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Use of Eszopiclone and Zolpidem for PTSD (Contextual Memory)

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Research report

Abstract

At present, eszopiclone and zolpidem are the most commonly prescribed drugs for treating insomnia. Despite the established relationship between sleep disturbance and anxiety, it remains unknown whether targeted treatment for insomnia may affect acute anxiety. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the effects of three different doses (1, 3, and 10 mg/kg) of eszopiclone and zolpidem on the states of sleep and wakefulness, levels of anxiety-like behavior, and long-term contextual memory in footshock-induced anxious rats.

The results of this study demonstrated that the administration of eszopiclone and zolpidem both were equally effective in attenuating footshock stressor-induced suppression of slow-wave sleep (SWS).

The administration of eszopiclone at 1 mg/kg or zolpidem at 1 and 3 mg/kg doses showed a tendency for attenuating stressor-induced suppression of REM sleep. However, the REM sleep attenuating effects of these drugs disappeared when they were administered at higher doses.

The administration of eszopiclone at 3 and 10 mg/kg doses and zolpidem at all three doses reduced the power of electroencephalographic theta band frequencies during wakefulness.

In addition, the administration of eszopiclone at 1 and 3 mg/kg doses suppressed stressor-induced anxiety-like behavior.

The administration of zolpidem at 1, 3, or 10 mg/kg doses was not effective in attenuating stressor-induced anxiety-like behavior.

Contextual memory after administration of eszopiclone at 1 mg/kg dose had no effects, but was reduced significantly with increased dosage.

Contextual memory after administration of zolpidem, at all three doses, was severely disrupted.

The results of this study suggest that eszopiclone at a low dose could be used effectively to control anxiety and anxiety-induced insomnia.

AUTHOR/AFFILIATIONS

Max P. Huanga, Kushan Radadiaa, Brian W. Maconea, Sanford H. Auerbacha, b and Subimal Dattaa, b, c, ,

a Laboratory of Sleep and Cognitive Neurosciences, Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, 85 East Newton Street, M-902, Boston, MA 02118, USA

b Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, 85 East Newton Street, M-902, Boston, MA 02118, USA

c Department of Neuroscience, Boston University School of Medicine, 85 East Newton Street, M-902, Boston, MA 02118, USA

CITATION

Huang MP, Radadia K, Macone BW, et al. Effects of eszopiclone and zolpidem on sleep-wake behavior, anxiety-like behavior and contextual memory in rats. Behavioural Brain Research. 2010;210(1):54-66. Available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6SYP-4YCFYWM-4/2/fcd409498437f22e121476e93d2771d2 [Accessed July 16, 2010].

KEYWORDS

Eszopiclone; Zolpidem; REM sleep; Slow-wave sleep; Wakefulness; Anxiety; Contextual memory; Rat

Posted in Drug Therapy, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder by MHMMG, 16 July 2010 3:05 pm

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