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Sleep-promoting properties of quetiapine in healthy subjects

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of quetiapine, an atypical antipsychotic, on polysomnographic sleep structure and subjective sleep quality. This double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized cross-over study investigated the polysomnographic sleep structure and subjective sleep quality of 14 healthy male subjects given placebo, quetiapine 25 mg or quetiapine 100 mg. Volunteers were studied 3 times for 3 consecutive nights (N0, adaptation; N1, standard sleep conditions; N2, acoustic stress) 4 days apart. Treatment was administered orally 1 h before bedtime on nights 1 and 2. Quetiapine 25 mg and 100 mg significantly improved sleep induction and continuity under standard and acoustic stress conditions. Increases in total sleep time, sleep efficiency, percentage sleep stage 2 and subjective sleep quality were seen. A significant increase in periodic leg movements during sleep was observed with quetiapine 100 mg. The sleep-improving properties of quetiapine may be important in counteracting different aspects of psychopathology in schizophrenia and other disorders. These sleep-inducing and sleep-modifying properties are probably related to quetiapine’s receptor-binding profile, including its antihistaminergic, antidopaminergic and antiadrenergic properties. Other mechanisms might be relevant as well and further investigation is required.

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Acknowledgement

We thank AstraZeneca, Germany, for funding of the study and supply of quetiapine and placebo.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Georg-August-University of Göttingen, von-Siebold Strasse 5, D-37075, Göttingen, Germany

    Stefan Cohrs, Andrea Rodenbeck, Zhenghua Guan, Kathrin Pohlmann, Wolfgang Jordan, Andreas Meier & Eckart Rüther

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  1. Stefan Cohrs
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  2. Andrea Rodenbeck
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  3. Zhenghua Guan
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  4. Kathrin Pohlmann
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  7. Eckart Rüther
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Correspondence to Stefan Cohrs.

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Cohrs, S., Rodenbeck, A., Guan, Z. et al. Sleep-promoting properties of quetiapine in healthy subjects. Psychopharmacology 174, 421–429 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-003-1759-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-003-1759-5

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