The effect of agomelatine and melatonin on sleep-related eating: a case report.

BACKGROUND

Sleep-related eating may occur in the context of mental illness, sleep disorders, or psychopharmacological treatment. Frequently, sleep-related eating leads to severe weight gain and, so far, there are no treatment options for the condition.

CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 54-year-old white woman with depression, panic disorder, and sleep apnea under treatment with various antidepressants who developed severe sleep-related eating. Her sleep-related eating completely vanished after addition of agomelatine, it reoccurred after cessation of agomelatine, and vanished again after her re-exposure to another melatonergic drug, extended melatonin.

CONCLUSIONS

This case suggests that melatonergic drugs lead to relief from sleep-related eating, even when the condition occurs in the context of physical and mental disorders as well as psychopharmacological treatment.