Efavirenz Disrupts Normal Sleep Patterns

A sleep study confirms multiple EEG abnormalities in efavirenz-treated patients with difficulty sleeping and correlates the findings with serum drug levels.

HIV infection itself has been implicated in sleep disturbances, and efavirenz, with its good CNS penetration, is notorious for causing insomnia and vivid dreams. Often these effects abate after a few weeks of treatment, but some patients on the drug report long-term sleep problems.

Researchers in Spain screened 26 efavirenz-treated patients for other potential causes of sleep disturbance (mental illness, alcohol or drug use, dependence on sleeping pills), then assigned the 18 patients without these risks to keep a detailed sleep diary for a week. Patients also were administered a detailed sleep questionnaire. Results of these tests divided the group into 13 with insomnia and 5 without. All 18 patients then had morning efavirenz blood levels …

Reviewing Author

Abigail Zuger, MD

Efavirenz Disrupts Normal Sleep Patterns

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Reviewing Author