Doxazosin improved COVID-19 associated nightmare in a patient with major depressive disorder: a case report with a positive rechallenge.
Hikaru Hori
International Clinical Psychopharmacology July 1, 2021 DOI: 10.1097/yic.0000000000000364 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A 71-year-old Japanese woman with major depressive disorder experiencing nightmares after the COVID-19 pandemic |
| Intervention | Doxazosin |
| Dose | 1 mg daily in the morning |
| Topics | Depression Dreaming |
| Keywords | Humans Doxazosin Dreams Aged Female Covid-19 Sars-cov-2 |
| Key findings | In this single case, adding doxazosin 1 mg daily in the morning led to remission of nightmares without side effects, and a rechallenge regimen stopped the nightmares on the second night with no return during continued treatment. The authors suggest doxazosin may be a useful therapeutic option for nightmares in individuals with major depressive disorder. |
Abstract
This article reports on the treatment of a patient with nightmares who was treated with doxazosin of an alpha 1-adrenergic antagonists. A 71-year-old Japanese major depressive disorder (MDD) woman experienced nightmares after the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. She had nightmares about being chased by a coronavirus and catching the corona virus. After adding doxazosin 1 mg daily in the morning, her nightmares led to remission without side effects. We also had a rechallenge regimen with doxazosin. The nightmares ceased on the second night of the rechallenge and did not return with continued treatment. This case report suggests that doxazosin may be a useful therapeutic option to target nightmares in individuals with MDD.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on dreaming, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucid Dreaming as a Learnable Skill: A Case Study The author | 1980 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Lucid Dreaming as a Treatment for Recurrent Nightmares People with recurrent nightmares | 2010 | Case study | n = 5 |
| Treating Chronic Nightmares of Sexual Assault Survivors with an Intellectual Disability – Two Descriptive Case Studies Adults with learning disabilities suffering from post-traumatic nightmares | 2006 | Case study | n = 2 |
| Lucid dreaming: Correspondence between dreamed and actual events in one subject during rem sleep A lucid dreamer | 1984 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Lucid dreaming treatment for nightmares: A series of cases. Participants with nightmares | 2003 | Case series | n = 8 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
Cites 2
- Comparative efficacy of imagery rehearsal therapy and prazosin in the treatment of trauma-related nightmares in adults: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Sleep Medicine Reviews April 1, 2020
- A Meta-analysis of Imagery Rehearsal for Post-trauma Nightmares: Effects on Nightmare Frequency, Sleep Quality, and Posttraumatic Stress Clinical Psychology Review June 30, 2012