Effect of salbutamol, a putative cerebral beta agonist on sleep stages and interictal epileptic discharges

The effects of Salbutamol 1.5 mg in 250 ml dextrose solution was tested on 14 epileptic patients following a double blind cross-over design. Sleep parameters and interictal paroxysmal activities density were measured. No seizures were encountered during the experiment. No modification of either sleep parameters (duration of sleep stages, latency of sleep and paradoxical sleep, duration of sleep cycles and awaking) or density of P. A. during waking state, on stage I, II, III and IV and paradoxical sleep were observed. In other respects, 5 patients had no P. A. during polygraphic sessions. They exhibited a longer duration of paradoxical sleep and a shorter duration of awaking than the 9 other patients with P. A. So with the dosage used here no implication of central beta-adrenoceptors in sleep mechanisms and production of epileptic activity are suggested.