title: An observational study of insomnia and nightmare treated with trazodone in patients with advanced cancer.
abstract: Patients with cancer often experience insomnia. Nightmares are also a strong factor that interferes with the maintenance of comfortable and satisfying sleep. However, the prevalence and standard treatment of nightmares in patients with cancer have not been established yet. We aimed to treat insomnia and nightmares with trazodone. From 2008 to 2011, trazodone was prescribed to 30 patients with cancer who reported experiencing insomnia with or without nightmares to the palliative care team in Osaka University Hospital. Effective treatment was seen in 15 patients (50%). Four patients with cancer reported having severe nightmares and 2 patients had beneficial effects, with frightening dreams transformed into acceptable ones. Trazodone may be an effective drug for the treatment of insomnia and nightmares in patients with advanced cancer.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan. tanimuki@psy.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
authors: Hitoshi
authors: H
authors: Tanimukai
authors: Tasuku
authors: T
authors: Murai
authors: Namiko
authors: N
authors: Okazaki
authors: Yoichi
authors: Y
authors: Matsuda
authors: Yoshiaki
authors: Y
authors: Okamoto
authors: Yasunobu
authors: Y
authors: Kabeshita
authors: Yumiko
authors: Y
authors: Ohno
authors: Satoru
authors: S
authors: Tsuneto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004325:Dreams / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D019370:Observation; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects*; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D014196:Trazodone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D014196:Trazodone