title: The alerting effects of dexamethasone.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to characterize the level of sleepiness/alertness following the nocturnal administration of dexamethasone. Thirteen healthy men participated in this study. Following the initial screening, dexamethasone (4 mg) or placebo was administered at 22:30 hr in a randomized double-blind procedure. Subjects were given nap opportunities at 23:00, 1:00, 3:00, 4:30, 5:30, 7:30, 9:30, 11:30, 13:30, 15:30, 17:30, and 19:30 hr. The administration of dexamethasone resulted in an overall lengthening of sleep latency. Although the two groups displayed comparable latencies to stage 1 for the 23:00-7:30 hr nap opportunities, the administration of dexamethasone resulted in significantly longer latencies on the 9:30-19:30 hr nap opportunities. Consistent with these results, participants reported significantly greater levels of alertness on the Stanford Sleepiness Scale. The results of this study revealed greater levels of daytime alertness following the nocturnal administration of dexamethasone.
authors.affiliation: Henry Ford Hospital Sleep Disorders Center, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meixner
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gerhardstein
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: C Keith
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Nykamp
authors.forename: Mary Lou
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Syron
authors.forename: Leon
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D017286:Polysomnography; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects*; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone