Quetiapine in the treatment of sleep disturbances associated with addictive conditions: a retrospective study

Subst Use Misuse. 2008 Dec;43(14):2169-71. doi: 10.1080/10826080802290240.

Abstract

Sleep disturbances are a common finding in the clinical practice of addictions. Clinical management of insomnia is known to influence the prognosis of the addiction and the success of the detoxication process itself (Peles, Schreiber, and Adelson, 2006; Pace-Schott, Stickgold, Muzur, Wigren, Ward, et al., 2005; Bootzin and Stevens, 2005; Maher, 2004). Thus the relevance of controlling sleep disturbances from the very beginning of the detoxification process. However, managing this situation is often not easy for the clinician. The classical option of using sedating-hypnotic drugs to treat insomnia in polydrug users presents objections: the tolerance associated to high doses of benzodiacepines chronic abuse in many drug addicts obliges the clinician to use high doses of hypnotics, both in acute detoxification and the following de-habituation, with the associated resulting risk of dependence and undesirable side effects (excessive sedation, nocturnal enuresis, ataxia, etc).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antipsychotic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antipsychotic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Dibenzothiazepines / administration & dosage
  • Dibenzothiazepines / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Quetiapine Fumarate
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / etiology
  • Spain
  • Substance-Related Disorders / complications

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Dibenzothiazepines
  • Quetiapine Fumarate