Efficacy of Huadananshen mistura on insomnia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, and multi-center clinical trial

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of Huadananshen mistura in clinical treatment of Chinese patients with insomnia. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center study, 244 patients with insomnia were randomly assigned to a placebo group, a low-dose (10 mL/day), or a high-dose (20 mL/day) mistura group. Efficacy was assessed by using the sleep dysfunction rating scale (SDRS) and Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) scores. Safety and tolerability assessments included emergent adverse events, laboratory tests, and electrocardiograms. RESULTS: Total SDRS scores decreased in all three groups, and there were significant differences between the placebo group and the lowand high-dose mistura groups (P=0.000). CGI-I ratings in the lowand high-dose mistura groups were sig-nificantly better than that of the placebo group (P= 0.000). Incidences of rebound insomnia were similar in all three groups (placebo group: 6.94% , low-dose mistura group: 12.99% , and high-dose mistura group: 10.96% ; P=0.475). The efficacy of Huadananshen mistura in the lowor high-dose group was significantly better than that of the placebo group (P=0.000), but with no significant difference found between the lowand high-dose mistura groups (P=0.887). The rates of adverse events were similar in the three groups (placebo 2.44% , low-dose mistura 0%, and high-dose mistura 5%; P=0.088). CONCLUSION: Huadananshen mistura is an effective and generally well-tolerated hypnotic medicine for the treatment of Chinese patients with insomnia.