Which medications can affect sleep architecture and should be disclosed prior to a sleep study?

Medications that can significantly influence sleep architecture are crucial to disclose before a sleep study to ensure accurate results and interpretations. Benzodiazepines are known for their sedative effects but can alter the natural sleep stages, particularly reducing REM sleep. Stimulants can disrupt the ability to fall asleep and stay asleep, leading to fragmented sleep patterns. Certain antidepressants also have the potential to change sleep architecture, with some increasing REM sleep while others might suppress it.

These influences are particularly important in a sleep study context because the goal is to assess a patient's natural sleep patterns. Understanding how these medications impact sleep can help clinicians accurately interpret data recorded during the study and understand the underlying sleep disorders or disturbances. In contrast, the other options may include medications that do not have as profound an effect on sleep architecture, making them less critical to disclose.