Equivalent Effects of Acute Tryptophan Depletion on REM Sleep in Ecstasy Users and Controls

Overview

Journal Psychopharmacology (Berl)

Specialty Pharmacology

Date 2009 Jul 9

PMID 19585107

Citations 5

Authors

Robin L Carhart-Harris

David J Nutt

Marcus R Munafo

David M Christmas

Sue J Wilson

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: This study sought to test the association between 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine use, serotonergic function and sleep.

Materials And Methods: Ambulatory polysomnography was used to measure three nights sleep in 12 ecstasy users and 12 controls after screening (no intervention), a tryptophan-free amino acid mixture (acute tryptophan depletion (ATD)) and a tryptophan-supplemented control mixture.

Results: ATD significantly decreased rapid eye movement (REM) sleep onset latency, increased the amount of REM sleep and increased the amount of stage 2 sleep in the first 3 h of sleep. There was no difference between ecstasy users' and controls' sleep on the screening night or after ATD.

Discussion: These findings imply that the ecstasy users had not suffered significant serotonergic damage as indexed by sleep.

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