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[Trazodone in REM sleep behavior disorder].

Heydy Luz Chica-Urzola¹

¹Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses, Instituto Colombiano del Sistema Nervioso, Clínica Montserrat, Bogotá, Colombia.

Revista Colombiana De Psiquiatria

|November 19, 2015

Summary

Trazodone effectively treated REM sleep behavior disorder in an elderly patient when clonazepam failed due to side effects. This suggests Trazodone may be a viable alternative treatment for this condition.

Keywords:

REM sleep behavior disorder Sleep disorders Trastorno comportamental del sueño MOR Tratamiento Trastornos del sueño Trazodona Trazodone Treatment

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Area of Science:

Neurology
Sleep Medicine
Pharmacology

Background:

REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a parasomnia characterized by vivid dreams and motor activity during REM sleep.
Pharmacological interventions for RBD, such as clonazepam, often present challenges with adherence due to adverse effects.
Idiopathic RBD affects a significant patient population, necessitating exploration of alternative therapeutic strategies.

Observation:

An elderly male patient with RBD experienced poor adherence to clonazepam due to adverse reactions and persistent symptoms.
The patient was subsequently treated with Trazodone, an antidepressant not typically indicated for RBD.
This treatment resulted in complete remission of RBD symptoms without any reported side effects.

Findings:

Trazodone demonstrated significant efficacy in managing RBD symptoms in this specific case.
The patient tolerated Trazodone well, with no adverse events reported, contrasting with the previous clonazepam treatment.
The pharmacological profile of Trazodone, rather than established indications, guided its use in this challenging case.

Implications:

Trazodone may represent a promising alternative therapeutic option for patients with REM sleep behavior disorder, particularly those intolerant to standard treatments.
Further clinical research is warranted to elucidate the efficacy, safety, and underlying mechanisms of Trazodone in RBD.
This case highlights the potential for off-label medication use based on pharmacological properties when conventional therapies are inadequate.