Background: Reboxetine is a novel selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor. The antidepressive
properties of the substance are established. Methods: The influence of reboxetine on the sleep-EEG of eight patients with depression HAMD
(mean ± SD) 19.7 ± 1.5 (5 women, 3 men; age range 31 to 75 years) was investigated.
Sleep EEG was examined twice. The first examination was performed before starting
active medication. The second examination was subsequently performed when patients
received 8 to 10 mg reboxetine per day. Results: Conventional sleep-EEG analysis showed a significant increase in intermittent wakefulness
and sleep stage 2 and a decrease in sleep efficiency and REM time. Under reboxetine
no significant changes were observed in sleep-EEG spectral analysis. Conclusion: Our results indicate, that reboxetine induces sleep-EEG changes similar to those
after selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s) by increasing intermittent
wakefulness and decreasing REM time.
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Axel SteigerM.D.
Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry
Kraepelinstr. 2-10
80804 Munich
Germany
Phone: +49 (89) 30622 236
Fax: +49(89) 30622 552
Email: steiger@mpipsykl.mpg.de
