The effect of secobarbital and triazolam on heart rate variability in humans

Abstract

Objective To explore the effect of secobarbital (Sec) and triazolam (TZ) on heart rate variability(HRV) and the possibility of using it as an index and physiological evidence for evaluating the efficiency of hypnotics. Method Two kinds of HRV indices (time domain parameters , frequency domain parameters) of 8 healthy young men aged 18 to 20 were observed during 5 h sleeping in a noise environment after administration of Sec (0.1 g) or TZ (0.25 mg). Subjective assessment of the hypnotic efficiency of Sec and TZ were analysed afterward. Results As compared with baseline and placebo group, SDNN, SDANN, LF, LF/HF in Sec group were significantly decreased, whereas RMSSD and HF significantly increased. Similar changes were found in TZ group, except that SDNN, SDANN, LF, had no significant changes as compared with baseline group. Conclusion The effects of hypnotics on HRV indices were significant.The change of TZ may be mainly due to its effect on vagus activity. HRV may be used as an objective and sensitive index for evaluation of efficiency of hypnotics.