title: The effects of exogenous melatonin on the total sleep time and daytime alertness of chronic insomniacs: a preliminary study.
abstract: The effects of exogenous, supraphysiologic doses of melatonin on the total sleep time and daytime alertness of patients with chronic insomnia was examined in a double blind, single crossover study. Melatonin (75 mg per os) or identical placebo was administered at 10 PM daily to 13 insomniac patients for 14 consecutive days. A significant increase in the subjective assessment of total sleep time and daytime alertness was demonstrated with melatonin but not with placebo. However, 7 of the 13 patients reported that the active treatment had no significant effect on subjective feelings of well-being.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: MacFarlane
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cleghorn
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Streiner
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects*; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin