Pharmacological interventions for sleepiness and sleep disturbances caused by shift work.
OBJECTIVE
Are pharmacological interventions associated with better-quality sleep and alertness in shift workers?


CONCLUSIONS
Low-quality evidence shows that melatonin is associated with 24 minutes longer daytime sleep after the shift but not with faster falling asleep compared with placebo. There is no association between hypnotics, such as zopiclone, and sleep outcomes, alertness, or harms. The alertness-promoting medications armodafinil and modafinil are associated with improved alertness during shift work but are also associated with headache and nausea.
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland.
Juha
J
Liira
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland.
Jos
J
Verbeek
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland.
Jani
J
Ruotsalainen
D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008550:Melatonin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects*; D020178:Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / Q000188:drug therapy*; D064690:Wakefulness-Promoting Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D064690:Wakefulness-Promoting Agents; D008550:Melatonin