Sleep disturbances have been described in drugdependent patients and mainly, in alcoholics. Few studies describe the hypnotic treatment used in this setting.

Describe the prevalence of insomnia in drugdependent inpatients. Describe the hypnotic treatment, according to the substance abuse and the psychiatric comorbidity.

Descriptive study performed in drugdependent inpatients between June, 2008 and August, 2011. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders was obtained in order to ensure the clinical diagnosis. Hypnotic treatment was dispensed to those patients who complain of insomnia according to the Psychiatric prescription. Demographic data, type of abuse drug and the hypnotic dispensed was obtained.

298 patients fulfilled inclusion criteria (71.8% men, 39.22 ± 10.13 years). The principal substances of consumption were stimulants(36.2%), followed by alcohol(34.9%), heroine(14.4%), cannabis(9.4%) and benzodiazepines(5%). 60.4% of the patients complained of insomnia during the hospital admission. The most used drugs for insomnia were mirtazapine(19.8%), trazodone(14.8%), quetiapine(14.1%), clotiapine(7.4%) and olanzapine(4.4%). Alcohol, cocaine and benzodiazepines addicted patients were treated with antidepressants as mirtazapine(17.3%, 18.5% and 40% respectively); heroin addicts were treated with antipsychotic drugs as quetiapine(27.9%). Cannabis addicts took antidepressant and antipsychotic (mirtazapine (21.4%) and olanzapine(21.4%))

61.7% of the patients fulfilled diagnostic criteria of dual diagnosis. Patients with psychotic disorder used quetiapine(17.4%); those with depressive and bipolar disorder were treated with trazodone(30.2% and 33.3% respectively), those who complain of anxious disorder and personality disorder took mirtazapine(50% and 17.4% respectively).

Sleep disturbances are frequent in drugdependent inpatients. Mirtazapine was the most frequently used drug to treat insomnia.