| abstract |
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Provided are sustained release formulations that provide a "pulsed" plasma profile of a sedative-hypnotic compound having a particularly short half-life. The formulation comprises a sedative-hypnotic compound or a precursor thereof that is metabolized in vivo to produce a sedative-hypnotic compound, wherein the compound has an average plasma half-life in the range of 0.1 to 2 hours; Following administration of the formulation to a patient, the patient includes at least one release-retarding agent such that the patient has a particular pulsatile plasma profile of a sedative sleep compound as described herein. In a preferred embodiment, the sedative-hypnotic compound is NBI-34060. |