Use of transdermal melatonin delivery to improve sleep maintenance during daytime.
Oral melatonin (MEL) can improve daytime sleep, but the hormone's short elimination half-life limits its use as a hypnotic in shift workers and individuals with jet lag or other sleep problems. Here we show, in healthy subjects, that transdermal delivery of MEL during the daytime can elevate plasma MEL and reduce waking after sleep onset, by promoting sleep in the latter part of an 8-h sleep opportunity. Transdermal MEL may have advantages over fast-release oral MEL in improving sleep maintenance during adverse circadian phases.
Aeschbach
D
D
Division of Sleep Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. daeschbach@hms.harvard.edu
Lockyer
B J
BJ
Dijk
D-J
DJ
Lockley
S W
SW
Nuwayser
E S
ES
Nichols
L D
LD
Czeisler
C A
CA
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D001831:Body Temperature; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D020178:Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / Q000188:drug therapy*
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D008550:Melatonin