The Effect of Four-Week Administration of Amitriptyline on Sleep Bruxism. A Double-Blind Crossover Clinical Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a tricyclic antidepressant (amitriptyline) on nocturnal masseteric activity and duration of sleep in bruxists. Using a randomized, double blind, crossover design, ten females (mean age 39 yrs, +/- sd seven yrs) received active (amitriptyline 25 mg/night) and inactive (placebo 25 mg/night) medication, over a period of four weeks each. A portable EMG integrator recorded the nocturnal, unilateral, and cumulative myoelectrical activity (microV/min of sleep) of the masseter muscle during the fourth and eighth weeks of the study. The results showed that amitriptyline did not significantly decrease the mean EMG activity (df = 9, alpha = 0.05, paired-t = 0.892, p = 0.3964), nor did it significantly increase the duration of sleep (df = 9, alpha = 0.05, paired-t = 2.140, p = 0.061). The results of this study do not support the administration of 25 mg of amitriptyline per night over a period of four weeks for the management of sleep bruxism.