Dose‐related effects of phenobarbitone on human sleep‐waking patterns.

Abstract

1 Twenty‐four healthy male subjects had two consecutive drug nights at 2‐week intervals using placebo and 80, 140 and 240 mg doses of phenobarbitone in a double‐blind cross‐over design. 2 Phenobarbitone produced significant dose‐related decreases in sleep latency and number of awakenings, along with increased total sleep time. 3 Both subjective and objective measures of sleep indicated the presence of cumulative (first v second night) effects of phenobarbitone, especially decreases in the number of awakenings and in delta waveform activity. 4 Measures of REM sleep were highly sensitive to phenobarbitone. The high dose decreased REM density to 30% of baseline on the first night and to 18% on the second night. 5 EEG alpha activity was decreased, beta activity was increased and sigma spindle activity was unaffected by phenobarbitone during sleep. 6 Subjects experienced some impairment of cognitive performance along with residual sedation the following morning. 1981 The British Pharmacological Society