EEG spectral power density profiles during NREM sleep for gaboxadol and zolpidem
in patients with primary insomnia.
Author(s): Lundahl J, Deacon S, Maurice D, Staner L.
Affiliation(s): ICR Paediatric Neuro-Psychiatry, H. Lundbeck A/S, Ottiliavej 9, Valby,
Copenhagen, Denmark. JOL@lundbeck.com
Publication date & source: 2012, J Psychopharmacol. , 26(8):1081-7
There is significant interest in the functional significance and the therapeutic
value of slow-wave sleep (SWS)-enhancing drugs. A prerequisite for studies of the
functional differences is characterization of the electroencephalography (EEG)
spectra following treatment in relevant patients. We evaluate for the first time
gaboxadol and zolpidem treatments in insomniac patients using power spectra
analysis. We carried out two randomized, double-blind, crossover studies. Study
1, 38 patients received gaboxadol 10 mg and 20 mg and zolpidem 10 mg; study 2, 23
patients received gaboxadol 5 mg and 15 mg. Treatments were administered during
two nights and compared with placebo. Gaboxadol 10, 15 and 20 mg enhanced
slow-wave activity (SWA) and theta power. In 1 Hz bins gaboxadol 10 and 20 mg
enhanced power up to 9 Hz. In study 2, 15 mg gaboxadol showed a similar effect
pattern. Zolpidem suppressed theta and alpha power, and increased sigma power,
with no effect on SWA. In the 1 Hz bins zolpidem suppressed power between 5-10
Hz. Gaboxadol dose-dependently increased SWA and theta power in insomniac
patients. In contrast, zolpidem did not affect SWA, reduced theta and alpha
activity and enhanced sigma power. EEG spectral power differences may be
consequences of the different mechanisms of action for zolpidem and the
SWS-enhancing agent, gaboxadol.
|