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The Effects of Nitrazepam and Flunitrazepam on Oxygen Desaturation During Sleep in Patients with Stable Hypoxemic Nonhypercapnic COPD

Authors :
Midgren, Bengt
Hansson, Lennart
Skeidsvoll, Håvard
Elmqvist, Dan
Source :
Chest; April 1989, Vol. 95 Issue: 4 p765-768, 4p
Publication Year :
1989

Abstract

Serious respiratory depression has been described in COPD patients receiving hypnotics during acute exacerbations. There are few studies quantifying the effects of hypnotics on oxygenation during sleep in patients with stable hypoxemic COPD. In this study, the effects of single therapeutic doses of nitrazepam and flunitrazepam on SaO2, apneas during sleep and other sleep variables were measured in 14 COPD patients. All patients used theophylline. Sleep-induced decrease in mean SaO2was 1.3 percent after placebo, 1.4 percent after nitrazepam and 1.9 percent after flunitrazepam (no significant differences). Sleep apneas were not more common or longer after nitrazepam or flunitrazepam, but sleep quality seemed to improve. It is concluded that oxygenation during sleep in these nonobese patients with stable hypoxemic nonhypercapnic COPD, all on maintenance theophylline therapy, was affected very little by single therapeutic doses of nitrazepam or flunitrazepam.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00123692 and 19313543
Volume :
95
Issue :
4
Database :
Supplemental Index
Journal :
Chest
Publication Type :
Periodical
Accession number :
ejs37955993
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.95.4.765