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Olanzapine acute administration in schizophrenic patients increases delta sleep and sleep efficiency
R J Salin-Pascual1, M Herrera-Estrella, L Galicia-Polo
1Research Service, Hospital Psiquiatrico Fray Bernardino Alvarez Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico.
Background:
A delta sleep deficit has been observed in schizophrenic patients. Olanzapine is a novel atypical antipsychotic agent with affinity at dopaminergic, serotonergic, muscarinic, adrenergic and histaminergic binding sites. The present study was designed to analyze a sleep promoting effect reported for olanzapine.
Methods:
Twenty schizophrenic patients (DSM-IV) were studied, who were drug free and inpatients. Patients slept for 5 consecutive nights in the sleep unit as follows: one acclimatization night; two baseline nights (the first for sleep disorder screenings); and two olanzapine nights (10 mg olanzapine, one hour before sleep onset).
Results:
Sleep continuity variables and total sleep time showed an overall improvement with olanzapine. Waking time was reduced since the first night of olanzapine administration. The main sleep architecture changes were: reduction in sleep stage 1, while sleep stage 2 and delta were significantly enhanced. Rapid eye movement density was also increased by the second olanzapine night.
Conclusions:
Total sleep improvement was due to the increase in sleep stages 2 and delta sleep. This may be related to serotonergic antagonistic properties of olanzapine. Olanzapine seems to have a sleep promoting effect in schizophrenic patients.