J Nerv Ment Dis) Vol. 169 Issue 4 Pg. 261-4 (Apr 1981) ISSN: 0022-3018 [Print] United States
• PMID: 7217935 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Placebos
• Flurazepam

Topics

• Adult
• Flurazepam (adverse effects)
• Humans
• Male
• Placebos
• Sleep Apnea Syndromes (chemically induced)
• Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders (drug therapy)