The purpose of the present study was to investigate the melting behavior of polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG 6000) as such as well as in solid dispersions containing diazepam or temazepam, prepared by solvent and fusion methods, using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). It was shown that the melting behavior of pure PEG 6000 is influenced by the crystallization procedure applied. Fusion at 80 degreesC followed by cooling always yielded three different crystal modifications. The rate of cooling (under controlled conditions) was found to have a significant influence on the relative distribution of the three modifications: the lower the cooling rate, the higher the relative amount of the extended modification. Crystallization from organic solution yielded mainly the once folded form. The presence of diazepam and temazepam influenced the relative amount of the different PEG 6000 modifications. Both drugs decreased the formation of the more stable modification, while the formation of the twice folded form was induced. However, in the case of temazepam the contribution of the extended form at higher drug levels increased in dispersions obtained from organic solutions.