Premium
Mebutamate as a hypnotic: Clinical trial and statistical considerations
Author(s) -
Morgan John P.,
Wardell William,
Lasagna Louis,
Mazzullo John M.,
Weintraub Michael,
Mudholkar Govind S.,
Mietlowski William
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1002/cpt19731461001
Subject(s) - hypnotic , placebo , secobarbital , pill , medicine , anesthesia , statistical significance , population , pharmacology , alternative medicine , environmental health , pathology , pentobarbital
Mebutamate, an antihypertensive drug, has been reported to have hypnotic efficacy. We evaluated, by a questionnaire method, its efficacy in a geriatric, insomniac nursing home population. Two doses of mebutamate, 300 and 600 mg, were compared to 100 and 150 mg of secobarbital sodium and placebo, all administered randomly as identical tablets. Three cycles of test drugs were given and each nightly dose was alternated with the patient's own usual sleeping pill. Twenty‐two patients completed at least two consecutive cycles of the trial; 15 completed all three. A sleep index computed from “usual” sleeping pill nights and subjected to principal component analysis constituted the primary statistical evaluation. Supporting analyses used composite categories of questions called hypnotic power, global evaluation, and freedom from hangover. Mebutamate performed well and had little toxicity. In hypnotic power and global evaluation the mean effect of mebutamate, 600 mg and 300 mg, bracketed that of secobarbital, 150 mg. Statistical significance over placebo was reached for the higher doses of each active drug and the lower dose of mebutamate. No differences in freedom from hangover were noted.