In the last several years, this knowledge, together with the association of barbiturates and drug abuse, has been responsible for a shift away from prescribing barbiturates in favor of the benzodiazepines, most notably Dalmane. However, there is now evidence that the benzodiazepines suppress sleep stages 3 and 4. To better understand the significance of such suppression, we can look at an explanation of the various stages of sleep. At this point, after the alpha state is reached, many people experience a sudden jerking awake. Typically, the sleeper jerks half awake, then quickly enters stage 1 of sleep.
Muscles relax and the pulse slows.
Sleepers awakened at this point often feel that they have not been asleep. If unawakened, the sleeper now enters stage 2. The sleeper's eyes roll from side to side. If the eyes open, they do not see. At this point, although asleep about 10 minutes, a person if awakened might wonder if he or she had been sleeping or might believe no sleep had occurred.