Sleeping disorders during nicotinic withdrawal syndrome

Introduction: Insomnia, lively dreaming and nighttime awakening are very common sleeping disorders in nicotinic withdrawal syndrome (NWS) but treatment available are often ineffective. Aim: To describe most common sleeping disorders during smoking cessation process and analyze the influence of treatment and several variables in the onset and evolution. Materials and Methods: Sleeping disorders of 341 subjects were studied prospectively during two months by using the item of nighttime awakenings from Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale (MNWS). Patients were classified in four groups according to the treatment prescribed during smoking cessation. Results: Sleeping disorders appeared at the beginning of nicotinic cessation and improved from the 19th day. Nighttime awakenings of patients with high nicotinic dependency under Fagerström test needed less time to improve than those with moderate dependency. Patients aged between 51 and 65 years old who lived in urban areas got better earlier. There were not differences in terms of gender. When comparing cognitive-behavioral therapy with Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and Varenicline, patients improved sooner with drug therapies. There were not differences between cognitive-behavioral and drug therapies. Varenicline showed earlier results than NRT. Conclusions: -Sleeping disorders got better significantly from 19th day until the end of nicotinic cessation. -Symptoms of NWS improved earlier in patients who had high level of dependency, aged 50-65 years old, lived in urban environment and were treated with varenicline.