Retrospective evaluation of the effects of quetiapine on sleep structure and continuity in primary insomnia and neurodegenerative diseases with polysomnographic data

Abstract

Objective: The study retrospectively evaluated the effects of quetiapine on sleep in primary insomnia and neurodegenerative diseases using polysomnographic data. Materials and Methods: Between January 1, 2010, and June 1, 2023, the records of 49 patients who were followed up in the sleep outpatient clinic of the neurology department of our hospital and who underwent polysomnography examination were retrospectively reviewed. Patients aged between 18 and 65 years with primary insomnia and neurodegenerative diseases were included in the study. Results: The mean age of 49 patients (26 females and 23 males) were 56.67 years. The mean quetiapine dose was 59.37. Sleep latency, stage 1 (N1) duration, stage 2 (N2) duration, mean and minimum SO2 and apnea-hypopnea index were similar. Total sleep duration, stage 3 (N3) duration and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep duration were higher in neurodegenerative patients. N3 duration was shorter in patients with primary insomnia on quetiapine. Sleep duration and REM duration were longer in the neurodegenerative group and sleep latency was longer in primary insomnia in quetiapine users. Among quetiapine users, the N2 sleep percentage was higher and the non- REM 3 sleep percentage was lower in primary insomnia, whereas there was no difference in sleep percentages in neurodegenerative patients. Conclusion: Quetiapine is an atypical antipsychotic agent. It shortens sleep latency and decreases the percentage of REM sleep and wake time. It increases total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and N2 sleep. In this study, in primary insomnia patients using quetiapine, N3 sleep duration was shorter and sleep percentage was lower, whereas N2 sleep percentage was longer. There has been no placebo-controlled study of any antipsychotic drug for treating insomnia.