ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the efficacy of eszopiclone for patients with acute insomnia and the impact of premedication with eszopiclone on sleep structure of patients with acute insomnia.Methods In an open-label,self-control trial was conducted at Changzheng Hospital Sleep Centers,and patients (n =32) with acute insomnia (12 men,20 women; mean age,36.2 years) were administered eszopiclone 3 mg for three consecutive nights.Sleep was monitored via polysomnography.The insomnia severity index (ISI),and mini-mental state examination (MMSE) were used to assess the degree of insomnia and impact of drugs on cognitive function during the day.Results Eszopiclone can shorten sleep latency ( before treatment:(52.92 ± 11.71 ) min,after treatment:(28.2 ± 10.11 ) min; t =-4.376,P ＜0.01 ),prolong total sleep time(before treatment:(365.22 ±30.13) min,after treatment:(429.18 ±26.93 ) min; t =4.102,P ＜ 0.01 ),decrease wake up times( before treatment:( 5.00 ± 1.92 ) times,after treatment:( 2.73 ± 0.91 )times; t =- 4.592,P ＜ 0.01 ),improve sleep efficiency ( before treatment:72.69％ ± 6.32％,after treatment:82.67％ ± 4.16％ ; t =3.371,P ＜ 0.01 ),reduce awake time ( before treatment:( 88.51 ±17.48) min,after treatment:(65.93 ±21.l0)min; t =-4.592,P ＜0.01 ),decrease light sleep ( NREM1 period) the percentage of time ( before treatment:12.54％ ± 2.10％,after treatment:7.30％ ± 2.90％ ;t=-3.155,P ＜ 0.01 ),and increase the percentage of slow wave sleep (before treatment:8.03％ ±5.37％,after treatment:9.31％ ±5.29％; t =4.228,P ＜0.01).No effect was observed on the percentage of NERM2 period (t =0.731,P ＞0.05) and REM period (t =-0.813,P ＞0.05).Eszopiclone can improve the quality of subjective assessment of sleep ( ISI score decreased,t =- 2.551,P ＜ 0.05) and has no significant effect on cognitive function on first the morning after patients taking the medication.Conclusion Eszopiclone can positively regulate the sleep structure in patients with acute insomnia and improve subjective assessment of sleep quality.It is safe and has no significant effect on cognitive function.