Comparing Gabapentin with Clonazepam for Residual Sleeping Problems following
Antidepressant Therapy in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized
Clinical Trial.
Author(s): Mowla A(1), Ahmadzadeh L, Razeghian Jahromi L, Dastgheib SA.
Affiliation(s): Author information:
(1)Department of Psychiatry, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Research Center,
Hafez Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran,
mowlaar@gmail.com.
Publication date & source: 2015, Clin Drug Investig. , 35(8):513-7
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Residual sleeping disturbances after improvement of
depression in major depressed patients are associated with more functional
problems, increased relapses and more risk of becoming resistant to treatment.
The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of gabapentin with clonazepam
for treating residual sleeping disturbances.
METHODS: This comparative trial was designed as a randomized, controlled,
double-blind study. Sixty-three patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of major
depressive disorder (MDD) who had been treated with one of the selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; fluoxetine, citalopram or sertraline) were
included in the study. The patients' depression had improved [Hamilton Depression
Rating Scale (HDRS) <10] but they were complaining of sleeping problems
[Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) >5; Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) >8].
Patients were randomized to receive a flexible dose of gabapentin
(100-600 mg/day) or clonazepam (0.5-2 mg/day) beside their current antidepressant
medication for a period of 4 weeks. Outcome measures were PSQI, ISI and Clinical
Global Impression (CGI).
RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that similar to the clonazepam group, sleeping
problems improved significantly in the gabapentin group at the end of the trial
(PSQI: P = 0.001, Z = 3.549; ISI: P = 0.001, Z = 3.347).The two groups did not
show a significant difference in treating residual sleep disturbances (PSQI:
P = 0.234, Z = 1.432; ISI: P = 0.456, Z = 1.347).
CONCLUSION: This study revealed that gabapentin is comparable to clonazepam for
treating sleeping problems associated with major depression.
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