The effects of long term administration of psychotropic drugs on human sleep: II. The effects of reserpine

Reserpine 0.50 mg/day was administered over a period of four weeks to a group of normal young males. Laboratory sleep, home sleep, and mood were studied throughout the period of administration and for a month afterwards. Results were compared to identically administered long-term placebo.Total sleep was slightly increased at first; D-time and the number of D-periods were clearly increased by reserpine. These effects were prominent from day three, through the second week. D-latency and length of the sleep-dream cycle was decreased. Subjective aspects of sleep were not greatly changed. Mood scales indicated an increase in fatigue and a decrease in vigor during reserpine administration.This work was supported in part by National Institute of Mental Health Grant # MH 14520.