Sleep-endocrine profile of the antidepressant mianserin

SummaryThe effects of mianserin, a tetracyclic antidepressant, on sleep stages and on the nocturnal secretion of cortisol, ACTH, growth hormone, prolactin and tryptophan were studied on II normal male volunteers in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Mianserin increased Stage 3 time (p <0.001) and Stage 4 time (p <0.01). It reduced the number of REM periods (p <0.001), the REM latency after sleep onset (p <0.01) and both the total and percentage REM time (p <0.05). A reduction in both the total sleep time (p <0.05) and the percentage of total time in bed (p <0.05) were the only significant carry-over effects from the drug treatment period. No significant difference in any biochemical measurement was found between placebo and drug treatment.