Panacea Index Logo

Command Palette

Search for a command to run...

Melatonin and Melatonin Agonists as Adjunctive Treatments in Bipolar Disorders.

Current pharmaceutical design
January 1, 2015
Pierre Alexis Geoffroy et al. (5 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the efficacy of melatonin and melatonin agonists in treating sleep disorders and preventing relapses in patients with bipolar disorder (BD).

Results Summary

The study found that melatonin and its agonists show promise as adjunctive treatments for sleep abnormalities in BD, potentially preventing relapses and improving metabolic syndrome in antipsychotic-treated patients. Melatonin was well-tolerated with minimal dependence risk.

Population

Patients with bipolar disorder (BD), particularly those with sleep abnormalities or in remission phases.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (12)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
Exogenous melatonin
decrease
primary insomnia
-
-
has demonstrated efficacy in treating
#1
Exogenous melatonin
decrease
delayed sleep phase disorder
-
-
has demonstrated efficacy in treating
#2
Exogenous melatonin
increase
sleep parameters
-
-
improving
#3
Exogenous melatonin
increase
overall sleep quality
-
-
improving
#4
Exogenous melatonin
decrease
some psychiatric disorders like autistic spectrum disorders
-
-
has demonstrated efficacy in treating
#5
melatonin-agonists
decrease
sleep disorders in BD
patients with BD
-
propose as an adjunctive treatment
#6
melatonin-agonists
decrease
relapses
patients with BD
-
possibly prevent
#7
melatonin-agonists
decrease
insomnia, sleep delayed latencies and sleep abnormalities in BD
patients with BD
-
treat
#8
melatonin-agonists
decrease
future relapses
patients with BD
-
prevent
#9
melatonin
decrease
metabolic syndrome
patients treated with antipsychotics
-
adjunctive therapeutic effect might be on preventing
#10
melatonin
neutral
-
-
-
is well tolerated
#11
melatonin
neutral
-
-
-
has little dependence potential
#12
Abstract

Bipolar disorders (BD) present with abnormalities of circadian rhythmicity and sleep homeostasis, even during phases of remission. These abnormalities are linked to the underlying neurobiology of genetic susceptibility to BD. Melatonin is a pineal gland secreted neurohormone that induces circadian-related and sleep-related responses. Exogenous melatonin has demonstrated efficacy in treating primary insomnia, delayed sleep phase disorder, improving sleep parameters and overall sleep quality, and some psychiatric disorders like autistic spectrum disorders. In order to evaluate the efficacy of melatonin among patients with BD, this comprehensive review emphasizes the abnormal melatonin function in BD, the rationale of melatonin action in BD, the available data about the exogenous administration of melatonin, and melatonin agonists (ramelteon and tasimelteon), and recommendations of use in patients with BD. There is a scientific rationale to propose melatonin-agonists as an adjunctive treatment of mood stabilizers in treating sleep disorders in BD and thus to possibly prevent relapses when administered during remission phases. We emphasized the need to treat insomnia, sleep delayed latencies and sleep abnormalities in BD that are prodromal markers of an emerging mood episode and possible targets to prevent future relapses. An additional interesting adjunctive therapeutic effect might be on preventing metabolic syndrome, particularly in patients treated with antipsychotics. Finally, melatonin is well tolerated and has little dependence potential in contrast to most available sleep medications. Further studies are expected to be able to produce stronger evidence-based therapeutic guidelines to confirm and delineate the routine use of melatonin-agonists in the treatment of BD.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Antipsychotic AgentsBenzofuransBipolar DisorderCircadian RhythmCyclopropanesHumansInappropriate PrescribingIndenesMelatoninOff-Label UsePatient SafetyPractice Patterns, Physicians'Receptors, MelatoninRisk AssessmentRisk FactorsSleepTreatment Outcome
Study Links
Quality Scores
Safety85
Efficacy75/10
Quality80/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations43
Citations/Year4.3
Relative Citation Ratio1.89
NIH Percentile72.7%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score1.84
Normalized Score0.80
Related Supplements
Melatonin and Melatonin Agonists as Adjunctive Treatments in... | Panacea Index