Flunitrazepam (Ro 5-4200) and sleep cycle in normal subjects

The action of flunitrazepam (Ro 5-4200) a benzodiazepine derivative was assessed on the sleep cycle of normal volunteers by means of all-night recordings. Baseline placebo nights were compared with the drug (2 mg p.o.) and with the placebo postdrug nights.Flunitrazepam induced a shift to faster frequencies of the EEG and increased non-rapid eye movement sleep. REM sleep was decreased at the expense of a smaller number of REM periods and shifted to the last two thirds of the night. During drug administration an adaptation was seen to the depressive action on REM sleep. Following withdrawal, an REM rebound was observed only during the first thirds of the night.This study was supported by a grant from Hoffmann-La Roche.