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Pharmacopsychiatry 2013; 46(03): 108-113
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1331702
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

The Influence of the Tricyclic Antidepressant Amitriptyline on Periodic Limb Movements during Sleep

M. Goerke
1   Sleep Research & Clinical Chronobiology, Department of Physiology (CBF), Charité – Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
2   German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Magdeburg, Germany
,
A. Rodenbeck
1   Sleep Research & Clinical Chronobiology, Department of Physiology (CBF), Charité – Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
3   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
,
S. Cohrs
1   Sleep Research & Clinical Chronobiology, Department of Physiology (CBF), Charité – Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
3   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
,
D. Kunz
1   Sleep Research & Clinical Chronobiology, Department of Physiology (CBF), Charité – Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
4   German Heart Institute, Berlin, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 28 May 2012
revised 09 November 2012

accepted 13 November 2012

Publication Date:
04 January 2013 (online)

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Abstract

Introduction:

Many antidepressants are associated with periodic limb movements (PLM) during sleep. Although some tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, promote sleep and are thus often prescribed as a treatment for sleep disturbances that can accompany depression, it remains unclear whether amitriptyline is associated with PLM.

Methods:

32 healthy males (18–39 years) spent 2 consecutive nights in the sleep lab for polysomnographic recording. During the second night, they received either 75 mg amitriptyline or placebo in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled manner.

Results:

In subjects receiving amitriptyline but not in subjects receiving placebo, the number of periodic leg movements per h was significantly increased from baseline to intervention night. However, objective polysomnographic sleep parameters (such as the number of awakenings, wake after sleep onset, and sleep efficiency) and subjective sleep perception were not significantly associated with any PLM indices.

Discussion:

Our findings indicate that amitriptyline can induce or even increase the number of PLM during sleep in healthy subjects. When treating sleep disturbances with amitriptyline, PLM should be considered as a possible cause of insufficient improvement.

Key words

antidepressants - sleep disturbance - periodic limb movements
 

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