Enhancing slow wave sleep with sodium oxybate reduces the behavioral and physiological impact of sleep loss.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether enhancement of slow wave sleep (SWS) with sodium oxybate reduces the impact of sleep deprivation.


METHODS
Double-blind, parallel group, placebo-controlled design


METHODS
Sleep research laboratory


METHODS
Fifty-eight healthy adults (28 placebo, 30 sodium oxybate), ages 18-50 years.


METHODS
A 5-day protocol included 2 screening/baseline nights and days, 2 sleep deprivation nights, each followed by a 3-h daytime (08:00-11:00) sleep opportunity and a recovery night. Sodium oxybate or placebo was administered prior to each daytime sleep period. Multiple sleep latency test (MSLT), psychomotor vigilance test (PVT), Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS), and Profile of Mood States were administered during waking hours.


RESULTS
During daytime sleep, the sodium oxybate group had more SWS, more EEG spectral power in the 1-9 Hz range, and less REM. Mean MSLT latency was longer for the sodium oxybate group on the night following the first daytime sleep period and on the day following the second day sleep period. Median PVT reaction time was faster in the sodium oxybate group following the second day sleep period. The change from baseline in SWS was positively correlated with the change in MSLT and KSS. During recovery sleep the sodium oxybate group had less TST, SWS, REM, and slow wave activity (SWA) than the placebo group.


CONCLUSIONS
Pharmacological enhancement of SWS with sodium oxybate resulted in a reduced response to sleep loss on measures of alertness and attention. In addition, SWS enhancement during sleep restriction appears to result in a reduced homeostatic response to sleep loss.
Walsh
James K
JK
Sleep Medicine and Research Center, St. Luke's Hospital, Chesterfield, MO 63017, USA. james.walsh@stlukes-stl.com
Hall-Porter
Janine M
JM
Griffin
Kara S
KS
Dodson
Ehren R
ER
Forst
Elizabeth H
EH
Curry
Denise T
DT
Eisenstein
Rhody D
RD
Schweitzer
Paula K
PK
D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D018682:GABA Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D012978:Sodium Oxybate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia; D018682:GABA Agents; D012978:Sodium Oxybate