Diclofenac potassium restores objective and subjective measures of sleep quality in women with primary dysmenorrhea

Altered sleep and diurnal consequences in women with dysmenorrhea: study from the EPISONO database

PURPOSE

Our study aimed to identify alterations in sleep, inflammatory mediators, fatigue and quality of life in women with dysmenorrhea and compare them to women without dysmenorrhea.

METHODS

The sample comprised 328 women from a Brazilian cross-sectional sleep study, EPISONO (2007), who had undergone 1-night polysomnography (PSG) type I and completed questionnaires related to sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, insomnia, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and quality of life. Blood samples were used to assess levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and C-reactive protein (CRP). The 2 groups were distributed based on the presence or absence of dysmenorrhea symptoms.

RESULTS

Sleep efficiency was significantly lower in the group of women with dysmenorrhea (82.5% ± 13.8) compared to the non-dysmenorrhea group (86.2% ± 10.9). Dysmenorrhea was associated with significantly higher scores of fatigue and worse scores in the physical quality of life. No statistical differences were detected in inflammatory markers between the 2 groups.

DISCUSSION

Fatigue and physical quality of life were presented in women with dysmenorrhea, as was reduced sleep efficiency, although no alteration on inflammatory markers were observed.

CONCLUSION

These findings show that dysmenorrhea can have a deleterious effect on women's sleep, with repercussions on daily routines and quality of life.

Menstrual-Cycle Symptoms and Sleep Characteristics in Elite Soccer Players

PURPOSE

To determine whether menstrual-cycle symptoms are associated with sleep in elite female athletes.

METHODS

Sleep was assessed for a minimum of 25 nights (range = 25-31) using activity monitoring and sleep diaries. Menstrual-cycle symptoms were collected over the same duration in 12 elite female professional soccer players. Generalized estimating equations were used to examine the relationship between the day of the menstrual cycle (from day 1) and total menstrual-cycle symptoms on sleep characteristics.

RESULTS

There was a significant relationship between sleep duration and the day of the menstrual cycle (P = .042) and total symptoms reported that day (P < .001), with sleep duration increasing by 21 minutes for every symptom reported. There was a negative day × symptom interaction on sleep duration (P = .004), indicating that with increased symptoms, the day of the menstrual cycle had a smaller relationship with sleep duration. Sleep efficiency (P = .950), wake after sleep onset (P = .217), and subjective sleep quality (P = .080) were not related to the day of the menstrual cycle. The total symptoms reported had no relationship with sleep efficiency (P = .220), subjective sleep quality (P = .502), or sleep latency (P = .740) but did significantly relate to wake after sleep onset (P < .001), with a significant day × symptom interaction (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Sleep duration increased from day 1 of the menstrual cycle and was associated with the number of menstrual-cycle symptoms reported. All other sleep metrics remained unchanged; however, total symptoms reported were related to wake after sleep onset. Monitoring and managing menstrual-cycle symptoms should be encouraged due to a potential relationship with sleep characteristics.

Dysmenorrhea and Sleep: A Review

This review encompasses the clinical features and relevance to investigate sleep in women with dysmenorrhea. Dysmenorrhea is a prevalent gynecologic dysfunction that affects the social and professional lives of women. It can occur at every menstrual cycle, depending on the cause and psychologic factors. Studies have reported poor sleep and insomnia symptoms in dysmenorrhea condition, which may intensify the dysmenorrhea manifestation and interfere negatively to its treatment. There is an urgent need to identify the main cause of this dysfunction and provide efficient treatments to minimize the detrimental effects of dysmenorrhea in quality of life of these women.

The Menstrual Cycle and Sleep

Aspects of sleep change across the menstrual cycle in some women. Poorer sleep quality in the premenstrual phase and menstruation is common in women with premenstrual symptoms or painful menstrual cramps. Although objective sleep continuity remains unchanged across the regular, asymptomatic menstrual cycle, activity in the sleep electroencephalogram varies, with a prominent increase in sleep spindle activity in the postovulatory luteal phase, when progesterone is present, relative to the follicular phase. Menstrual cycle phase, reproductive stage, and menstrual-related disorders should be considered when assessing women's sleep complaints.

Scientific Knowledge Graph of Dysmenorrhea: A Bibliometric Analysis from 2001 to 2021

Purpose

This study aims to help researchers master the most active hotspots and trends quickly through bibliometric analysis in the field of dysmenorrhea.

Methods

We retrieved literature on Web of Science from 2001 to 2021, and bibliometric analysis software CiteSpace was used in combination with VOSviewer.

Results

We finally acquired 944 papers and an upward trend in articles continued in this field overall. Through the map, China contributed the most, followed by the USA and Turkey. For institutions, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine in China contributed the most, followed by National Yang-Ming University in Taiwan, China. Hsieh JC and Hellman KM were both the most prolific authors with 14 articles. Five major research groups, respectively, with Hsieh JC, Hellman KM, Zhu J, Liang F and Dun W were the key group. Dawood MY was the most dominant author and most frequently cited author. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews Journal was the most productive, and the Fertility and Sterility Journal was the most cited. Advances in pathogenesis and management for primary dysmenorrhea written by Dawood MY was most cited and influential. Pathophysiology, the potential central mechanism, syndrome, evaluation index, diagnosis of adenomyosis-associated dysmenorrhea, treatment, etc., were the main trends and hotspots.

Conclusion

Dysmenorrhea research has received a lot of attention from scholars. Strengthening international cooperation may promote the development of this field. The pathophysiology of dysmenorrhea, its impact on public health and its treatment are current research hotspots and are likely to be the focus of future study.

Dysmenorrhea and Quality of Life: A Cross-Sectional Survey Among Medical Students

Background: Primary dysmenorrhea is a prevalent condition characterized by menstrual pain in the absence of pelvic pathology, which can affect quality of life (QOL). Objectives: This study aimed to assess the QOL in medical students with dysmenorrhea in Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 298 female students between December 2021 and August 2022. The EQ-5D-3L questionnaire was used to assess the QOL of subjects. Also, age, weight, height, sleep hours per day, and exercise hours per week were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. The chi-squared test and Fisher’s exact test were used for data analysis. Results: The mean age of students was 20.32 ± 3.19 years, and the prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 83.6% (n = 249). There was a significant difference in daily activity (P < 0.05) and exercise hours per week (P < 0.05) between the two groups. Pain and discomfort were remarkably higher in group with dysmenorrhea (P < 0.01). In addition, personal care was significantly reduced among subjects with dysmenorrhea (P < 0.05). Sleep hours per day, body mass index (BMI), age, mobility, and anxiety were similar between the two groups. Conclusions: According to our results, dysmenorrhea was significantly related to impaired QOL, considering some aspects such as daily activity.

24-hour urinary potassium excretion is negatively associated with self-reported sleep quality in the general population, independently of sleep-disordered breathing

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To investigate the association of 24-hour urinary potassium excretion with self-reported sleep quality in the general population.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, a population of patients aged 18 years or older was randomly selected from Xinjiang, China in 2019, 24-hour urine samples collected, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaires assessed. Participants were divided into 2 groups (upper and lower median of 24-hour urinary potassium excretion). Poor sleep quality was defined as PSQI global score ≥ 6. Associations between 24-hour urinary potassium excretion and [24.8 mmol/L] sleep quality were assessed by multiple logistic regression analysis in total participants and those stratified by sex.

RESULTS

In total, 24-hour urine samples were collected from 1,147 participants, of whom data for those with complete urine samples and PSQI data were analyzed (n = 727; mean age = 48.7 years; percentage of women = 62%). Compared with the upper median group for 24-hour urinary potassium excretion, the lower median group showed a significantly higher PSQI global score (6 vs 5, P = .011), and prevalence of poor sleep quality (51.7% vs 42.2%, P = .011). In a fully-adjusted model of multivariate logistic regression, the lower median group showed 1.50-fold increased odds for presence of poor sleep quality (95% confidence interval: 1.01-2.24, P = .045). Sex-specific analyses translated these results to women, but not to men.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that low potassium intake, indicated by lower potassium excretion, is associated with poor sleep quality in the general population, especially among women. Therefore, additional research is necessary to clarify the effect of increasing potassium intake to improve sleep quality.

CITATION

Li M, Heizhati M, Wang L, et al. 24-hour urinary potassium excretion is negatively associated with self-reported sleep quality in the general population, independently of sleep-disordered breathing. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(11):2589-2596.

Drug-Induced Insomnia and Excessive Sleepiness

Undesirable side effects of insomnia and/or sleepiness may occur with many prescribed drugs, psychotropics as well as non-psychotropics. These central nervous system effects can be explained by the interactions of the drug with any of the numerous neurotransmitters and receptors that are involved in sleep and wakefulness. Also a close - sometimes bidirectional - relationship between disease and (disturbed) sleep/wakefulness is often present e.g. in chronic pain; drug effects may lead this vicious circle in both ways. Besides the importance for health and quality of life, effects on sleep or waking function can be a potential source of non-compliance.

Eletroestimulação no controle da dor na dismenorreia primária

RESUMO A dismenorreia primária é um distúrbio ginecológico caracterizado por dores cíclicas na lombar e abdômen inferior, com alta prevalência entre jovens, contribuindo para o absenteísmo. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos da eletroterapia de baixa e média frequência em 30 participantes do sexo feminino, entre 18-26 anos, com queixa de dismenorreia primária. As participantes foram divididas em grupos que receberam: corrente TENS (frequência de 100 Hz e duração de pulso de 100 µs), corrente aussie (portadora de 4Khz modulada em 100 Hz com bursts de 4ms) e placebo (colocação dos eletrodos com o aparelho desligado). Todos os grupos eletroestimulados foram tratados com corrente no limiar sensorial e ajuste da intensidade a cada cinco minutos, sendo o tempo total de 30 minutos. Para a avaliação foi coletado a dor durante o ciclo menstrual (EVA), influência da dor nas atividades de vida diária e qualidade do sono (escalas visuais análogas do sono). Após análise estatística, conclui-se que houve redução significativa do quadro álgico em todos os grupos, sendo a corrente superior ao placebo. Em relação às AVD, todos os grupos apresentaram diferença significativa, e o grupo corrente aussie foi o único que obteve melhora nos três dias avaliados, mantendo o efeito analgésico tardio maior em comparação aos demais. A qualidade de sono pouco se alterou após os tratamentos propostos, necessitando de estudos futuros para fundamentar essa variável.

Electrostimulation in pain control in primary dysmenorrhea

ABSTRACT Primary dysmenorrhea is a gynecological disorder characterized by a cyclic pain in the lower back and abdomen, with a high prevalence among young women, which contributes to absenteeism. This study aimed to assess the effects of low and medium frequency electrotherapy in 30 women, aged from 18 to 26 years, who suffer from primary dysmenorrhea. Participants were divided into groups that received the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation current (frequency of 100Hz and 100μs pulses), Aussie current (4kHz carrier frequency, modulated at 100Hz, and 4ms bursts), and placebo (electrodes placed with the machine turned off). All treated groups received electrical current at the sensory threshold and its intensity was adjusted every five minutes. The treatment lasted 30 minutes. For the evaluation, pain during the menstrual cycle (via VAS), pain interference in activities of daily living (ADL), and sleep quality (via VAS sleep quality) were collected. After statistical analysis, pain reduced significantly in all groups evaluated, with better outcomes for the currents than for the placebo. Although all groups showed significant difference regarding ADL, the Aussie group was the only one that improved pain in all days evaluated. Sleep quality changed little after treatment, thus, further studies are required to assess this variable.

The effects of long-term menstrual pain on pain empathy in women with primary dysmenorrhea

ABSTRACT

Primary dysmenorrhea (PDM) is not only a painful experience but also affects the psychological and affective states of women. Neuroimaging studies have revealed shared neural substrates for somatic and empathic pains in healthy subjects. However, little is known about the relationship between pain intensity and pain empathy in pain disorders. The cyclic nature of PDM makes it a unique model for investigating this issue during a patients' pain phase. To study how long-term pain modulates empathy for pain, T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans were obtained in 39 PDM patients and 41 matched female healthy controls during menstruation. Subjects viewed static visual stimuli of the limbs submitted to painful and nonpainful stimulation to solicit empathy. The visual analogue scale for pain intensity and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index for empathic ability were also obtained. We found that women with PDM exhibited higher pain empathy compared with controls. The anterior insula and brain regions related to sensory discrimination with decreased gray matter volumes were not only shared but also acted as a mediator between pain intensity and pain empathy in PDM patients. In addition, the general linear modeling analysis revealed that long-term pain experience was a more important factor to pain empathy compared with pain intensity. This indicated that long-term pain may cause maladaptive brain structural plasticity, which may further affect psychological adjustment to bring patients more vivid pain when they witness suffering and distress in others.

Multitargeting the sleep-pain interaction with pharmacological approaches: A narrative review with suggestions on new avenues of investigation

The multimorbidity formed by sleep disturbances and pain conditions is highly prevalent and has a significant impact in global health and in the socioeconomic system. Although different approaches have been directed toward its management, evidence regarding an optimal treatment is lacking, and pharmacological options are often preferred. Health professionals (e.g., pain and sleep clinicians) tend to focus on their respective expertise, targeting a single symptom with a single drug. This may increase polypharmacy and the risk of drug interactions, adverse events, and mortality. Hence, the use of medications that can directly or indirectly improve sleep, pain, and other possible accompanying conditions without exacerbating them becomes especially relevant. The objectives of this comprehensive review are to: a) describe the beneficial or deleterious effects that some commonly used medications to manage pain have on sleep and sleep disorders; and b) describe the beneficial or deleterious effects that frequently prescribed medications for sleep may have on pain. Moreover, medications targeting some specific sleep-pain interactions will be suggested and future directions for improving sleep and alleviating pain of these patients will be provided with clinical and research perspectives.

"Tomorrow, I'll Be Fine": Impacts and coping mechanisms in adolescents and young adults with primary dysmenorrhoea

AIMS

To understand the experiences of adolescents and young adults with primary dysmenorrhoea through the lens of structured frameworks extant in contemporary pain literature.

DESIGN

Descriptive qualitative study.

METHODS

Thirty-nine adolescents and young adults (ages 16-24 years) with primary dysmenorrhoea participated in semi-structured in-person interviews. Transcripts of the interviews were analysed using deductive thematic analysis from November 2018 to April 2019.

RESULTS

Two overarching themes, each with subthemes, were identified. The first theme, primary dysmenorrhoea impacts the whole person, contained the following subthemes: biological, social, and psychological. The second theme, coping mechanisms of women with primary dysmenorrhoea, contained the following subthemes: primary, secondary, and passive coping.

CONCLUSION

Women experience several primary dysmenorrhoea-related impacts on their biological, social, and psychological functioning. Women employ a variety of coping mechanisms to manage their primary dysmenorrhoea pain.

IMPACT

This study emphasizes the significant effects of primary dysmenorrhoea on nearly every aspect of women's lives and contributes to an understanding of the ways women cope with this pain. The findings of this study underscore the need for continued consideration of primary dysmenorrhoea as a debilitating pain process as well as the need for additional interventions to help women manage this condition.

Exploratory analysis of cold, heat, deficiency, or excess pattern distribution in women with dysmenorrhea

OBJECTIVE

To understand the impact and implications of cold, heat, deficiency, or excess pattern identification in relation to dysmenorrhea, comparing the prevalence of these patterns between women with and without dysmenorrhea is needed.

METHODS

We gathered data from the Korea Constitutional Multicenter Bank. A total of 508 patients were recruited and provided with cold, heat, deficiency, or excess pattern and dysmenorrhea questionnaires. On the basis of their responses, they were divided into the dysmenorrhea group (moderate or severe dysmenorrheic pain; n = 90) and non-dysmenorrhea group (no dysmenorrheic pain; n = 155). We analyzed the characteristics of the groups and compared the cold, heat, deficiency, or excess pattern scores. Comparisons were performed using the independent t-test. We also performed multiple comparisons of each individual symptom between the groups to explore which symptoms appear with dysmenorrhea using the Bonferroni adjustment method.

RESULTS

There was a high positive correlation between deficiency pattern scores and excess pattern scores (p < 0.001). The cold, deficiency, and excess pattern scores were significantly higher in the dysmenorrhea group than in the non-dysmenorrhea group (p < 0.001). Twenty among the 76 pattern items showed significant differences between the groups (p < 0.001). Among all items, there was a large effect size only in sleep quality (mean difference 1.07, 95% confidence interval 0.75-1.39, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Women with dysmenorrhea have higher cold, deficiency, and excess pattern scores than those without dysmenorrhea. The longitudinal observation of these symptoms needs to be evaluated using a clinical prospective study design in accordance with pattern differentiation in the future.

Both melatonin and meloxicam improved sleep and pain in females with primary dysmenorrhea-results from a double-blind cross-over intervention pilot study

Up to 25% of ovulating women suffer from primary dysmenorrhea, a condition associated with pain and transient-reduced quality of life, along with greater irritability and impaired sleep. In the present study, we asked whether and if so to what extent melatonin and meloxicam can improve subjective and objective sleep and reduce pain among women with primary dysmenorrhea (PD). To this end, we conducted a double-blind cross-over clinical trial lasting for three menstrual cycles. A total of 14 women (mean age M = 27.5 years) with primary dysmenorrhea took part in the study. At baseline, that is, during the first menstruation, they completed a visual analogue scale to rate pain; sleep continuity was assessed via actigraphs, and overall sleep quality was assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Next, participants were randomly assigned to one of two conditions, either melatonin during the second, and meloxicam during the third menstruation, or meloxicam during the second, and melatonin during the third menstruation. Neither participants nor investigators were aware of participants' study assignment. During the second and third menstruations, the assessments described above were repeated. At baseline, sleep assessed both objectively and subjectively was impaired, and pain was high. Subjective sleep improved and pain decreased during the second and third menstruations irrespective of whether melatonin or meloxicam was administered first or second. Likewise, objective sleep efficiency increased and objective sleep latency shortened. The efficacy of melatonin was superior to that of meloxicam. The present pattern of results suggests that both melatonin and meloxicam are suitable to treat pain and PD-related sleep complaints among women with primary dysmenorrhea.

Sleep in Women with Chronic Pain and Autoimmune Conditions: A Narrative Review

Chronic pain and sleep disturbances are intricately intertwined. This narrative review provides comments on observations related to pain, stress-immunity, and sleep. Sleep evidence is reviewed from studies of select conditions involving pain (ie, functional somatic syndromes and autoimmune) that are predominant in women. Chronic pain and poor sleep encompass persistent stress-immune activation with systemic inflammation, cellular oxidative stress, and sick behavior indicators that increase morbidity and threaten quality of life. In painful conditions, sleep impairments are nearly ubiquitous, and exaggerated combined effects should not be underestimated or ignored, nor should crucial implications for clinical practice and research.

Comparison of the efficacy and safety of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for patients with primary dysmenorrhea: A network meta-analysis

Objective Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used as first-line treatment of primary dysmenorrhea, but there has been no optimal clinical choice among non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs yet. The present study was to assess the relative benefits of different common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for primary dysmenorrhea patients with a network meta-analysis. Methods Randomized controlled trials were screened by our criteria and included in the network meta-analysis. Pain relief was considered as primary outcomes and adverse effect was supplied as a safety outcome, while additional rescue, assessment score, and pain intensity difference were secondary outcomes. All the indexes were evaluated with odds ratio or standardized mean difference. Surface under cumulative ranking curve result was used to calculate the ranking of each treatment. Results Totally, 72 randomized controlled trials of 5723 patients and 13 drugs were included in our study after screening. As for pain relief, all drugs except nimesulide, rofecoxib, and waldecoxib were superior to aspirin (odds ratio with 95% credible intervals, diclofenac: 0.28 (0.08, 0.86), flurbiprofen: 0.10 (0.03, 0.29), ibuprofen: 0.32 (0.14, 0.73), indomethacin: 0.21 (0.07, 0.58), ketoprofen: 0.25 (0.10, 0.64), mefenamic acid: 0.28 (0.09, 0.87), naproxen: 0.31 (0.15, 0.64), piroxicam: 0.15 (0.03, 0.59), and tiaprofenic acid: 0.17 (0.04, 0.63)). Aspirin also required additional rescue when compared with the majority of other drugs (flurbiprofen: 3.46 (1.15, 11.25), ibuprofen: 6.30 (2.08, 20.09), mefenamic acid: 7.32 (1.51, 37.71), naproxen: 2.66 (1.17, 6.55), and tiaprofenic acid: 9.58 (1.43, 94.63)). As for assessment of the whole treatment, ketoprofen, naproxen, rofecoxib, and ibuprofen got higher score significantly than placebo. In addition, ibuprofen performed better than placebo in pain intensity difference. Considering the safety, tiaprofenic acid and mefenamic acid were noticeable in low risk, and indomethacin revealed higher risk than any other drugs. According to the results of network analysis and surface under cumulative ranking curve, flurbiprofen was considered to be the best one among all the treatments in efficacy, and aspirin was worse than most of others. On the other hand, tiaprofenic acid and mefenamic acid were indicated as the safest drugs. Conclusion Considering the efficacy and safety, we recommended flurbiprofen and tiaprofenic acid as the optimal treatments for primary dysmenorrhea.

Sleep Fragmentation Hypersensitizes Healthy Young Women to Deep and Superficial Experimental Pain

The effect of sleep deprivation on pain sensitivity has typically been studied using total and partial sleep deprivation protocols. These protocols do not mimic the fragmented pattern of sleep disruption usually observed in individuals with clinical pain conditions. Therefore, we conducted a controlled experiment to investigate the effect of sleep fragmentation on pain perception (deep pain: forearm muscle ischemia, and superficial pain: graded pin pricks applied to the skin) in 11 healthy young women after 2 consecutive nights of sleep fragmentation, compared with a normal night of sleep. Compared with normal sleep, sleep fragmentation resulted in significantly poorer sleep quality, morning vigilance, and global mood. Pin prick threshold decreased significantly (increased sensitivity), as did habituation to ischemic muscle pain (increased sensitivity), over the course of the 2 nights of sleep fragmentation compared with the night of normal sleep. Sleep fragmentation did not increase the maximum pain intensity reported during muscle ischemia (no increase in gain), and nor did it increase the number of spontaneous pains reported by participants. Our data show that sleep fragmentation in healthy, young, pain-free women increases pain sensitivity in superficial and deep tissues, indicating a role for sleep disruption, through sleep fragmentation, in modulating pain perception.

PERSPECTIVE

Our findings that pain-free, young women develop hyperalgesia to superficial and deep muscle pain after short-term sleep disruption highlight the need for effective sleep management strategies in patients with pain. Findings also suggest the possibility that short-term sleep disruption associated with recurrent acute pain could contribute to increased risk for future chronic pain conditions.

Comparison of the effects of acupressure and self-care behaviors training on the intensity of primary dysmenorrhea based on McGill pain questionnaire among Shiraz University students

BACKGROUND

Dysmenorrhea is one of the common problems during reproductive ages, with prevalence rate of 60-90%. This study aimed to compare the effects of acupressure at Guan yuan (RN-4) and Qu gu (RN-2) acupoints, self-care behaviors training, and ibuprofen on the intensity of primary dysmenorrhea based on McGill pain questionnaire.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the randomized clinical trial, 120 females, aged between 18 and 25 years, with primary dysmenorrhea, randomly selected from five dormitories of Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran were screened and randomized into acupressure group, in that pressure was applied for 20 min over the 1^st 2 days of menstruation for two cycles. In the second group, the training group took part in four educational sessions each lasting for 60-90 min and control group received ibuprofen 400 mg. The intensity of pain before and after the intervention was measured using short-form McGill pain questionnaire. The data were entered into the SPSS statistical software (version 16) and analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis test, paired t-test, and Chi-square test.

RESULTS

A significant difference was found in the mean intensity of pain before and after the intervention in all the three study groups. The mean score of pain intensity was 10.65 ± 5.71 in the training group, 19 ± 5.41 in the control group, and 14.40 ± 6.87 in the acupressure group after the intervention. The results of Kruskal-Wallis test revealed that both interventions were more effective compared to consumption of ibuprofen.

CONCLUSION

Training and acupressure were more effective than ibuprofen in the reduction of dysmenorrhea. Thus, they can be considered as trainable methods without side effects in adolescent girls.

Effect of sedative-hypnotics, anesthetics and analgesics on sleep architecture in obstructive sleep apnea

The perioperative care of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients is currently receiving much attention due to an increased risk for complications. It is established that postoperative changes in sleep architecture occur and this may have pathophysiological implications for OSA patients. Upper airway muscle activity decreases during rapid eye movement sleep (REMS). Severe OSA patients exhibit exaggerated chemoreceptor-driven ventilation during non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREMS), which leads to central and obstructive apnea. This article critically reviewed the literature relevant to preoperative screening for OSA, prevalence of OSA in surgical populations and changes in postoperative sleep architecture relevant to OSA patients. In particular, we addressed three questions in regard to the effects of sedative-hypnotics, anesthetics and analgesics on sleep architecture, the underlying mechanisms and the relevance to OSA. Indeed, these classes of drugs alter sleep architecture, which likely significantly contributes to abnormal postoperative sleep architecture, exacerbation of OSA and postoperative complications.

Dysmenorrhea, the menstrual cycle, and sleep

This study examined the relationship between dysmenorrhea and insomnia, as well as variability in sleep across the menstrual cycle. Participants were 89 women, ages 18 to 24 (M = 18.63, SD = 0.93), who completed daily surveys for five weeks. On the second day of menses, they completed a questionnaire regarding dysmenorrhea. Participants having insomnia rated their dysmenorrhea as being more severe and causing more interference with daily activities than did participants without insomnia. Insomnia severity was directly associated with dysmenorrhea severity and interference. Sleep onset latency was longer and sleep efficiency was lower in participants with severe dysmenorrhea than in those with mild dysmenorrhea. Further, participants with mild dysmenorrhea reported significantly better sleep quality than did those having moderate or severe dysmenorrhea. Additionally, wake time after sleep onset was shortest and number of awakenings was lowest around the time of ovulation. Future research should examine whether treating dysmenorrhea or insomnia alone results in improvements in the other condition.

Effects of wheat germ extract on the severity and systemic symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Background:

Primary dysmenorrhea is one of the most common disorders in women and the main cause of absenteeism from work and school.

Objectives:

Considering the anti-inflammatory properties of wheat germ, the present study examined the effects of wheat germ extract on the severity and systemic symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea.

Patients and Methods:

This triple-blinded clinical trial was performed on 80 employed women in hospitals affiliated with Hamadan University of Medical Sciences (Hamadan, IR Iran). Subjects were allocated to two groups of 45 patients. Three 400-mg capsules of wheat germ extract or placebo were used daily٫ between the 16th day of the menstrual cycle to the fifth day of the next menstrual cycle for two consecutive months. Pain intensity was measured by a visual analogue scale thrice a day and a four-point verbal rating scale was employed to assess systemic symptoms.

Results:

Pain severity decreased only in the wheat germ extract group (P < 0.001) and there was no statistically significant change in the placebo group. In the wheat germ extract group, the pain severity decreased from 4.701 at baseline to 1.120 at the second cycle. The reduction in total scores of systemic symptoms of dysmenorrhea was statistically significant only in the wheat germ extract group (P < 0.001) and there was not a statistically significant change in the placebo group. It revealed statistically significant differences in systemic symptoms associated with dysmenorrhea including fatigue, headache, and mood swings in experimental group.

Conclusions:

Wheat germ extract seems to be an effective treatment for dysmenorrhea and its systemic symptoms, probably because of its anti-inflammatory effects.

Weighing the balance: how analgesics used in chronic pain influence sleep?

Pain and sleep share a bidirectional relationship, with each influencing the other. Several excellent reviews have explored this relationship. In this article, we revisit the evidence and explore existing research on this complex inter-relationship. The primary focus of the article is on the pharmacological treatment of chronic non-malignant pain and the main purpose is to review the effect of various pharmacological agents used in the management of chronic pain on sleep. This has not been comprehensively done before. We explore the clinical use of these agents, their impact on sleep architecture and sleep physiology, the mechanism of action on sleep parameters and sleep disorders associated with these agents. Pharmacological classes reviewed include antidepressants, opioid analgesics, anti-epileptics, cannabinoids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, drugs most commonly used to manage chronic pain. The objective is to help health professionals gain better insight into the complex effect that commonly used analgesics have on an individual's sleep and how this could impact on the effectiveness of the drug as an analgesic. We conclude that antidepressants have both positive and negative effects on sleep, so do opioids, but in the latter case the evidence shifts towards the counterproductive side. Some anticonvulsants are sleep sparing and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are sleep neutral. Cannabinoids remain an underexplored and researched group.

Headache, drugs and sleep

Background

Headache and sleep mechanisms share multiple levels of physiological interaction. Pharmacological treatment of headache syndromes may be associated with a broad range of sleep disturbances, either as a direct result of the pharmacology of the drug used, or by unmasking physiological alterations in sleep propensity seen as part of the headache symptom complex.

Purpose

This review summarises known sleep and circadian effects of various drugs commonly used in the management of headache disorders, with particular attention paid to abnormal sleep function emerging as a result of treatment.

Method

Literature searches were performed using MEDLINE, PubMed, and the Cochrane database using search terms and strings relating to generic drug names of commonly used compounds in the treatment of headache and their effect on sleep in humans with review of additional pre-clinical evidence where theoretically appropriate.

Conclusions

Medications used to treat headache disorders may have a considerable impact on sleep physiology. However, greater attention is needed to characterise the direction of the changes of these effects on sleep, particularly to avoid exacerbating detrimental sleep complaints, but also to potentially capitalise on homeostatically useful properties of sleep which may reduce the individual burden of headache disorders on patients.