Insomnia
Jet Lag
Shift-Work Disorder
Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder
Sleep Disorders
How it works
Melatonin is a natural hormone primarily released by the pineal gland in brain that regulates the sleep–wake cycle (also called as Circadian rhythm). It is synthesized from the amino acid tryptophan and then released into the blood and cerebrospinal fluid, crossing the blood-brain barrier. It sends messages to the receptor agonist in the brain and other areas of the body to help control the sleep and wake cycles. The pharmacological mechanism of action in melatonin is believed to be based on its interaction with MT1-, MT2- and MT3 receptors, as these receptors (particularly MT1 and MT2) are involved in the regulation of sleep and circadian rhythms in general.
Indications
Insomnia
Jet Lag
Shift-Work Disorder
Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder
Sleep Disorders
Dosage
The standard dose is 3 mg (1 tablet) daily , 1-2 hours before bed time for a maximum of 5 days. The dose may be increased to 6 mg if the standard dose does not adequately alleviate symptoms.
For most non-sleep related disorders, doses from 10-50 mg daily have been used safely and effectively.
Food can enhance the increase in plasma melatonin concentration. Intake of melatonin with carbohydrate-rich meals may impair blood glucose control for several hours..
As alcohol can impair sleep and potentially worsen certain symptoms of jet-lag (e.g. headache, morning fatigue, concentration) it is recommended that alcohol is not consumed when taking Melatonin 3 mg tablets.
Side Effects
Melatonin is relatively non-toxic, although some mild side-effects have been reported with higher doses and extended-release formulations, including:
Drowsiness
Daytime sleepiness
Headaches
Nausea
No evidence suggests that people develop tolerance to melatonin.
Contraindication
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Melatonin is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women due to insufficient evidence of safety although this is under study.
Renal Dosing
Caution is advised for dialysis patients due to the risk of increased adverse effects due to the inability to adequately clear melatonin.
Hepatic Dosing
Caution is advised for patients with impaired liver functioning due to decreased ability to metabolize melatonin. Further studies into possible effects versus benefits are pending.
Copyright © 2020 tasmed
.png)
