Propranolol and the Treatment of Sleep Attacks
Authors: ROBERT W. CLARK
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1980)

Letters and Corrections1 May 1980Propranolol and the Treatment of Sleep AttacksROBERT W. CLARK, M.D.ROBERT W. CLARK, M.D.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-92-5-718_2 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTo the editor: We read with interest the recent report of Kales and colleagues (1) of use of propranolol in four patients with narcolepsy. We recently documented beta-adrenergic hyperresponsiveness in patients with narcolepsy and related conditions of impaired wakefulness (2) by observation of abnormal, excessive increases in heart rate during intravenous infusion of isoproterenol, a procedure that frequently provoked panic attacks in such patients but not in control subjects. Other data similarly suggested increased adrenergic tone in these subjects, and their autonomic instability seemed analogous to a behavioral tendency to swing between extremes of lethargy and anxious, almost hyperactive behavior....References1. KALESSOLDATOSCADIEUXBIXLERTANSCHARF ACRETM: Propranolol in the treatment of narcolepsy. Ann Intern Med. 1979;91:741-3. LinkGoogle Scholar2. CLARKBOUDOULASSCHAALSCHMIDT RHSH. Adrenergic hyperactivity and cardiac abnormality in primary disorders of sleep. Neurology. 1980. In press. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. SCHMIDTCLARK HR. Hypersomnia, narcolepsy-cataplexy syndrome, and sleep apnea: treatment with protriptyline and pemoline. Sleep Res. 1977;61:179. Google Scholar4. SCHMIDTCLARKHYMAN HRP. Protriptyline—effective treatment for disorders of excessive sleep. Am J Psychiatry. 1977;130:2-9. Google Scholar1. NICKERSONCOLLIER MB. Drugs inhibiting adrenergic nerves and structures innervated by them. In: GOODMAN L, GILMAN B, eds. The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, Inc.; 1975:533-64. Google Scholar2. GREENBLATTSHADER DR. On the psychopharmacology of beta adrenergic blockade. Curr Ther Res. 1972;14:615-25. MedlineGoogle Scholar3. SCHMIDTCLARKHYMAN HRP. Protriptyline: an effective agent in the treatment of the narcolepsy-cataplexy syndrome and hypersomnia. Am J Psychiatry. 1977;134:183-5. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. TAKAHASHI S. The action of tricyclics (alone or in combination with methylphenidate) upon several symptoms of narcolepsy. In: GUILLEMINAULT C, DEMENT WC, PASSOUANT P, eds. Narcolepsy. New York: Spectrum Publications, Inc.; 1976:625-42. Google Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byThe Heart and Endocrine DiseasesWie steht es um die medikamentöse Therapie bei schlafbezogenen Atmungsstörungen?The relationship between systemic hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea: Facts and theoryEffects of nasal continuous positive airway pressure on blood pressure and body mass index in obstructive sleep apnoeaSleep Apnea and Essential Hypertension: A Critical Review of the Epidemiological Evidence for Co-MorbidityCentral nervous system effects of beta-adrenergic-blocking drugs: the role of ancillary properties.Undiagnosed Sleep Apnea in Patients with Essential HypertensionEUGENE C. FLETCHER, M.D., RICHARD D. DeBEHNKE, M.D., MICHAEL S. LOVOI, B.A., ARNOLD B. GORIN, M.D. 1 May 1980Volume 92, Issue 5Page: 718-719KeywordsBehaviorHeart rateIsoproterenolNarcolepsyPanic disorderSleep Issue Published: 1 May 1980 PDF downloadLoading ...