Antidepressants and sleep: a review.
OBJECTIVE
Insomnia is one of the most common symptoms seen in both primary and psychiatric care. Sleep hypnotics and benzodiazepines are the drugs of choice for insomnia but are not appropriate for all patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The sedating tricyclics, the serotonin-2A receptor antagonist/serotonin-reuptake inhibitor antidepressants, and the atypical antidepressants can improve sleep and return sleep architecture to its restorative function. The serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors, with the possible exception of escitalopram, derange sleep architecture and decrease restorative sleep.


CONCLUSIONS
Although most antidepressants cause sedation, not all antidepressants are equal in their effects on producing restorative sleep.
Holshoe
Joseph M
JM
University of South Alabama College of Nursing, Mobile, AL, USA. jholshoe@cox.net
D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000451:nursing*; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000187:drug effects; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000187:drug effects
D000928:Antidepressive Agents