Wade Thompson1, Teo A W Quay2, Carlos Rojas-Fernandez3, Barbara Farrell4, Lise M Bjerre5. 1. School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada; Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada. Electronic address: wthomp01@gmail.com. 2. Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health, Ottawa, Canada. 3. School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada; Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging, Waterloo, Canada; School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada. 4. Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada; School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada; Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada. 5. School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada; Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada; C.T. Lamont Primary Health Care Research Centre, Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Observational evidence suggests that atypical antipsychotics such as quetiapine are increasingly being used to manage insomnia. This is concerning given the uncertain efficacy and potential adverse effects associated with these medications. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study are to evaluate the benefits and adverse effects of atypical antipsychotics used specifically for insomnia. METHODS: The methods used in this study are systematic review and narrative synthesis. DATA SOURCES: The data were collected from PubMed; EMBASE; Cochrane Library; PsycINFO; grey literature; and the manufacturers of risperidone, quetiapine and olanzapine. PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Adult patients ≥18 years of age using atypical antipsychotics specifically for primary or co-morbid insomnia for ≥ 1 week were compared to those receiving active intervention or placebo. APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS: Two independent reviewers screened titles, abstracts and full-text articles; extracted data; and conducted risk-of-bias analysis. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) assessment was completed. RESULTS: One double-blind randomized controlled trial (n = 13) met the eligibility criteria. Statistically significant differences were not observed from baseline between quetiapine and placebo after 2 weeks for primary insomnia in terms of total sleep time (mean difference (MD) 52.68 min, 95% CI -27.27 to 132.6), reduction in sleep latency (MD 72.44 min, 95% CI -2.65 to 147.5) or improved sleep satisfaction measured with a visual analogue scale out of 100 (MD 6.16, 95% CI -12.32 to 24.64), despite a trend towards improved sleep parameters. The study was rated as very low quality. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Very low quality evidence suggests that quetiapine does not significantly improve sleep parameters compared with placebo in primary insomnia, despite a trend towards clinical improvements. Atypical antipsychotics should be avoided in the first-line treatment of primary insomnia until further evidence is available.
BACKGROUND: Observational evidence suggests that atypical antipsychotics such as quetiapine are increasingly being used to manage insomnia. This is concerning given the uncertain efficacy and potential adverse effects associated with these medications. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study are to evaluate the benefits and adverse effects of atypical antipsychotics used specifically for insomnia. METHODS: The methods used in this study are systematic review and narrative synthesis. DATA SOURCES: The data were collected from PubMed; EMBASE; Cochrane Library; PsycINFO; grey literature; and the manufacturers of risperidone, quetiapine and olanzapine. PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Adult patients ≥18 years of age using atypical antipsychotics specifically for primary or co-morbid insomnia for ≥ 1 week were compared to those receiving active intervention or placebo. APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS: Two independent reviewers screened titles, abstracts and full-text articles; extracted data; and conducted risk-of-bias analysis. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) assessment was completed. RESULTS: One double-blind randomized controlled trial (n = 13) met the eligibility criteria. Statistically significant differences were not observed from baseline between quetiapine and placebo after 2 weeks for primary insomnia in terms of total sleep time (mean difference (MD) 52.68 min, 95% CI -27.27 to 132.6), reduction in sleep latency (MD 72.44 min, 95% CI -2.65 to 147.5) or improved sleep satisfaction measured with a visual analogue scale out of 100 (MD 6.16, 95% CI -12.32 to 24.64), despite a trend towards improved sleep parameters. The study was rated as very low quality. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Very low quality evidence suggests that quetiapine does not significantly improve sleep parameters compared with placebo in primary insomnia, despite a trend towards clinical improvements. Atypical antipsychotics should be avoided in the first-line treatment of primary insomnia until further evidence is available.
Authors: Lise M Bjerre; Barbara Farrell; Matthew Hogel; Lyla Graham; Geneviève Lemay; Lisa McCarthy; Lalitha Raman-Wilms; Carlos Rojas-Fernandez; Samir Sinha; Wade Thompson; Vivian Welch; Andrew Wiens Journal: Can Fam Physician Date: 2018-01 Impact factor: 3.275
Authors: Lise M Bjerre; Barbara Farrell; Matthew Hogel; Lyla Graham; Geneviève Lemay; Lisa McCarthy; Lalitha Raman-Wilms; Carlos Rojas-Fernandez; Samir Sinha; Wade Thompson; Vivian Welch; Andrew Wiens Journal: Can Fam Physician Date: 2018-01 Impact factor: 3.275
Authors: Christopher B Miller; Lisa Valenti; Christopher M Harrison; Delwyn J Bartlett; Nick Glozier; Nathan E Cross; Ronald R Grunstein; Helena C Britt; Nathaniel S Marshall Journal: J Clin Sleep Med Date: 2017-06-15 Impact factor: 4.062