Stimulant and anticataplectic effects of reboxetine in patients with narcolepsy: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate potential stimulant and anticataplectic effects of 10 mg reboxetine in patients diagnosed with narcolepsy.


METHODS
12 patients were treated for a 2-week period with 10 mg reboxetine under open conditions. The dosage of reboxetine was gradually increased between Day 1 and Day 9. Outcome parameters consisted of nightime polysomnography (PSG), Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Visual Analog Scale for Sleepiness (VAS), Ullanlinna Narcolepsy Scale (UNS), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).


METHODS
Sleep Disorders Clinic at a University Hospital.


METHODS
12 patients meeting ICSD-criteria for narcolepsy.


METHODS
Pharmacological treatment with reboxetine.


RESULTS
Following treatment for two-weeks, a significant improvement in daytime sleepiness could be observed, as reflected by a mean decrease of 48.6% on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and a mean increase of 54.7% in sleep latency on the MSLT. Furthermore, a significant reduction in the cataplexy subscore of the Ullanlinna Narcolepsy Scale and in REM-sleep was found.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that reboxetine exerts stimulant and anticataplectic effects in narcolepsy. Contrary to previous thinking, by which stimulant action would require dopaminergic facilitation, noradrenergic mechanisms might be relevant to the control of wakefulness.
Larrosa
O
O
Dept. of Neurology, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain.
de la Llave
Y
Y
Bario
S
S
Granizo
J J
JJ
Garcia-Borreguero
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002385:Cataplexy / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009025:Morpholines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009290:Narcolepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D000077593:Reboxetine; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000187:drug effects
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D009025:Morpholines; D000077593:Reboxetine