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Antidepressants and Sleep: A Review
Author(s) -
Holshoe Joseph M.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
perspectives in psychiatric care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.538
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1744-6163
pISSN - 0031-5990
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-6163.2009.00221.x
Subject(s) - escitalopram , reuptake inhibitor , serotonin , medicine , insomnia , serotonin uptake inhibitors , sleep (system call) , sleep architecture , psychiatry , anesthesia , fluoxetine , antidepressant , polysomnography , receptor , anxiety , apnea , computer science , operating system
PURPOSE. Insomnia is one of the most common symptoms seen in both primary and psychiatric care. Sleep hypnotics and benzodiazepines are the drugs of choice for insomnia but are not appropriate for all patients. CONCLUSION. The sedating tricyclics, the serotonin‐2A receptor antagonist/serotonin‐reuptake inhibitor antidepressants, and the atypical antidepressants can improve sleep and return sleep architecture to its restorative function. The serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and selective serotonin‐reuptake inhibitors, with the possible exception of escitalopram, derange sleep architecture and decrease restorative sleep. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. Although most antidepressants cause sedation, not all antidepressants are equal in their effects on producing restorative sleep.