Thorne is now available in our US and Canadian catalogs!
Learn more

What is it?

Description

Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland and synthesized from tryptophan and serotonin. It can also be produced by enterochromaffin cells in the GI tract. (87) Melatonin is primarily involved in the regulation of sleep patterns. Endogenous melatonin increases as the retinas signal the pineal gland with diminishing light, providing crucial information in the regulation of sleep-wake cycles and core body temperatures. (10) Melatonin plays a role in circadian rhythm regulation, reproduction, mood, and immunity. It also has anti-oxidative effects and possesses properties that protect against pain, inflammation, and anxiety. (35)

Download ingredient review

Main uses

Headaches, migraines, and pain
Neurodegenerative conditions
Neurological conditions
Primary and secondary sleep disorders
Sleep promotion

Formulations

Route of administration
Approximate time to achieve max plasma/serum concentrations (Cmax)
Intravenous
5 minutes
Intranasal
10 minutes
Sublingual tablets
40 minutes; higher achievable Cmax than oral tablets
Oral tablets
40 minutes
Slow-release oral tablets
2 hours and 45 minutes
Transmucosal patch
8 hours
Transdermal patch
8.5-13 hours
Transdermal nanoparticle gel
13-18 hours (35)(99)

Dosing & administration

Adverse effects

Melatonin is generally considered safe with short-term oral administration, even with large doses. However, it is not recommended to take melatonin if pregnant or breast-feeding. (2) The most common adverse effects are considered mild and may include dizziness, headaches, nausea, sleepiness, or hypothermia. Most cases are resolved within a few days or upon discontinuation. Rare cases of agitation, fatigue, mood swings, nightmares, skin irritation, and heart palpitations have been reported. (5)

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption

  • The oral bioavailability of melatonin is approximately 15%. 
  • Oral immediate-release formulations result in maximum plasma concentrations after approximately 45 minutes. 
  • Slow-release formulations result in maximum plasma concentrations after approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes. (35)
  • Sublingual preparations are absorbed at a rate comparable to oral formulations but result in higher maximal plasma concentrations by bypassing first pass metabolism. (99)

Distribution

  • Melatonin is widely distributed to tissues with Melatonin receptors (ML1) and (ML2). (87)
  • Melatonin is both lipid- and water-soluble, and can readily cross the blood-brain barrier. (46)
  • Melatonin receptors are widely located in cardiovascular tissues, T and B lymphocytes, and adipocytes, as well as in the adrenal glands, kidneys, lungs, liver, gallbladder, small intestine, ovaries, uterus, breasts, prostate, and skin. (87)

Metabolism

  • Extensive first-pass metabolism likely contributes to melatonin’s low oral bioavailability, particularly due to its high affinity to CYP1A2. (17)
  • Melatonin is primarily metabolized in the liver by CYP1A2, with smaller metabolic activity from CYP2C19 and CYP2C9. 
  • Some metabolism may occur in the intestines or skin by CYP1A1 and CYP1B1. (79)

Excretion

  • Melatonin is excreted in the urine.
  • Most melatonin is excreted in its sulfurated (~90%) or glucuronidated-forms (~10%), though up to 5% may be expelled in its unmetabolized form. (87)
References
  1. Acil, M., Basgul, E., Celiker, V., Karagöz, A. H., Demir, B., & Aypar, U. (2004). Perioperative effects of melatonin and midazolam premedication on sedation, orientation, anxiety scores and psychomotor performance. European Journal of Anaesthesiology, 21(7), 553-557. ()
  2. Andersen, L. P. H., Gögenur, I., Rosenberg, J., & Reiter, R. J. (2016). The safety of melatonin in humans. Clinical Drug Investigation, 36(3), 169-175. ()
  3. Appleton, R. E., Jones, A. P., Gamble, C., Williamson, P. R., Wiggs, L., Montgomery, P., ... & Gringras, P. (2012). The use of MElatonin in children with neurodevelopmental disorders and impaired sleep: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study (MENDS). Health Technology Assessment, 16(40), i-239. ()
  4. Asayama, K., Yamadera, H., Ito, T., Suzuki, H., Kudo, Y., & Endo, S. (2003). Double blind study of melatonin effects on the sleep-wake rhythm, cognitive and non-cognitive functions in Alzheimer type dementia. Journal of Nippon Medical School, 70(4), 334-341. ()
  5. Besag, F. M., Vasey, M. J., Lao, K. S., & Wong, I. C. (2019). Adverse events associated with melatonin for the treatment of primary or secondary sleep disorders: A systematic review. CNS drugs, 1-20. ()
  6. Bougea, A., Spantideas, N., Lyras, V., Avramidis, T., & Thomaidis, T. (2016). Melatonin 4 mg as prophylactic therapy for primary headaches: A pilot study. Functional Neurology, 31(1), 33. ()
  7. Cagnacci, A., Cannoletta, M., Renzi, A., Baldassari, F., Arangino, S., & Volpe, A. (2005). Prolonged melatonin administration decreases nocturnal blood pressure in women. American Journal of Hypertension, 18(12), 1614-1618. ()
  8. Chang, Y. S., Lin, M. H., Lee, J. H., Lee, P. L., Dai, Y. S., Chu, K. H., ... & Yang, Y. H. (2016). Melatonin supplementation for children with atopic dermatitis and sleep disturbance: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Pediatrics, 170(1), 35-42. ()
  9. Chojnacki, C., Walecka-Kapica, E., Łokieć, K., Pawłowicz, M., Winczyk, K., Chojnacki, J., & Klupińska, G. (2013). Influence of melatonin on symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in postmenopausal women. Endokrynologia Polska, 64(2), 114-120. ()
  10. Claustrat, B., & Leston, J. (2015). Melatonin: Physiological effects in humans. Neurochirurgie, 61(2-3), 77-84. ()
  11. Cortesi, F., Giannotti, F., Sebastiani, T., Panunzi, S., & Valente, D. (2012). Controlled‐release melatonin, singly and combined with cognitive behavioural therapy, for persistent insomnia in children with autism spectrum disorders: A randomized placebo‐controlled trial. Journal of Sleep Research, 21(6), 700-709. ()
  12. Dahlitz, M., Alvarez, B., Parkes, J. D., English, J., Arendt, J., & Vignau, J. (1991). Delayed sleep phase syndrome response to melatonin. The Lancet, 337(8750), 1121-1124. ()
  13. de Castro‐Silva, C., De Bruin, V. M. S., Cunha, G. M. A., Nunes, D. M., Medeiros, C. A. M., & De Bruin, P. F. C. (2010). Melatonin improves sleep and reduces nitrite in the exhaled breath condensate in cystic fibrosis–a randomized, double‐blind placebo‐controlled study. Journal of Pineal Research, 48(1), 65-71. ()
  14. de Zanette, S. A., Vercelino, R., Laste, G., Rozisky, J. R., Schwertner, A., Machado, C. B., ... & Caumo, W. (2014). Melatonin analgesia is associated with improvement of the descending endogenous pain-modulating system in fibromyalgia: A phase II, randomized, double-dummy, controlled trial. BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology, 15(1), 40. ()
  15. Dolberg, O. T., Hirschmann, S., & Grunhaus, L. (1998). Melatonin for the treatment of sleep disturbances in major depressive disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry, 155(8), 1119-1121. ()
  16. Dowling, G. A., Mastick, J., Colling, E., Carter, J. H., Singer, C. M., & Aminoff, M. J. (2005). Melatonin for sleep disturbances in Parkinson's disease. Sleep Medicine, 6(5), 459-466. ()
  17. Facciolá, G., Hidestrand, M., von Bahr, C., & Tybring, G. (2001). Cytochrome P 450 isoforms involved in melatonin metabolism in human liver microsomes. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 56(12), 881-888. ()
  18. Garfinkel, D., Laudon, M., Nof, D., & Zisapel, N. (1995). Improvement of sleep quality in elderly people by controlled-release melatonin. The Lancet, 346(8974), 541-544. ()
  19. Gitto, E., Marseglia, L., D'Angelo, G., Manti, S., Crisafi, C., Montalto, A. S., ... & Romeo, C. (2016). Melatonin versus midazolam premedication in children undergoing surgery: A pilot study. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 52(3), 291-295. ()
  20. Gonçalves, A. L., Ferreira, A. M., Ribeiro, R. T., Zukerman, E., Cipolla-Neto, J., & Peres, M. F. P. (2016). Randomised clinical trial comparing melatonin 3 mg, amitriptyline 25 mg and placebo for migraine prevention. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, & Psychiatry, 87(10), 1127-1132. ()
  21. Gramajo, A. L., Marquez, G. E., Torres, V. E., Juárez, C. P., Rosenstein, R. E., & Luna, J. D. (2015). Therapeutic benefit of melatonin in refractory central serous chorioretinopathy. Eye, 29(8), 1036-1045. ()
  22. Grima, N. A., Rajaratnam, S. M., Mansfield, D., Sletten, T. L., Spitz, G., & Ponsford, J. L. (2018). Efficacy of melatonin for sleep disturbance following traumatic brain injury: A randomised controlled trial. BMC Medicine, 16(1), 8. ()
  23. Gringras, P., Gamble, C., Jones, A. P., Wiggs, L., Williamson, P. R., Sutcliffe, A., ... & Edmond, A. (2012). Melatonin for sleep problems in children with neurodevelopmental disorders: Randomised double masked placebo controlled trial. BMJ, 345, e6664. ()
  24. Gringras, P., Nir, T., Breddy, J., Frydman-Marom, A., & Findling, R. L. (2017). Efficacy and safety of pediatric prolonged-release melatonin for insomnia in children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 56(11), 948-957. ()
  25. Grossman, E., Laudon, M., Yalcin, R., Zengil, H., Peleg, E., Sharabi, Y., ... & Zisapel, N. (2006). Melatonin reduces night blood pressure in patients with nocturnal hypertension. The American Journal of Medicine, 119(10), 898-902. ()
  26. Grossman, E., Laudon, M., & Zisapel, N. (2011). Effect of melatonin on nocturnal blood pressure: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Vascular Health and Risk Management, 7, 577-584. ()
  27. Gubin, D. G., Gubin, G., D., Gapon, L. I., & Weinert, D. (2016). Daily melatonin administration attenuates age-dependent disturbances of cardiovascular rhythms. Current Aging Science, 9(1), 5-13. ()
  28. Gupta, M., Aneja, S., & Kohli, K. (2005). Add-on melatonin improves sleep behavior in children with epilepsy: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Child Neurology, 20(2), 112-115. ()
  29. Gupta, M., Aneja, S., & Kohli, K. (2004). Add-on melatonin improves quality of life in epileptic children on valproate monotherapy: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Epilepsy & Behavior, 5(3), 316-321. ()
  30. Gupta, M., Gupta, Y. K., Agarwal, S., Aneja, S., & Kohli, K. (2004). A randomized, double‐blind, placebo controlled trial of melatonin add‐on therapy in epileptic children on valproate monotherapy: effect on glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase enzymes. British journal of clinical pharmacology, 58(5), 542-547. ()
  31. Hack, L. M., Lockley, S. W., Arendt, J., & Skene, D. J. (2003). The effects of low-dose 0.5-mg melatonin on the free-running circadian rhythms of blind subjects. Journal of Biological Rhythms, 18(5), 420-429. ()
  32. Haimov, I., Lavie, P., Laudon, M., Herer, P., Vigder, C., & Zisapel, N. (1995). Melatonin replacement therapy of elderly insomniacs. Sleep, 18(7), 598-603. ()
  33. Hancock, E., O'callaghan, F., English, J., & Osborne, J. P. (2005). Melatonin excretion in normal children and in tuberous sclerosis complex with sleep disorder responsive to melatonin. Journal of Child Neurology, 20(1), 21-25. ()
  34. Hancock, E., O'callaghan, F., & Osborne, J. P. (2005). Effect of melatonin dosage on sleep disorder in tuberous sclerosis complex. Journal of Child Neurology, 20(1), 78-80. ()
  35. Harpsøe, N. G., Andersen, L. P. H., Gögenur, I., & Rosenberg, J. (2015). Clinical pharmacokinetics of melatonin: A systematic review. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 71(8), 901-909. ()
  36. Herxheimer, A., & Petrie, K. J. (2002). Melatonin for the prevention and treatment of jet lag. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (2). ()
  37. Hussain, S. A. R., Al‐Khalifa, I. I., Jasim, N. A., & Gorial, F. I. (2011). Adjuvant use of melatonin for treatment of fibromyalgia. Journal of Pineal Research, 50(3), 267-271. ()
  38. Ismail, S. A., & Mowafi, H. A. (2009). Melatonin provides anxiolysis, enhances analgesia, decreases intraocular pressure, and promotes better operating conditions during cataract surgery under topical anesthesia. Anesthesia & Analgesia, 108(4), 1146-1151. ()
  39. Jain, S. V., Horn, P. S., Simakajornboon, N., Beebe, D. W., Holland, K., Byars, A. W., & Glauser, T. A. (2015). Melatonin improves sleep in children with epilepsy: A randomized, double-blind, crossover study. Sleep medicine, 16(5), 637-644. ()
  40. Jean‐Louis, G., von Gizycki, H., & Zizi, F. (1998). Melatonin effects on sleep, mood, and cognition in elderly with mild cognitive impairment. Journal of Pineal Research, 25(3), 177-183. ()
  41. Kayumov, L., Brown, G., Jindal, R., Buttoo, K., & Shapiro, C. M. (2001). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study of the effect of exogenous melatonin on delayed sleep phase syndrome. Psychosomatic Medicine, 63(1), 40-48. ()
  42. Kunz, D., & Mahlberg, R. (2010). A two‐part, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial of exogenous melatonin in REM sleep behaviour disorder. Journal of sleep research, 19(4), 591-596. ()
  43. Khezri, M. B., Oladi, M. R., & Atlasbaf, A. (2013). Effect of melatonin and gabapentin on anxiety and pain associated with retrobulbar eye block for cataract surgery: A randomized double-blind study. Indian Journal of Pharmacology, 45(6), 581-586. ()
  44. Lemoine, P., Nir, T., Laudon, M., & Zisapel, N. (2007). Prolonged‐release melatonin improves sleep quality and morning alertness in insomnia patients aged 55 years and older and has no withdrawal effects. Journal of Sleep Research, 16(4), 372-380. ()
  45. Leone, M., D'amico, D., Moschiano, F., Fraschini, F., & Bussone, G. (1996). Melatonin versus placebo in the prophylaxis of cluster headache: A double-blind pilot study with parallel groups. Cephalalgia, 16(7), 494-496. ()
  46. Lin, H. W., & Lee, E. J. (2009). Effects of melatonin in experimental stroke models in acute, sub-acute, and chronic stages. Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment, 5, 157-162. ()
  47. Lissoni, P., Paolorossi, F., Ardizzoia, A., Barni, S., Chilelli, M., Mancuso, M., ... & Maestroni, G. J. M. (1997). A randomized study of chemotherapy with cisplatin plus etoposide versus chemoendocrine therapy with cisplatin, etoposide and the pineal hormone melatonin as a first‐line treatment of advanced non‐small cell lung cancer patients in a poor clinical state. Journal of Pineal Research, 23(1), 15-19. ()
  48. Lissoni, P., Paolorossi, F., Tancini, G., Barni, S., Ardizzoia, A., Brivio, F., ... & Chatikhine, V. (1996). Is there a role for melatonin in the treatment of neoplastic cachexia?. European Journal of cancer, 32(8), 1340-1343. ()
  49. Lissoni, P., Tancini, G., Paolorossi, F., Mandala, M., Ardizzoia, A., Malugani, F., ... & Barni, S. (1999). Chemoneuroendocrine therapy of metastatic breast cancer with persistent thrombocytopenia with weekly low‐dose epirubicin plus melatonin: A phase II study. Journal of Pineal Research, 26(3), 169-173. ()
  50. Long, R., Zhu, Y., & Zhou, S. (2019). Therapeutic role of melatonin in migraine prophylaxis: A systematic review. Medicine, 98(3), e14099. ()
  51. Lu, W. Z., Gwee, K. A., Moochhalla, S., & Ho, K. Y. (2005). Melatonin improves bowel symptoms in female patients with irritable bowel syndrome: A double‐blind placebo‐controlled study. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 22(10), 927-934. ()
  52. Luthringer, R., Muzet, M., Zisapel, N., & Staner, L. (2009). The effect of prolonged-release melatonin on sleep measures and psychomotor performance in elderly patients with insomnia. International Clinical Psychopharmacology, 24(5), 239-249. ()
  53. Medeiros, C. A. M., De Bruin, P. F. C., Lopes, L. A., Magalhães, M. C., de Lourdes Seabra, M., & de Bruin, V. M. S. (2007). Effect of exogenous melatonin on sleep and motor dysfunction in Parkinson's disease. Journal of Neurology, 254(4), 459-464. ()
  54. Mundey, K., Benloucif, S., Harsanyi, K., Dubocovich, M. L., & Zee, P. C. (2005). Phase-dependent treatment of delayed sleep phase syndrome with melatonin. Sleep, 28(10), 1271-1278. ()
  55. Nagtegaal, J. E., Kerkhof, G. A., Smits, M. G., & Van Der Meer, Y. G. (1998). Delayed sleep phase syndrome: A placebo‐controlled cross‐over study on the effects of melatonin administered five hours before the individual dim light melatonin onset. Journal of Sleep Research, 7(2), 135-143. ()
  56. Naguib, M., & Samarkandi, A. H. (2000). The comparative dose-response effects of melatonin and midazolam for premedication of adult patients: A double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. Anesthesia & Analgesia, 91(2), 473-479. ()
  57. O'Callaghan, F. J. K., Clarke, A. A., Hancock, E., Hunt, A., & Osborne, J. P. (1999). Use of melatonin to treat sleep disorders in tuberous sclerosis. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 41(2), 123-126. ()
  58. Ortiz, G. G., Moráles-Sánchez, E. W., Pacheco-Moisés, F. P., Jiménez-Gil, F. J., Macías-Islas, M. A., Mireles-Ramírez, M. A., & González-Usigli, H. (2017). Effect of melatonin administration on cyclooxygenase-2 activity, serum levels of nitric oxide metabolites, lipoperoxides and glutathione peroxidase activity in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Gaceta Medica de Mexico, 153(Supl. 2), S72-S81. ()
  59. Özcengiz, D., Gunes, Y., & Ozmete, O. (2011). Oral melatonin, dexmedetomidine, and midazolam for prevention of postoperative agitation in children. Journal of Anesthesia, 25(2), 184-188. ()
  60. Paul, M. A., Gray, G., Sardana, T. M., & Pigeau, R. A. (2004). Melatonin and zopiclone as facilitators of early circadian sleep in operational air transport crews. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, 75(5), 439-443. ()
  61. Peled, N., Shorer, Z., Peled, E., & Pillar, G. (2001). Melatonin effect on seizures in children with severe neurologic deficit disorders. Epilepsia, 42(9), 1208-1210. ()
  62. Petrie, K., Conaglen, J. V., Thompson, L., & Chamberlain, K. (1989). Effect of melatonin on jet lag after long haul flights. BMJ, 298(6675), 705-707. ()
  63. Petrie, K., Dawson, A. G., Thompson, L., & Brook, R. (1993). A double-blind trial of melatonin as a treatment for jet lag in international cabin crew. Biological Psychiatry, 33(7), 526-530. ()
  64. Pokharel, K., Tripathi, M., Gupta, P. K., Bhattarai, B., Khatiwada, S., & Subedi, A. (2014). Premedication with oral alprazolam and melatonin combination: A comparison with either alone—a randomized controlled factorial trial. BioMed Research International, 2014, 356964. ()
  65. Rahman, S. A., Kayumov, L., & Shapiro, C. M. (2010). Antidepressant action of melatonin in the treatment of Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome. Sleep Medicine, 11(2), 131-136. ()
  66. Roth, T., Nir, T., & Zisapel, N. (2015). Prolonged release melatonin for improving sleep in totally blind subjects: A pilot placebo-controlled multicenter trial. Nature and Science of Sleep, 7, 13. ()
  67. Sack, R. L., Brandes, R. W., Kendall, A. R., & Lewy, A. J. (2000). Entrainment of free-running circadian rhythms by melatonin in blind people. New England Journal of Medicine, 343(15), 1070-1077. ()
  68. Sack, R. L., Lewy, A. J., Blood, M. L., Stevenson, J., & Keith, L. D. (1991). Melatonin administration to blind people: Phase advances and entrainment. Journal of Biological Rhythms, 6(3), 249-261. ()
  69. Saha, L., Malhotra, S., Rana, S., Bhasin, D., & Pandhi, P. (2007). A preliminary study of melatonin in irritable bowel syndrome. Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, 41(1), 29-32. ()
  70. Samarkandi, A., Naguib, M., Riad, W., Thalaj, A., Alotibi, W., Aldammas, F., & Albassam, A. (2005). Melatonin vs. midazolam premedication in children: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study. European Journal of Anaesthesiology, 22(3), 189-196. ()
  71. Sánchez-López, A. L., Ortiz, G. G., Pacheco-Moises, F. P., Mireles-Ramírez, M. A., Bitzer-Quintero, O. K., Delgado-Lara, D. L., ... & Velázquez-Brizuela, I. E. (2018). Efficacy of melatonin on serum pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress markers in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. Archives of Medical Research, 49(6), 391-398. ()
  72. Scheer, F. A., Morris, C. J., Garcia, J. I., Smales, C., Kelly, E. E., Marks, J., ... & Shea, S. A. (2012). Repeated melatonin supplementation improves sleep in hypertensive patients treated with beta-blockers: A randomized controlled trial. Sleep, 35(10), 1395-1402. ()
  73. Scheer, F. A., Van Montfrans, G. A., van Someren, E. J., Mairuhu, G., & Buijs, R. M. (2004). Daily nighttime melatonin reduces blood pressure in male patients with essential hypertension. Hypertension, 43(2), 192-197. ()
  74. Schroder, C. M., Malow, B. A., Maras, A., Melmed, R. D., Findling, R. L., Breddy, J., ... & Gringras, P. (2019). Pediatric prolonged-release melatonin for sleep in children with autism spectrum disorder: Impact on child behavior and caregiver’s quality of life. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 1-13. ()
  75. Schwertner, A., Dos Santos, C. C. C., Costa, G. D., Deitos, A., de Souza, A., de Souza, I. C. C., ... & Caumo, W. (2013). Efficacy of melatonin in the treatment of endometriosis: A phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Pain, 154(6), 874-881. ()
  76. Seely, D., Wu, P., Fritz, H., Kennedy, D. A., Tsui, T., Seely, A. J., & Mills, E. (2012). Melatonin as adjuvant cancer care with and without chemotherapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. Integrative Cancer Therapies, 11(4), 293-303. ()
  77. Shabani, A., Foroozanfard, F., Kavossian, E., Aghadavod, E., Ostadmohammadi, V., Reiter, R. J., ... & Asemi, Z. (2019). Effects of melatonin administration on mental health parameters, metabolic and genetic profiles in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Affective Disorders, 250, 51-56. ()
  78. Shamir, E., Laudon, M., Barak, Y., Anis, Y., Rotenberg, V., Elizur, A., & Zisapel, N. (2000). Melatonin improves sleep quality of patients with chronic schizophrenia. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 61(5), 373-377. ()
  79. Slominski, A. T., Semak, I., Fischer, T. W., Kim, T. K., Kleszczyński, K., Hardeland, R., & Reiter, R. J. (2017). Metabolism of melatonin in the skin: Why is it important?. Experimental Dermatology, 26(7), 563-568. ()
  80. Smits, M. G., Nagtegaal, E. E., van der Heijden, J., Coenen, A. M., & Kerkhof, G. A. (2001). Melatonin for chronic sleep onset insomnia in children: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Child Neurology, 16(2), 86-92. ()
  81. Smits, M. G., van Stel, H. F., van der Heijden, K., Meijer, A. M., Coenen, A. M., & Kerkhof, G. A. (2003). Melatonin improves health status and sleep in children with idiopathic chronic sleep-onset insomnia: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 42(11), 1286-1293. ()
  82. Song, G. H., Leng, P. H., Gwee, K. A., Moochhala, S. M., & Ho, K. Y. (2005). Melatonin improves abdominal pain in irritable bowel syndrome patients who have sleep disturbances: A randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study. Gut, 54(10), 1402-1407. ()
  83. Spitzer, R. L., Terman, M., Williams, J. B., Terman, J. S., Malt, U. F., Singer, F., & Lewy, A. J. (1999). Jet lag: Clinical features, validation of a new syndrome-specific scale, and lack of response to melatonin in a randomized, double-blind trial. American Journal of Psychiatry, 156(9), 1392-1396. ()
  84. Suhner, A., Schlagenhauf, P., Johnson, R., Tschopp, A., & Steffen, R. (1998). Comparative study to determine the optimal melatonin dosage form for the alleviation of jet lag. Chronobiology international, 15(6), 655-666. ()
  85. Suresh, P. K., Andrade, C., Bhakta, S. G., & Singh, N. M. (2007). Melatonin in schizophrenic outpatients with insomnia: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 68(2), 237-241. ()
  86. Taghavi Ardakani, A., Farrehi, M., Sharif, M. R., Ostadmohammadi, V., Mirhosseini, N., Kheirkhah, D., ... & Asemi, Z. (2018). The effects of melatonin administration on disease severity and sleep quality in children with atopic dermatitis: A randomized, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled trial. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, 29(8), 834-840. ()
  87. Tordjman, S., Chokron, S., Delorme, R., Charrier, A., Bellissant, E., Jaafari, N., & Fougerou, C. (2017). Melatonin: pharmacology, functions and therapeutic benefits. Current Neuropharmacology, 15(3), 434-443. ()
  88. Uberos, J., Augustin‐Morales, M. C., Molina Carballo, A., Florido, J., Narbona, E., & Muñoz‐Hoyos, A. (2011). Normalization of the sleep–wake pattern and melatonin and 6‐sulphatoxy‐melatonin levels after a therapeutic trial with melatonin in children with severe epilepsy. Journal of Pineal Research, 50(2), 192-196. ()
  89. van der Heijden, K. B. V., Smits, M. G., Van Someren, E. J., Ridderinkhof, K. R., & Gunning, W. B. (2007). Effect of melatonin on sleep, behavior, and cognition in ADHD and chronic sleep-onset insomnia. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 46(2), 233-241. ()
  90. van Geijlswijk, I. M., Korzilius, H. P., & Smits, M. G. (2010). The use of exogenous melatonin in delayed sleep phase disorder: A meta-analysis. Sleep, 33(12), 1605-1614. ()
  91. Vidor, L. P., Torres, I. L., de Souza, I. C. C., Fregni, F., & Caumo, W. (2013). Analgesic and sedative effects of melatonin in temporomandibular disorders: A double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study. Journal of pain and symptom management, 46(3), 422-432. ()
  92. Wade, A. G., Ford, I., Crawford, G., McConnachie, A., Nir, T., Laudon, M., & Zisapel, N. (2010). Nightly treatment of primary insomnia with prolonged release melatonin for 6 months: A randomized placebo controlled trial on age and endogenous melatonin as predictors of efficacy and safety. BMC Medicine, 8(1), 51. ()
  93. Wade, A. G., Crawford, G., Ford, I., McConnachie, A., Nir, T., Laudon, M., & Zisapel, N. (2011). Prolonged release melatonin in the treatment of primary insomnia: Evaluation of the age cut-off for short-and long-term response. Current Medical Research and Opinion, 27(1), 87-98. ()
  94. Wade, A. G., Farmer, M., Harari, G., Fund, N., Laudon, M., Nir, T., ... & Zisapel, N. (2014). Add-on prolonged-release melatonin for cognitive function and sleep in mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease: A 6-month, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 9, 947-961. ()
  95. Wade, A. G., Ford, I., Crawford, G., McMahon, A. D., Nir, T., Laudon, M., & Zisapel, N. (2007). Efficacy of prolonged release melatonin in insomnia patients aged 55–80 years: Quality of sleep and next-day alertness outcomes. Current Medical Research and Opinion, 23(10), 2597-2605. ()
  96. Wang, Y. M., Jin, B. Z., Ai, F., Duan, C. H., Lu, Y. Z., Dong, T. F., & Fu, Q. L. (2012). The efficacy and safety of melatonin in concurrent chemotherapy or radiotherapy for solid tumors: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology, 69(5), 1213-1220. ()
  97. Wasdell, M. B., Jan, J. E., Bomben, M. M., Freeman, R. D., Rietveld, W. J., Tai, J., ... & Weiss, M. D. (2008). A randomized, placebo‐controlled trial of controlled release melatonin treatment of delayed sleep phase syndrome and impaired sleep maintenance in children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Journal of Pineal Research, 44(1), 57-64. ()
  98. Wright, B., Sims, D., Smart, S., Alwazeer, A., Alderson-Day, B., Allgar, V., ... & McCaffrey, N. (2011). Melatonin versus placebo in children with autism spectrum conditions and severe sleep problems not amenable to behaviour management strategies: A randomised controlled crossover trial. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41(2), 175-184. ()
  99. Zetner, D., Andersen, L. P. H., & Rosenberg, J. (2016). Pharmacokinetics of alternative administration routes of melatonin: A systematic review. Drug research, 66(4), 169-173. ()
  100. Zhdanova, I. V., Wurtman, R. J., Regan, M. M., Taylor, J. A., Shi, J. P., & Leclair, O. U. (2001). Melatonin treatment for age-related insomnia. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 86(10), 4727-4730. ()

Get more resources for your practice

Blog
Protocols
Practice resources
Webinars
Back to top
Back to ingredient library