Trazodone changed the polysomnographic sleep architecture in insomnia disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis, 2022, Zheng et al

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Trazodone changed the polysomnographic sleep architecture in insomnia disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Zheng, Yongliang; Lv, Tian; Wu, Jingjing; Lyu, Yumeng

Abstract
Trazodone has been widely prescribed for off-label use as a sleep aid. Identifying how trazodone impacts the performance of polysomnographic sleep architecture in insomnia disorder will provide additional data that can be used to guide clinical application.

To assess the efficacy of trazodone in altering the polysomnographic sleep architecture in insomnia disorder so that sleep can be facilitated. PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (SinoMed), China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, and the China Science and Technology Journal Database were searched for articles published between inception and June 2022. RCTs in patients with insomnia disorder applying trazodone in one arm of interventions at least 1 week, and reporting PSG parameters in the outcomes were eligible. RoB 2 was used to evaluate the risk of bias. The results of quality of evidence assessed by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. When I2 < 50%, the fixed effects model was used. When I2 ≥ 50%, the random effects model was used. The mean differences (MD) or standardized mean differences (SMD) and odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated.

Eleven randomized controlled trials were selected and participants were 466. Risk of bias was low in 5 trials (45.5%), and was moderate in 6 (54.5%). Compared with the control group, trazodone significantly increased total sleep time (TST, min) (MD = 39.88, 95% CI 14.44–65.32, P = 0.002) and non-rapid eye movement stage 3 (N3, mixed min and %) (SMD = 1.61, 95% CI 0.69–2.53, P = 0.0006); trazodone significantly decreased latency to onset of persistent sleep (LPS, min) (MD = − 19.30, 95% CI − 37.28 to − 1.32, P = 0.04), non-rapid eye movement stage 1 (N1, mixed min and %) (SMD = − 0.62, 95% CI − 1.13 to − 0.12, P = 0.02), the number of awakenings (NAs, including both arousal times and arousal index) (SMD = − 0.67, 95% CI − 0.91 to − 0.42, P < 0.00001), and waking time after persistent sleep onset (WASO, mixed min and %) (SMD = − 0.42, 95% CI − 0.81, − 0.03, P = 0.04), with no obvious effect on non-rapid eye movement stage 2 (N2, mixed min and %) (SMD = − 0.15, 95% CI − 0.41 to 0.11, P = 0.25), rapid eye movement (REM, mixed min and %) (SMD = 0.22, 95% CI − 0.26 to 0.70, P = 0.37), rapid eye movement latency (REML, min) (MD = 2.33, 95% CI − 27.56 to 32.22, P = 0.88), or apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) (MD = − 4.21, 95% CI − 14.02 to 5.59, P = 0.40). Daytime drowsiness (OR = 2.53, 95% CI 1.14–5.64, P = 0.02) and decreased appetite (OR = 2.81, 95% CI 1.14–6.92, P = 0.02) occurred with greater frequency in the trazodone group as compared to the control group, and the differences were significant.

The results of quality of evidence were very low in TST, N3 and AHI, were low in LPS, WASO and REM, and were moderate in N1 and NAs. The sources of heterogeneity in TST and N3 were not found out from sensitive and subgroup analysis and there was no high quality of evidence in outcomes by GRADE Assessment. Trials with combination of other therapy could be a problem in this meta-analysis as the possibility of interactions were found from sungroup analysis.

Trazodone could improve sleep by changing the sleep architecture in insomnia disorder, but it should be used with caution due to the adverse events that may occur.

PROSPERO registration register name: The effect of trazodone on polysomnography sleep architecture in patients with insomnia: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol; Registration Number CRD42020215332.

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AI summary

Here’s a much simpler, plain-language explanation of that whole passage:

Researchers wanted to understand how trazodone, a medication often used off-label to help people sleep, affects the structure of sleep when measured by a sleep study (polysomnography) in people with insomnia.

To do this, they searched many medical databases for randomized controlled trials (high-quality studies) where trazodone was given for at least 1 week, and where sleep-study results were reported. They found 11 studies with 466 people.

What they found


Compared to people who did not get trazodone, those who took trazodone:

Improved:


  • Total sleep time increased (about 40 minutes more sleep)
  • Deep sleep (N3) increased
  • Time it takes to fall asleep decreased (they fell asleep ~19 minutes faster)
  • Light sleep (N1) decreased
  • Number of awakenings decreased
  • Time awake during the night after falling asleep decreased

No meaningful change in:

  • Stage N2 sleep
  • REM sleep or REM percentage
  • Time it takes to enter REM sleep
  • Breathing-related sleep problems (apnea–hypopnea index)

Side effects that happened more often with trazodone:

  • Daytime sleepiness
  • Decreased appetite

Strength of the evidence


The overall quality of the evidence was low to very low for most outcomes. This means the results are not rock-solid and could change with better studies. Some studies also used trazodone along with other treatments, which may have influenced the results.

Bottom line

Trazodone may help improve sleep in people with insomnia by increasing total sleep time and deep sleep and decreasing awakenings.


However, the evidence is not strong, and trazodone can cause side effects—especially daytime drowsiness—so it should be used carefully.
 
Ask the pharmacists. They know best because they actually talk to patients who tell them that low dose trazodone works great short and long term. It's non-addictive with no withdrawal symptoms when you stop. That was the case for me.
 
Ok, but my ME physician and GP both in practice for over 35 say yes. My ME doctor who has treated pwME insomnia for over 20 years and my GP over 35 years have had good experience with trazodone.

I asked the pharmacist why they prescribed an anti-depressant for insomnia, and she told me that they use trazodone mostly for insomnia now because it works well. That was over 20yrs ago.
 
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