title: Beneficial Effects of Ramelteon on Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder Associated with Parkinson's Disease - Results of a Multicenter Open Trial.
abstract: Objective Melatonin is effective for treating patients with rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD). Ramelteon, a novel hypnotic, acts as a melatonin receptor agonist. In the current study, we investigated the effects of ramelteon on sleep disorders, including RBD, in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods We evaluated 35 patients from multiple centers with idiopathic PD accompanied by sleep disturbances (age: 69.1±11.1 years; 17 men, 18 women; PD morbidity: 6.9±5.7 years; Hoehn & Yahr stage: 2.5±0.8; levodopa dose equivalent: 561±401 mg/day). The patients received 8 mg of ramelteon before sleep once daily for 12 weeks. Motor and sleep symptoms were evaluated both before and after ramelteon administration. Results Of the 35 patients enrolled in this study, 24 (68.6%) were diagnosed with probable RBD (pRBD) using the Japanese version of the RBD screening questionnaire. Ramelteon administration reduced the severity of sleep disturbances in patients with PD. It also lowered scores on the Japanese version of the RBD questionnaire in patients with PD and pRBD. Conclusion Ramelteon may have beneficial effects on sleep disturbances, especially on RBD in patients with PD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Okayama Kyokuto Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kashihara
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsuboi
authors.forename: Takayasu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mishima
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takigawa
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakashima
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007192:Indenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D020187:REM Sleep Behavior Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007192:Indenes; D007980:Levodopa; C495910:ramelteon