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Updated: Jul 20, 2026

Meta-Analysis of the Effectiveness and Safety of Shugan Jieyu Capsules for the Treatment of Insomnia
Published on: February 17, 2023
Paroxetine treatment of primary insomnia in older adults
Charles F Reynolds1, Daniel J Buysse, Mark D Miller
1Advanced Center for Interventions and Services Research for Late-Life Mood Disorders (ACISR/LLMD) and the John A. Hartford Center of Excellence in Geriatric Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Reynoldscf@upmc.edu
Objective:
The goal of this study was to test the efficacy of paroxetine for primary insomnia in older adults.
Methods:
Adults over age 55 with primary insomnia were randomly assigned to six weeks of double-blind treatment with paroxetine (N = 14) or placebo (N = 13). Outcome measures included persistence or resolution of insomnia; weekly diary measures of sleep quality, daytime alertness, and mood; and pre-/postpolysomnographic measures of sleep latency, wake time after sleep onset, and sleep efficiency.
Results:
Although weekly diary-based measures showed improved subjective sleep quality, daytime alertness, and mood with paroxetine, the authors observed no effect on sleep efficiency or categorical response rates.
Conclusion:
Paroxetine appears to be ineffective for treating primary insomnia in old age.
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