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Rivastigmine-induced REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) in a 88-year-old man with Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract
We report the case of an 88-year-old man with Alzheimer's disease (AD) of 8 years duration (emerging shortly after the de novo onset of sleeptalking) who developed REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) after increasing the nightly dose of rivastigmine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, from 1.5 mg to 3 mg (total daily dose, 4.5 mg), as therapy for his dementia. His family then became aware of recurrent nocturnal episodes arising from sleep of his leaving bed, and he sustained multiple abrasion injuries from falling down. Polysomnography (PSG), utilizing a seizure montage with fast paper speed, conducted with the patient taking rivastigmine 3 mg at bedtime, documented 3 abrupt episodes of bilateral arm-waving with moaning and shouting that emerged exclusively during each of the 3 REM sleep periods, with the duration of the episodes lasting 8 to 25 seconds. No epileptiform discharge appeared with the onset of these REM sleep behaviors. Therapy with clonazepam, 0.5 mg at bedtime (with ongoing 3 mg bedtime and 4.5 mg total daily rivastigmine therapy), fully suppressed the sleep-related events, with prompt relapse whenever clonazepam was not taken. This is the second reported case (both males with AD) of rivastigmine-induced RBD, and the oldest reported case of RBD; and it represents reversible, medication-induced, acute RBD.
AuthorsShih-Bin Yeh, Po-Yen Yeh, Carlos H Schenck
JournalJournal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (J Clin Sleep Med) Vol. 6 Issue 2 Pg. 192-5 (Apr 15 2010) ISSN: 1550-9389 [Print] United States
PMID20411699 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
Chemical References
  • Anticonvulsants
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors
  • Phenylcarbamates
  • Clonazepam
  • Rivastigmine
Topics
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alzheimer Disease (complications, drug therapy)
  • Anticonvulsants (therapeutic use)
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
  • Clonazepam (therapeutic use)
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Phenylcarbamates (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
  • Polysomnography
  • REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (chemically induced, complications, drug therapy)
  • Rivastigmine
  • Taiwan
  • Treatment Outcome

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