Efficacy and acceptability of brotizolam in the elderly.

Efficacy of and tolerance to brotizolam were studied over 6 days in elderly patients (62 to 93 years) suffering from sleep disturbance requiring medication: 62.9% used 0.125 mg and 32.0% used 0.25 mg. Effectiveness of brotizolam was assessed as good-to-satisfactory in 87.1% of the patients. Efficacy of and tolerance to brotizolam were compared with nitrazepam in mainly elderly patients (56-91 years) with sleep disturbances requiring medication. Efficacy was assessed as good-to-satisfactory in 89.8% of patients with 0.125 mg brotizolam, 93.9% with 0.25 mg brotizolam and 95.9% with 5 mg nitrazepam. Patients reported improved sleep with all three preparations. The dose range of brotizolam recommended for the elderly is 0.125-0.25 mg, though for the vast majority of patients the lower dose will be sufficient.