Treatment for Insomnia

Presentation By: JJ Wojcik

Presentation Outline
What is Insomnia? Treatment of Insomnia
Non-Pharmacological Pharmacological
Benzodiazepines Benzodiazepine Receptor Agonists Melatonin-Receptor Agonists Anti-Depressants

Future Treatments

What is Insomnia?
Classified as the inability to get enough sleep despite adequate time.

Symptoms Include:
Delayed Sleep Onset Early Morning Wake-Ups Unrefreshing Sleep Trouble Maintaining Sleep

Causes many problems in daytime functioning

Classifications of Insomnia
Primary vs. Secondary
This is based on what is causing a patient to suffer from lack of sleep

Chronic vs. Acute

This is based on how long the patient suffers from symptoms of insomnia

Primary Insomnia
Also referred to as Idiopathic This is diagnosed when a patient has no other cause of insomnia other than the fact they cannot sleep Also been known to be patient confusion and misconception around what is meant and understood to be sleep

Secondary Insomnia
This is also more commonly referred to as Comorbid Insomnia

When insomnia is being caused by some other outside factor, illness, or disorder including:
Drug Abuse Psychiatric Disorders Medical Problems Other Sleep Disorders disruptive to sleep

Acute Insomnia
This is when a patient suffers from insomnia fewer than 3 times a week for less than a month

Typically stems from changes in the environment and a short illness the patient might have had

Chronic Insomnia
This will be diagnosed when a patient suffers from symptoms more than 3 times a week for a period longer than a month When insomnia becomes a chronic problem, it is typically said to be comorbid insomnia

Causes of Insomnia
Often caused by depression or other psychiatric problems

Also caused by excess, lasting stress or racing thoughts at bedtime Symptoms of insomnia also could be cause by other sleeping disorders such as:
Restless Leg Syndrome Sleep Apnea Somnolence

Diagnosing Insomnia
The diagnosis of insomnia can often be difficult and is a prolonged process
Sleep logs Watching symptoms for weeks at a time

It is often very underdiagnosed due to both patient and physician misunderstandings

Doctors dont routinely ask about it Patients dont think its important enough to bring up in a normal check up Goes overlooked

Treatment of Insomnia
Insomnia is not a disorder that can necessarily be cured

Symptoms treated in order to relieve patient of distress

Treated by two different methods
Non-Pharmacological Treatment Pharmacological Treatment

Non-Pharmacological Treatment
This is attempted before the use of pharmacological treatment, typically for at least 2-3 weeks This mainly has to do with attempting to improve sleep habits

The different methods used are:

Improving Sleep Hygiene Stimulus Control Therapy Restrictive Sleep Therapy

Improving Sleep Hygiene

Basically improving comfort when sleeping
Decrease Ambient Noise Go to bed/wake up at a constant time Reduce Lighting Think Positively

Not shown to be particularly effective on its own, though has been seen to be very critical to improving the efficacy of other nonpharmacological treatments

Stimulus Control Therapy

Learn to associate the bedroom with sleep alone
Dont go in the bedroom unless going to sleep Do not go to bed unless tired Leave the bedroom if havent fallen asleep in 15 minutes Be completely relaxed when in bed

This method has been seen to be very effective if used for over a prolonged period of time Improved efficacy if sleep hygiene is also managed

Sleep Restriction Therapy

Restricting sleep during the day Cutting sleep short during certain nights Goal is to be excessively tired when time to sleep at night

Shown the most promising results of all the nonpharmacological therapies and even more effective when sleep hygiene is improved

Pharmacological Treatment
This is the treatment of insomnia with the use of pharmacological agents
Most often prescription agents Some supplements used

4 Classes of Prescription Agents

Benzodiazepines Benzodiazepine Receptor Agonists Melatonin Receptor Agonists Antidepressants/Antipsychotics

Some supplements are thought to help as well

Benzodiazepines
More than 45 years old and are potent hypnotics and anxolytics Improve sleep time, but not usually sleep latency (often one of the more desired effects) Disrupt normal sleep cycles Tend to cause bad hangover effects
Very drowsy the following day Occasional impaired cognition

Extremely high potential for abuse with prolonged use as well as tolerance Drugs in this class are
Estazolam, Flurazepam, Quazepam, Temazepam, and Triazolam

Triazolam Mechanism
Interacts with the GABAA receptor to bind at the post synaptic membrane and induce chloride permeability to inhibit excitation By doing so, hypnotic effects are induced, and inducing sleep is therefore achieved

Improves sleep onset, but not necessarily sleep maintenance

Bad reported rebound insomnia with discontinued use

Pharmacokinetics
This has a very short half-life, as many of the other benzodiazepines, staying in the system about 2-5 hours The amount in the system (AUC) is proportional the dose

Clearance and time for elimination are not dose dependent

Other Benzodiazpeines
Flurazepam

Quazepam

Temezepam

Benzodiazepine Receptor Agonists

Fewer hangover symptoms than benzodiazepines Claim amore restful night sleep

Fewer problems with dependency, though still an issue

Do not show deleterious effects to the sleep cycle Longer half-life than benzodiazepines so help with sleep maintenance Some drugs are dose dependent (Eszopiclone) Few are approved for long-term use: Eszopiclone Drugs in the class include:
Zolpidem, Zaleplon, and Eszopiclone

Eszopiclone (Lunesta) Mechanism

Binds at the omega subunit of the GABAA receptor to increase chloride permeability and decrease excitation of the neuron This subunit is found more in the brain as opposed to the spine where the other class of the GABA receptors are found Thought to be safer than benzodiazepines, but still have serious potential for abuse, and reported rebound insomnia with discontinued use

Pharmacokinetics
This drug does have a relatively fast half-life and elimination time but can be delayed after a high fat meal Both the AUC and the Cmax were seen to be dose dependent in the patients examined

CYP 3A4 and 2E1 were involved in the metabolism of the drug
Mean elimination time was 5.8 hours

Melatonin Receptor Agonists

Newer class of drug Far less potential for abuse and dependency and is the only hypnotic that is not classified as a controlled substance Approved for long-term use more readily than other medications There have been complains of drowsiness, dizziness, and fatigue in the following days after use

Only drug in this class thus far is Ramelteon

Ramelteon Mechanism
This works by selectively binds the Melatonin Receptors (MT)1 and MT2, that are thought to regulate the sleepiness and readjustment of the circadian rhythms, respectively Does not show any addictive or dependency in patients because it does not, nor do any of its metabolites, bind to any large ligand group receptors

Pharmacokinetics
Undergoes extensive first pass metabolism Half-life ranged from 1-3 hours All pharmacokinetic properties have been seen to be dose proportional

Antidepressants/Antipsychot ics
Some physicians prefer this mode of treatment over benzodiazepines because of the far less potential for dependency Can produce anticholinergic effects if used too long:
Constipation Weight Gain

This is mostly used in patients who suffer from comorbid insomnia as a result from depression

Non-Prescription Supplements
There are certain different non-prescription supplements that are also used an thought to be effective These include:
Antihistamines Melatonin Valerian

Antihistamines
Used because many people will experience sleep inducing side effects from this kind of medicine Typically in patients with acute insomnia who need a quick fix for a restless night here and there Tolerance can and most often will be gained if used too much

Melatonin
Naturally produced hormone in the pineal gland This hormone keeps the circadian rhythm There has not been a minimum dose established Not shown to be necessarily effective

Valerian
This is an herb that is thought to interact at the GABAA receptor because of its sedative properties similar to other drugs that act at that receptor Can cause some nausea, upset stomach, dizziness, and long-lasting fatigue Is included on the FDAs Generally Recognized as Safe List

Future Treatments
Most future treatments have to do with other stimulations of the GABA receptor
Some facing problems for their problems in pregnant women and their abuse/dependency issues

There are also trials being done to assess the efficacy of the 5-HT receptor in treating insomnia
Different agonists have shown to improve sleep onset and sleep maintenance

Many other Melatonin Receptor Agonists are also being researched to go alongside Ramelteon in this class of drug

Assigned Reading
Monti, Jaime M. Primary and secondary insomnia: Prevalence, causes and current therapeutics. Current Medicinal Chemistry: Central Nervous System Agents (2004), 4(2), 127-134.

Homework Question
Explain the mechanismm of action of the benzodiazepam class of hypnotic agent.

References
Sullivan, Shannon S.; Guilleminault, Christian. Emerging drugs for insomnia : new frontiers for old and novel targets. Expert Opinion on Emerging Drugs (2009), 14(3), 411-422 Passarella, Stacy; Duong, Minh-Tri. Diagnosis and treatment of insomnia. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy (2008), 65(10), 927-934 Hair, Philip I.; McCormack, Paul L.; Curran, Monique P. Eszopiclone : a review of its use in the treatment of insomnia. Drugs (2008), 68(10), 1415-1434

Silvestri, R.; Ferrillo, F.; Murri, L.; Massetani, R.; Perri, R. Di; Rosadini, G.; Montesano, A.; Borghi, C.; Giclais, B. De La. Rebound insomnia after abrupt discontinuation of hypnotic treatment: Double-blind randomized comparison of zolpidem versus triazolam. Human Psychopharmacology (1996), 11(3), 225-233
Nguyen, Nancy N.; Yu, Susan S.; Song, Jessica C. Ramelteon : a novel melatonin receptor agonist for the treatment of insomnia. Formulary (2005), 40(5), 146-150, 152-155