skip to content
Dovepress - Open Access to Scientific and Medical Research
View our mobile site

8852

Role of 5-HT2A receptor antagonists in the treatment of insomnia

Review

(2422) Views  (946) Full article downloads

Authors: Kimberly E Vanover, Robert E Davis

Published Date July 2010 Volume 2010:2 Pages 139 - 150
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/NSS.S6849

Kimberly E Vanover1, Robert E Davis2

1Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc., New York; 23-D Pharmaceutical Consultants, San Diego, California, USA

Abstract: Insomnia encompasses a difficulty in falling asleep (sleep-onset insomnia) and/or a difficulty in staying asleep (SMI). Several selective serotonin-2A (5-HT2A) receptor ­antagonists have been in development as potential treatments for SMI. However, none have shown a ­sufficiently robust benefit-to-risk ratio, and none have reached market approval. We review the role of the 5-HT2A mechanism in sleep, the preclinical and clinical data supporting a role for 5-HT2A receptor antagonism in improving sleep maintenance, and the status of 5-HT2A receptor antagonists in clinical development. Overall, the polysomnography data strongly support an increase in slow-wave sleep and a decrease in waking after sleep onset following treatment with 5-HT2A receptor antagonists, although it has been more difficult to show subjective improvements in sleep with these agents. The incidence and prevalence of SMI, whether primary or secondary to psychiatric, neurologic, or other medical conditions, will increase as our population ages. There will be an increased need for safe and efficacious treatments of insomnia characterized by difficulty maintaining sleep, and there remains much promise for 5-HT2A receptor antagonism to play a role in these future treatments.

Keywords: 5-HT2A, insomnia, serotonin, slow-wave sleep, wake after sleep onset







Readers of this article also read:
  • Testimonials

    "You do a tremendous job!!" Ruben Restrepo, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio