Sleep and behavioral changes possibly reflecting central receptor hypersensitivity following catecholamine synthesis...

This paper reports a marked decrease in total hours of sleep in depressed and manic patients on days 3 and 4 following discontinuation of alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine (AMPT), a specific inhibitor of the synthesis of the neurotransmitters, norepinephrine and dopamine. Discontinuation of two precursors of biogenic amines, L-dopa and L-tryptophan, produced no changes in total sleep. It is suggested that the decrease in sleep following AMPT may result from catecholamine neuronal receptor hypersensitivity induced during AMPT treatment. Animal data consistent with this hypothesis are reviewed. The importance of studying rebound phenomena following psychoactive drugs and the practical therapeutic implications of these findings are discussed.