Application of fragrance in discontinuing the long-term use of hypnotic benzodiazepines

An evaluation was made of the usefulness of fragrance application in discontinuing the long-term use of hypnotic benzodiazepines in primary insomniacs with low-dose dependence. Based on the results of pentobarbital sleep time in rats, we made a new fragrance consisting primarily of sandalwood (35%), juniper berry (12%), rose (8%) and orris (6%). This mixed fragrance was found to prolong the pentobarbital sleep time in rats. A total of 42 outpatients with low-dose dependence on hypnotic benzodiazepines, all of whom met DSM-IV criteria for primary insomnia, participated in the study. In advance, all subjects attempted to reduce the doses of drugs gradually (25% reduction a week if possible) and 29 subjects who had failed to do so at all participated in the study on the application of fragrance. A mixed fragrance described above was used. A gradual tapering of hypnotic benzodiazepines (25% reduction a week if possible) was attempted while sniffing the fragrance in bed. The application of fragrance reduced the doses of hypnotic benzodiazepines in 26 of 29 subjects and 12 subjects did not require any drug for sound sleep. The present study indicated that a kind of fragrance may prove effective as an alternative to hypnotic benzodiazepines.