Effects of Mirtazapine on healthy young volumeters sleep

67 ABSTRACT: Background: Depression is known to modify human sleep patterns. Antidepressant drugs have also been found to alter sleep patterns in healthy and depressed subjects. Most of the antidepressant drugs suppress REM sleep and prolong REM latency. Mirtazapine is an antidepressant with novel mechanism of action. It has been classified as a noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant (NaSSA). It specificially antagonizes central ct2 adrenergic receptors, which results in potentiation of central noradrenergic and serotonergic neurotransmission. Mirtazapine also potently blocks 5HT2 and 5HT3 receptors and causes net activation of primarily the 5HTia receptors. Objective: The objective of this study was assess objective polisomnographic effects of mirtazapine on young healthy volunteers' sleep. Method: A double-blind, placebo controlled study was conducted in 20 young healthy volunteers (mean age=24). All subjects had been fully informed about objective, method and risk of the investigation, which had been approved by the Local Ethics Committee. Volunteers were randomly assigned Mirtazapine group (N=10) or placebo group (N=10). Each subject had one initial adaptation night, one baseline recording night and one drug night (plasebo or mirtazapin). On each treatment night subject received either mirtazapine 30 mg or placebo Results: Age and sex distrubition was founded similar in each group. Preliminary results of study showed that mirtazapine increased sleep efficiency index, decreased number of awakenings and wake after sleep onset time. Mirtazapine improved sleep continuity measures. Mirtazapine slightly decreased total REM sleep time, and slightly prolonged REM seep latency. It was increased significantly slow wave sleep, and decreased stage 1 sleep. Conclusion: Mirtazapine improved sleep quality, diminished nighttime awakenings. It was increased deep sleep and decreased light sleep. Its effect on REM sleep was not significant.