Abstract
The aim of this review was to describe the sleep anomalies in depression, the effects of antidepressants on sleep, the usefulness of antidepressants in the treatment of primary insomnia and insomnia in other psychiatric disorders.
Depression is associated with abnormalities in the sleep pattern that include disturbances of sleep continuity, diminished slow-wave sleep (SWS) and altered rapid eye movement (REM) sleep parameters. Although none of the reported changes in sleep are specific to depression, many of them, for example increased REM density and reduced amount of SWS in the first sleep cycle, are used as biological markers for research on depression and in the development of antidepressant drugs.
An antidepressant should reverse abnormalities in the sleep pattern. However, many antidepressants can worsen sleep. Because of the activating effects of some drugs, for example imipramine, desipramine, fluoxetine, paroxetine, venlafaxine, reboxetine and bupropion, many patients who take them have to be co-prescribed with sleep-promoting agents to improve sleep. Even in maintenance treatment with activating antidepressants as many as 30-40% of patients may still suffer from insomnia. Antidepressants with sleep-promoting effects include sedative antidepressants, for example doxepin, mirtazapine, trazodone, trimipramine, and agomelatine which promotes sleep not through a sedative action but through resynchronization of the circadian rhythm. Sedative antidepressants are frequently used in the treatment of primary insomnia, although not many double-blind studies have been provided to support such an approach to insomnia treatment. One exception is doxepin, which has been approved for the treatment of insomnia characterized by difficulties in maintaining sleep.
Keywords: Sleep, depression, antidepressants, effects on sleep, primary insomnia.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:Sleep and Antidepressant Treatment
Volume: 18 Issue: 36
Author(s): Adam Wichniak, Aleksandra Wierzbicka and Wojciech Jernajczyk
Affiliation:
Keywords: Sleep, depression, antidepressants, effects on sleep, primary insomnia.
Abstract: The aim of this review was to describe the sleep anomalies in depression, the effects of antidepressants on sleep, the usefulness of antidepressants in the treatment of primary insomnia and insomnia in other psychiatric disorders.
Depression is associated with abnormalities in the sleep pattern that include disturbances of sleep continuity, diminished slow-wave sleep (SWS) and altered rapid eye movement (REM) sleep parameters. Although none of the reported changes in sleep are specific to depression, many of them, for example increased REM density and reduced amount of SWS in the first sleep cycle, are used as biological markers for research on depression and in the development of antidepressant drugs.
An antidepressant should reverse abnormalities in the sleep pattern. However, many antidepressants can worsen sleep. Because of the activating effects of some drugs, for example imipramine, desipramine, fluoxetine, paroxetine, venlafaxine, reboxetine and bupropion, many patients who take them have to be co-prescribed with sleep-promoting agents to improve sleep. Even in maintenance treatment with activating antidepressants as many as 30-40% of patients may still suffer from insomnia. Antidepressants with sleep-promoting effects include sedative antidepressants, for example doxepin, mirtazapine, trazodone, trimipramine, and agomelatine which promotes sleep not through a sedative action but through resynchronization of the circadian rhythm. Sedative antidepressants are frequently used in the treatment of primary insomnia, although not many double-blind studies have been provided to support such an approach to insomnia treatment. One exception is doxepin, which has been approved for the treatment of insomnia characterized by difficulties in maintaining sleep.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Wichniak Adam, Wierzbicka Aleksandra and Jernajczyk Wojciech, Sleep and Antidepressant Treatment, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2012; 18 (36) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161212803523608
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161212803523608 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Blood-based biomarkers in large-scale screening for neurodegenerative diseases
Disease biomarkers are necessary tools that can be employ in several clinical context of use (COU), ranging from the (early) diagnosis, prognosis, prediction, to monitor of disease state and/or drug efficacy. Regarding neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a battery of well-validated biomarkers are available, such as cerebrospinal fluid ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Diabetes mellitus: advances in diagnosis and treatment driving by precision medicine
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic degenerative metabolic disease with ever increasing prevalence worldwide which is now an epidemic disease affecting 500 million people worldwide. Insufficient insulin secretion from pancreatic β cells unable to maintain blood glucose homeostasis is the main feature of this disease. Multifactorial and complex nature of ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Metabolite Identification and Profiling in Drug Design: Current Practice and Future Directions
Current Pharmaceutical Design Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors in the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction
Current Pharmaceutical Design Acute and Sub-acute Oral Toxicity Assessment of a Standardized Polyherbal Preparation POL-6 in Rats
The Natural Products Journal Facing Up the ROS Labyrinth - Where To Go?
Current Vascular Pharmacology Current Diagnostic Investigation in Pulmonary Hypertension
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews The Role of Nitric Oxide on Endothelial Function
Current Vascular Pharmacology Occurrence and Biological Activities of Eremophilane-type Sesquiterpenes
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and Orthostatic Hypotension Post COVID-19
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets Basic and Clinical Aspects of Gene Therapy for Retinopathy Induced by Diabetes
Current Gene Therapy Adrenomedullins: Therapeutic Potential in Cardiovascular Disease
Current Hypertension Reviews Anorexia Nervosa and the Use of Total Parenteral Nutrition Refeeding
Current Nutrition & Food Science Use of New Therapeutic Compounds in Pregnancy with Renal Disease
Current Women`s Health Reviews High Throughput Screening and Structure-Activity Relationship Study of Potential α2A-Adrenoceptor Agonists by LANCETM cAMP Assay
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening Classical Neurotransmitters and Neuropeptides Involved in Schizophrenia: How to Choose the Appropriate Antipsychotic Drug?
Current Drug Therapy A Comprehensive Study of Pharmacological Behaviors, Nano-Formulations, and Applications of Rosemary
The Natural Products Journal Recent Advances in the MCRs Synthesis of Chromenes: A Review
Current Organic Chemistry Clinical Trials with Oncolytic Measles Virus: Current Status and Future Prospects
Current Cancer Drug Targets Management of Patients with Heart Failure: Focus on New Pharmaceutical and Device Options
Current Medicinal Chemistry Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome: A Review from a Clinically Oriented Perspective
Current Neuropharmacology Pathophysiology of Sepsis and Recent Patents on the Diagnosis, Treatment and Prophylaxis for Sepsis
Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery