title: Ramelteon and improved insomnia in alcohol-dependent patients: a case series.
abstract: In this case series of 5 alcohol-dependent patients with insomnia who had initiated abstinence, a 4-week course of ramelteon 8 mg nightly was associated with markedly improved insomnia scores, increased total sleep time, and decreased time to fall asleep. Given its lack of abuse potential and evidence of low melatonin levels in alcoholism, ramelteon deserves further study as a treatment for insomnia in this group of patients.
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry & Addiction Research Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2700, USA. kbrower@umich.edu
authors.forename: Kirk J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Brower
authors.forename: Deirdre A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Conroy
authors.forename: Megan E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kurth
authors.forename: Bradley J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Stein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007192:Indenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044122:Receptor, Melatonin, MT1 / Q000819:agonists; D044123:Receptor, Melatonin, MT2 / Q000819:agonists; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007192:Indenes; D044122:Receptor, Melatonin, MT1; D044123:Receptor, Melatonin, MT2; C495910:ramelteon