Effects of Common Analgesic Medications on Sleep: A Topical Review

Many people with chronic pain also have problems with sleep. Although commonly thought to be a unidirectional issue (ie, chronic pain causes sleep problems), impaired sleep can both cause and exacerbate pain. Depression, another common comorbid condition with chronic pain, can also cause sleep problems, can be secondary to sleep issues and also cause and exacerbate pain.

Based on these issues, clinicians should try to avoid treatments that might worsen sleep for patients with chronic pain. It is a common belief that any medication that is sedating is also beneficial for sleep, but more important is how the sedating medication affects sleep architecture. A recent review examined how commonly used analgesics affect sleep architecture.¹ In the slides below, find results and important takeaways for clinicians.

Reference:

1. Antila H, Lilius TO, Palada V, et al. Effects of commonly used analgesics on sleep architecture: a topical review. Pain. 2024;165:1664-1673.

2. de Mendonça FMR, de Mendonça GPRR, Souza LC, et al. Benzodiazepines and sleep architecture: a systematic review. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2023;22:172-179.