Periodic leg movements during sleep associated with antidepressants: A meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Sleep Medicine
• Pharmacology
• Clinical Neuroscience

Background:

• Periodic leg movements during sleep (PLMS) are a common concern.
• The impact of antidepressants on PLMS requires further investigation.

Approach:

• A systematic review and random-effects model meta-analysis were conducted.
• Twelve studies (seven interventional, five observational) were included.
• Evidence levels ranged from Level III to Level IV.

Key Points:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and venlafaxine demonstrated a large effect size in increasing PLMS.
• Other antidepressant classes showed a smaller or absent effect on PLMS.
• Substantial heterogeneity was observed across the included studies.

Conclusions:

• This meta-analysis confirms the association between SSRIs/venlafaxine and increased PLMS.
• Further high-quality studies are needed to clarify the effects of other antidepressant categories on PLMS.