Sleep disturbances in menopausal women: Aetiology and practical aspects.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the role of melatonin in treating primary insomnia in menopausal women.
Results Summary
Melatonin was identified as a preferential treatment option for primary insomnia in menopausal women, alongside non-benzodiazepine hypnotics and cognitive behavioral therapy. The abstract does not provide specific efficacy data for melatonin but positions it as a recommended therapeutic option.
Population
Menopausal women with primary insomnia.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
non-benzodiazepine hypnotics | neutral | primary insomnia | Patients suffering from primary insomnia | - | will be preferentially treated | #1 |
melatonin | neutral | primary insomnia | Patients suffering from primary insomnia | - | will be preferentially treated | #2 |
cognitive behavioural therapy | neutral | primary insomnia | Patients suffering from primary insomnia | - | will be preferentially treated | #3 |
hormone replacement therapy | increase | Insomnia related to vasomotor symptoms | - | - | can be improved | #4 |
Gabapentin | increase | Insomnia related to vasomotor symptoms | - | - | have also shown efficacy | #5 |
isoflavones | increase | Insomnia related to vasomotor symptoms | - | - | have also shown efficacy | #6 |
continuous positive airway pressure | neutral | OSA | patients suffering from OSA | - | will be applied | #7 |
oral appliance | neutral | OSA | patients suffering from OSA | - | will be applied | #8 |
dopaminergic agonists | neutral | RLS | patients with moderate to severe disease | - | are the first-line treatment | #9 |
Sleep deteriorates with age. The menopause is often a turning point for women's sleep, as complaints of insomnia increase significantly thereafter. Insomnia can occur as a secondary disorder to hot flashes, mood disorders, medical conditions, psychosocial factors, underlying intrinsic sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) or restless legs syndrome (RLS), or it can be a primary disorder. Since unrecognized OSA can have dramatic health-related consequences, menopausal women complaining of persisting sleep disturbances suggesting primary insomnia or intrinsic sleep disorders should be referred to a sleep specialist for a comprehensive sleep assessment. Patients suffering from primary insomnia will be preferentially treated with non-benzodiazepine hypnotics or melatonin, or with cognitive behavioural therapy. Insomnia related to vasomotor symptoms can be improved with hormone replacement therapy. Gabapentin and isoflavones have also shown efficacy in small series but their precise role has yet to be established. In patients suffering from OSA, non-pharmacological therapy will be applied: continuous positive airway pressure or an oral appliance, according to the severity of the disorder. In the case of RLS, triggering factors must be avoided; dopaminergic agonists are the first-line treatment for moderate to severe disease. In conclusion, persisting sleep complaints should be addressed in menopausal women, in order to correctly diagnose the specific causal disorder and to prescribe treatments that have been shown to improve sleep quality, quality of life and long-term health status.