Vortioxetine improves rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder: A case report
Yanli Du1,2, Jiajun Jiang1,2, Chee H Ng3
1Department of Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine.
Medicine
|June 27, 2020
Summary
Vortioxetine shows promise in treating Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD), a condition marked by dream enactment. This case study suggests vortioxetine may be an effective treatment option for RBD when other therapies fail.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Sleep Medicine
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) involves loss of muscle paralysis during REM sleep, leading to dream enactment.
- Current pharmacotherapy for RBD is limited, and antidepressant use is debated.
- The efficacy of vortioxetine for RBD has not been previously investigated.
Observation:
- A 72-year-old woman experienced over three years of recurrent behaviors during sleep, including shouting, punching, kicking, and walking.
- Clinical evaluations and polysomnography confirmed a diagnosis of RBD.
- The patient's symptoms persisted despite a year of treatment with paroxetine and melatonin.
Findings:
- Vortioxetine, at a daily dose of 10 mg, was initiated after paroxetine discontinuation.
- Three months of vortioxetine treatment resulted in significant clinical improvement of RBD symptoms.
- This represents the first reported instance of vortioxetine effectively treating RBD.
Implications:
- Vortioxetine may offer a novel therapeutic option for patients with REM Sleep Behavior Disorder.
- Further large-scale, well-designed studies are necessary to confirm the clinical utility of vortioxetine in RBD treatment.
- This case highlights the potential for exploring new pharmacological agents in managing sleep disorders.
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