The use and misuse of exogenous melatonin in the treatment of sleep disorders.
Study Goal
To explore the evidence for using exogenous melatonin in the treatment of sleep disorders, both primary and secondary, in children and adults.
Results Summary
Melatonin shows efficacy in managing insomnia, circadian rhythm disorders, and reducing sleep onset latency in jet-lag and shift work disorder. It is also used for rapid-eye movement sleep-behaviour disorder despite limited trial evidence, and dual melatonin receptor agonists are being tested.
Population
Children and adults with sleep disorders.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
exogenously administered melatonin | neutral | sleep disorders | children and adults | - | evidence for the efficacy | #1 |
melatonin | neutral | insomnia | adults and children | - | efficacy | #2 |
melatonin | neutral | intrinsic disorders of circadian rhythm | adults and children | - | efficacy | #3 |
melatonin | decrease | sleep onset latency | adults | - | reducing | #4 |
melatonin | decrease | sleep onset latency | adults | - | reducing | #5 |
melatonin | neutral | rapid-eye movement sleep-behaviour disorder | - | - | used routinely in the treatment | #6 |
dual melatonin receptor agonists | neutral | sleep disorders | - | - | being trialled | #7 |
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To explore the evidence for using exogenous melatonin in the treatment of sleep disorders, both primary and secondary, in children and adults. RECENT FINDINGS: A number of recently published meta-analyses have shown that there is evidence for the efficacy of exogenously administered melatonin in a number of sleep disorders. However, melatonin is likely to be prescribed largely for reasons of perceived minimal side-effect profile and very low cost in situations in which high-quality evidence for its usefulness is not forthcoming. SUMMARY: There is evidence for the efficacy of melatonin in the management of insomnia and some intrinsic disorders of circadian rhythm in adults and children as well as in reducing sleep onset latency in jet-lag and shift work disorder in adults. Melatonin is used routinely in the treatment of rapid-eye movement sleep-behaviour disorder despite limited trial evidence. Increasingly, dual melatonin receptor agonists are being trialled in a variety of sleep disorders. Long-term adverse effects are currently not fully identified.