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Abstract
The effects of fenfluramine, an indirect serotonergic agonist, on electroencephalographic
sleep and prolactin secretion were assessed in 12 unmedicated inpatients with a primary
diagnosis of major depressive episode. Compared to prefenfluramine profiles, sleep
studies performed following fenfluramine administration showed a statistically significant
reduction of slow-wave sleep (SWS) (p < 0.001) and a corresponding increase in percentage of stage-2 sleep (p < 0.007). Automated delta wave counts per min decreased significantly during the
first nonrapid eye movement (NREM) period (p = 0.04), and automated rapid-eye movement (REM) counts were also decreased in the
second REM period (p = 0.02). These effects on sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) did not correlate significantly
with another measure of serotonergic responsivity, namely peak prolactin level following
fenflurramine, nor with the severity of depression. The reductions in SWS and REM
counts are proposed to be the result of time-dependent changes in serotonergic neurotransmission
following the administration of fenfluramine. These findings are consistent with earlier
work suggesting a role for serotonin in initiation and regulation of SWS and REM sleep.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Received in revised form:
August 13,
1993
Received:
October 15,
1992
Footnotes
☆Donna Abbondanza, RN assisted with the studies. This work wa supported by PHS grants MH5, MH395, and M 95.
Identification
Copyright
© 1993 Published by Elsevier Inc.