title: Acute, subchronic and withdrawal sleep EEG changes during treatment with paroxetine and amitriptyline: a double-blind randomized trial in major depression.
abstract: Paroxetine (30 mg), a selective serotonin (5-HT) reuptake inhibitor, was compared in a double-blind trial to amitriptyline (150 mg) in a sample of 40 inpatients aged 18-65 years who fulfilled Research Diagnostic Criteria for major depression. Patients were studied after a placebo drug washout period of 10 days and after an active 4-week treatment period. Sleep EEG recordings were performed before and at the end of the study as well as during acute treatment (first 2 days) and following withdrawal of active medication. Paroxetine shows an antidepressant effect similar to amitriptyline with a different side-effect profile typical of 5-HT reuptake inhibition. Paroxetine and amitriptyline decreased the amount of REM sleep, a well-known effect of classical antidepressants. Paroxetine also shared with other 5-HT reuptake inhibitors an alerting effect on sleep that was not shown to be detrimental on subjective sleep quality.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017286:Polysomnography; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000187:drug effects; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000187:drug effects; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000639:Amitriptyline; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D017374:Paroxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors