Treatment of coexistent night-terrors and somnambulism in adults with imipramine and diazepam.
Night-terrors and somnambulism are comparatively rare in adults and are most often associated with stage 4 sleep, especially delta activity. Although the data are limited, reports suggest that imipramine, which may control nocturnal enuresis, a stage 4 sleep disorder, and diazepam, which suppresses stage 4 sleep, may effectively treat the condition. This paper describes two patients with night-terrors and somnambulism who responded to imipramine but not to diazepam. Possible mechanisms of diazepam and imipramine, including effects on stage 4 sleep and pervasive anxiolytic actions, are discussed.
D000328:Adult; D003975:Diazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007099:Imipramine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013009:Somnambulism / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
D007099:Imipramine; D003975:Diazepam