Rebound insomnia in neuroleptic drug withdrawal neurophysiologic characteristics.

Rebound insomnia is one of the medical effects of reduction in dosage or discontinuation of neuroleptic drugs. The electrophysiologic features of sleep dysfunction are reported and discussed in 3 patients manifesting withdrawal-related DIMS. Electrographic anachronism and cyclic alternating pattern are signs of N-Rem sleep dysfunction. Clinical and neurophysiologic data suggest that rebound insomnia in neuroleptic withdrawal is due to an enhancement of physiologic mechanisms and rebound supersensitivity of cholinergic transmission in the ARAS.