title: The effect of opioids on sleep architecture.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The effect of opioid medications on sleep architecture has been demonstrated in patients with comorbid pain or opioid addiction. This study examined whether commonly used opioid medications have an adverse effect on sleep architecture in healthy adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two healthy subjects were examined with polysomnography after a bedtime dose of placebo, sustained-release morphine sulfate (15 mg), or methadone (5 mg) on each of 3 different nights in a double-blind multiple crossover study in a sleep laboratory in the General Clinical Research Center at an academic medical center.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both opioid drugs significantly reduced deep sleep and increased stage 2 sleep (both p < .01); neither had an effect on sleep efficiency, wake after sleep onset, or total sleep time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Single doses of oral opioid medications can significantly affect sleep architecture in healthy adults, and observed reductions in slow-wave sleep following opioid administration may have important implications for the pathogenesis of opioid-use related fatigue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, USA. jdimsdale@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Joel E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Dimsdale
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: DeJardin
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Wallace
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D017286:Polysomnography; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000187:drug effects; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000187:drug effects*; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D009294:Narcotics; D009020:Morphine; D008691:Methadone