Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The effect of four drugs on sleep patterns in man

  • Short Communications
  • Published:
Psychopharmacologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The acute effects of four drugs — pentobarbital, amitriptyline, chlordiazepoxide, and RO 5-6901 (a new benzodiazepine)—on sleep were investigated in 10 normal human subjects.

All the drugs produced a slight increase in total sleep time. D-time and D-time percent were moderately reduced by pentobarbital and greatly reduced by amitriptyline. The two benzodiazepines had no effect on these variables, i.e. they produced a night of normal or increased sleep without the reduced D-time found after most clinically used drugs.

The possibility is discussed that the effect of antidepressant agents on sleep patterns—specifically a reduction in the “need for D” —may be related to their clinical action.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Cohen, J., and W. Dement: Sleep: Suppression of rapid eye movement phase in the cat after electroconvulsive shock. Science 154, 396–398 (1966).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dement, W.: Recent studies on the biological role of rapid eye movement sleep. Amer. J. Psychiat. 122, 404–407 (1965).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • —, and C. Fisher: Experimental interference with the sleep cycle. Canad. Psychiat. Ass. J. 8, 400–405 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • Feinberg, I.: Current studies of sleep and dreaming in psychiatric patients. Report to the Association for the Psychophysiological Study of Sleep, 1964

  • Hartmann, E.: The biology of dreaming, Springfield, Ill.: Ch. C. Thomas 1967a.

    Google Scholar 

  • - On the pharmacology of dreaming sleep (D-state). Paper presented to the American Psychiatric Association, Detroit, Michigan 1967 b. J. nerv. ment. Dis. (in press).

  • - Adaptation to the sleep laboratory and placebo effect. Report to the Association for the Psychophysiological Study of Sleep, 1967 c. Abs: Psychophysiology (in press).

  • Jouvet, M., P. Bobillier, F. Delorme, J. Froment, J. Mouret, J. Pujol, and J. Renault: Is serotonin a sleep inducing neuromodulator. Report to the Association for the Psychophysiological Study of Sleep, 1967.

  • —, P. Vimont et F. Delorme: Suppression elective du sommeil paradoxal chez le chat par les inhibiteurs de la monoamineoxydase, C. R. Soc. Biol. (Paris) 159, 1595–1599 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Oswald, I., R. Berger, R. Jamarilla, K. Keddie, P. Olley, and G. Plunkett: Melancholia and barbiturates: controlled EEG, body and eye movement study of sleep. Brit. J. Psychiat. 109, 66–78 (1963).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ryba, P., D. Engelhardt, and N. Freedman: The effects of imipramine on sleep patterns of psychiatric patients. Report to the Association for the Psychophysiological Study of Sleep, 1966.

  • Snyder, F.: Presumptive evidence of REM-deprivation in depressed patients. Report to the Association for the Psychophysiological Study of Sleep, 1967.

  • Zung, W.: Effect of antidepressant drugs on sleeping and dreaming. Paper presented to the American Association, Atlantic City, May, 1966.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Boston State Hospital, Boston, Mass.

    Ernest Hartmann

Authors
  1. Ernest Hartmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Supported in parts by grants K3-MH-8522 and MH 08715 from the U.S. Public Health Service and by a grant from Hoffman LaRoche, Inc.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hartmann, E. The effect of four drugs on sleep patterns in man. Psychopharmacologia 12, 346–353 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00401413

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00401413

Keywords

Search

Navigation