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Triazolam (Halcion) is now the most widely prescribed hypnotic drug. In this randomized, double-blind trial, 26 healthy young adults (mean age, 30 years) and 21 healthy older adults (mean age, 69) received either 0.25 mg of triazolam, 0.125 mg of triazolam, or placebo in a crossover design. Researchers assessed subjects' level of sedation, mood, and cognitive performance before a single dose of drug or placebo was given and at various intervals afterward.
As expected, the older subjects had reduced hepatic clearance, and consequently higher blood concentrations, of triazolam. Moreover, older subjects had a greater degree of sedation and greater impairment of cognitive performance relative to baseline. These age-related differences were most …