Effect of Atypical Antipsychotic Usage at Therapeutic Doses on Daytime Sleepiness

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of using atypical antipsychotic drug usage at therapeutic doses on daytime sleepiness. One hundred twenty volunteers who met the inclusion-exclusion criteria were divided into two equal groups. Group 1: patient group (60 patients volunteers used atypical antipsychotic in therapeutic doses and hospitalized in the psychiatry clinic of Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University Hospital and Group 2: control group (60 control volunteers). Socio-demographic and Clinical Information Form consist of 14 questions was administration all volunteers. Also, Epworth Sleepiness Scale which is a survey that determines the degree of sleepiness in eight different situations during the day was administered to all volunteers. Atypical antipsychotic drug usage at therapeutic doses significantly increased patients’ daytime sleepiness compared to the control group. Among the atypical antipsychotic drugs usage in therapeutic dose, the drug that caused the most daytime sleepiness was clozapine. Also, using of atypical antipsychotic drugs in therapeutic doses markedly decreased patients’ life quality compared to the control group. Atypical antipsychotic drug usage at therapeutic doses could cause daytime sleepiness and reduce patients’ quality of life.