Place in therapy
Analysis of currently available evidence suggests that melatonin shows the most benefit in improving insomnia in the elderly, sleep disorders in children with behavioural, developmental, or intellectual difficulties, and improving sleep loss associated with jet lag. Melatonin can be used after non-pharmacological measurements in these patient populations due to very little risk of side effects and the potential for benefits in areas such as improving sleep regularity and disturbances.
Melatonin has been extensively studied in healthy young adults with very little benefit on any aspect of sleep when compared to placebo. In these populations, melatonin is very rarely effective and the patient often requires alternate therapies before attempting a trial of melatonin.
References
1) Zhdanova IV, Wurtman RJ, Regan MM, et al. Melatonin Treatment for Age-Related Insomnia. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2001; 86(10):4727-4730.
2) Sanchez-Barcelo EJ, Mediavilla MD, Reiter RJ. Clinical Uses of Melatonin in Pediatrics. International Journal of Pediatrics. 2011 Apr; 1-11.
3) Melatonin. Natural Standard. Professional Monograph accessed at www.naturalstandard.com (July 2012)
4) Zhdanova IV, Wurtman RJ, Morabito C et al. Effects of Low Oral Doses of Melatonin, Given 2-4 Hours Before Habitual Bedtime, On Sleep in Normal Young Humans. American Sleep Disorders Association and Sleep Research Society. 1996; 19(5):423-431.
5) Melatonin. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Monograph. Accessed at http://naturaldatabase.therapeuticresearch.com (July2012)
6) Dawson D, Encel N. Melatonin and sleep in humans. J. Pineal Res. 1993:15: 1-12.
7) Zhdanova IV, Lynch HJ, Wurtman RJ. Melatonin: A Sleep-Promoting Hormone. American Sleep Disorders Association and Sleep Research Society. 1997; 20(10):899-907.
8) Melatonin. Lexi-comp Monograph accessed at www.lexi-comp.com (July 2012)
.
Analysis of currently available evidence suggests that melatonin shows the most benefit in improving insomnia in the elderly, sleep disorders in children with behavioural, developmental, or intellectual difficulties, and improving sleep loss associated with jet lag. Melatonin can be used after non-pharmacological measurements in these patient populations due to very little risk of side effects and the potential for benefits in areas such as improving sleep regularity and disturbances.
Melatonin has been extensively studied in healthy young adults with very little benefit on any aspect of sleep when compared to placebo. In these populations, melatonin is very rarely effective and the patient often requires alternate therapies before attempting a trial of melatonin.
References
1) Zhdanova IV, Wurtman RJ, Regan MM, et al. Melatonin Treatment for Age-Related Insomnia. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2001; 86(10):4727-4730.
2) Sanchez-Barcelo EJ, Mediavilla MD, Reiter RJ. Clinical Uses of Melatonin in Pediatrics. International Journal of Pediatrics. 2011 Apr; 1-11.
3) Melatonin. Natural Standard. Professional Monograph accessed at www.naturalstandard.com (July 2012)
4) Zhdanova IV, Wurtman RJ, Morabito C et al. Effects of Low Oral Doses of Melatonin, Given 2-4 Hours Before Habitual Bedtime, On Sleep in Normal Young Humans. American Sleep Disorders Association and Sleep Research Society. 1996; 19(5):423-431.
5) Melatonin. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Monograph. Accessed at http://naturaldatabase.therapeuticresearch.com (July2012)
6) Dawson D, Encel N. Melatonin and sleep in humans. J. Pineal Res. 1993:15: 1-12.
7) Zhdanova IV, Lynch HJ, Wurtman RJ. Melatonin: A Sleep-Promoting Hormone. American Sleep Disorders Association and Sleep Research Society. 1997; 20(10):899-907.
8) Melatonin. Lexi-comp Monograph accessed at www.lexi-comp.com (July 2012)
.