Evaluating the Effects of Agomelatine on Polysomnography Parameters in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common serious sleep disorder. Melatonin-based drugs such as agomelatine may have beneficial effects on patients with sleep disorders. This study aimed to evaluate agomelatine effects on polysomnography parameters in patients with OSA.

In this randomized, parallel, and single-blind study, seventy patients 18 years of age or older with obstructive sleep apnea who were referred to the sleep clinic were evaluated. The patients were randomly assigned into agomelatine and control groups. Patients in the agomelatine group received 50 mg agomelatine, one hour before sleep, for three consecutive nights prior to the polysomnography test, while the patients in the control group did not receive agomelatine. Sleep test parameters were compared between the two groups.

Three parameters in the agomelatine versus control group showed significant differences. They were the median and interquartile range of the total sleep time, 397 [326.5-437.4] vs. 287.5 [184-393.1; p, 0.004] minuets, sleep efficiency percentage, 75.6 [71-87.4] vs. 65.1 [50.8-80.1; p, 0.005] and the wakening percentage, 7.5 [12.01-27.6] vs. 8.8[18.3-49; p, 0.004] agomelatine vs. control group. Other polysomnography parameters revealed no significant differences between the two groups.

Agomelatine administration in patients with OSA may improve total sleep time, sleep efficiency percentage and the percentage of patients' awakening.