Posted by SLS on July 16, 2009, at 6:17:13
In reply to Re: TCA's - sleep architecture / anti-cholinergic s/e » g_g_g_unit, posted by SLS on July 16, 2009, at 6:02:00
> I never thought nortriptyline was good for sleep, except for the first few days perhaps. It can increase REM sleep latency as well as suppress REM later in sleep. Interestingly, people who are depressed often have reduced REM latency and increased REM sleep overall - just the opposite of the illness.
I meant to say TCAs affect REM sleep in a way that is opposite to that seen in the illness.Some have proposed that this is one mechanism that can promote an antidepressant effect. In addition, it was once thought that anticholinergic activity was therapeutically important because it might help balance out the antagonistic relationship between dopamine and acetylcholine. I haven't seen these things mentioned much anymore.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:906967
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090709/msgs/907023.html