Clinical Efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Suan Zao Ren Tang, for Sleep Disturbance during Methadone Maintenance: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.
Methadone maintenance therapy is an effective treatment for opiate dependence, but more than three-quarters of persons receiving the treatment report sleep quality disturbances. In this double-blind, randomized, controlled trial, we recruited 90 individuals receiving methadone for at least one month who reported sleep disturbances and had Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores > 5. The purpose of this study was to determine whether Suan Zao Ren Tang, one of the most commonly prescribed traditional Chinese medications for treatment of insomnia, improves subjective sleep among methadone-maintained persons with disturbed sleep quality. Ninety patients were randomly assigned to intervention group (n = 45) and placebo group (n = 45), and all participants were analyzed. Compared with placebo treatment, Suan Zao Ren Tang treatment for four weeks produced a statistically significant improvement in the mean total PSQI scores (P = 0.007) and average sleep efficiency (P = 0.017). All adverse events (e.g., lethargy, diarrhea, and dizziness) were mild in severity. Suan Zao Ren Tang is effective for improving sleep quality and sleep efficiency among methadone-maintained patients with sleep complaints.
Department of Psychiatry, Taoyuan Armed Forces General Hospital, No. 168, Zhong-Xing Road, Taoyuan 32551, Taiwan ; Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, China Medical University, No. 91, Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.
Yuan-Yu
YY
Chan
Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, No. 91, Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.
Yi-Hung
YH
Chen
Department of Psychiatry, Taoyuan Armed Forces General Hospital, No. 168, Zhong-Xing Road, Taoyuan 32551, Taiwan.
Szu-Nian
SN
Yang
Department of Biotechnology, Hung Kuang University, No. 1018, Sec. 6, Taiwan Boulevard, Shalu District, Taichung 43302, Taiwan.
Wan-Yu
WY
Lo
Graduate Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical University, No. 91, Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.
Jaung-Geng
JG
Lin