Antidepressants and Antipsychotics | Alpha-Agonists
There is no significant research evidence supporting the use
of sedating antidepressants in the treatment of pediatric insomnia.
Although a clinician could argue that using a sedating antidepressant
(for example, mirtazapine) is appropriate when treating insomnia
associated with clinical depression, it may not be the best choice.
In our estimate, it may be more efficacious to treat the depression
with a serotonin reuptake inhibitor such as fluoxetine while adding
a sedating medication such as melatonin, a benzodiazepine, or a
nonbenzodiazepine benzodiazepine receptor agonist in the short-term
as the depression resolves.