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N-acétyl-5-méthoxytryptamine
melatonin
Entire Monograph
Reported Uses
- NOTE: see Herb & Supplement Effectiveness Rating Definitions table
- acute kidney injury [Insufficient Evidence]
- ADHD [Insufficient Evidence]
- age-related macular degeneration [Insufficient Evidence]
- athletic performance [Possibly Ineffective]
- atopic dermatitis (eczema) [Insufficient Evidence]
- autism spectrum disorder [Insufficient Evidence]
- benzodiazepine withdrawal [Likely Ineffective]
- bipolar disorder [Insufficient Evidence]
- BPH [Insufficient Evidence]
- bronchopulmonary dysplasia [Insufficient Evidence]
- CABG [Insufficient Evidence]
- cachexia [Possibly Ineffective]
- cancer, adjunct tx [Possibly Effective]
- cancer-related fatigue [Possibly Ineffective]
- cancer-related pain [Possibly Ineffective]
- chronic fatigue syndrome [Insufficient Evidence]
- cluster headache [Insufficient Evidence]
- cognitive impairment [Insufficient Evidence]
- colorectal CA [Insufficient Evidence]
- contraception [Insufficient Evidence]
- COPD [Insufficient Evidence]
- COVID-19 [Insufficient Evidence]
- critical illness (trauma) [Possibly Ineffective]
- delayed sleep phase syndrome [Likely Effective]
- delirium [Insufficient Evidence]
- dementia [Possibly Ineffective]
- depression [Likely Ineffective]
- diabetes mellitus [Insufficient Evidence]
- diabetic neuropathy [Insufficient Evidence]
- dysmenorrhea [Insufficient Evidence]
- dyspepsia [Insufficient Evidence]
- emergence delirium [Possibly Effective]
- endometriosis [Insufficient Evidence]
- endotracheal intubation-related hemodynamic effects [Insufficient Evidence]
- epilepsy [Insufficient Evidence]
- fibromyalgia [Insufficient Evidence]
- GERD [Insufficient Evidence]
- H. pylori infection [Insufficient Evidence]
- heart failure [Insufficient Evidence]
- HTN [Possibly Effective]
- IBS [Insufficient Evidence]
- infertility [Possibly Ineffective]
- insomnia [Possibly Effective]
- ischemic reperfusion injury [Insufficient Evidence]
- jet lag [Possibly Effective]
- lung CA [Insufficient Evidence]
- melasma [Insufficient Evidence]
- menopausal sx [Insufficient Evidence]
- metabolic syndrome [Insufficient Evidence]
- MI [Insufficient Evidence]
- migraine prophylaxis [Possibly Effective]
- multiple sclerosis [Insufficient Evidence]
- neonatal encephalopathy [Insufficient Evidence]
- nocturnal enuresis [Insufficient Evidence]
- nonalcoholic fatty liver dz [Insufficient Evidence]
- non-24h sleep-wake disorder, blind pts [Likely Effective]
- obesity [Insufficient Evidence]
- oral mucositis, chemo-or XRT-related [Insufficient Evidence]
- osteopenia [Insufficient Evidence]
- osteoporosis [Insufficient Evidence]
- pain, acute [Insufficient Evidence]
- pain, chronic [Insufficient Evidence]
- periodontitis [Insufficient Evidence]
- polycystic ovary syndrome [Insufficient Evidence]
- postop nausea/vomiting [Insufficient Evidence]
- postop pain [Insufficient Evidence]
- postop recovery [Insufficient Evidence]
- postop sleep disturbance [Insufficient Evidence]
- postural tachycardia syndrome [Insufficient Evidence]
- pre-eclampsia [Insufficient Evidence]
- preop anxiety [Possibly Effective]
- preop sedation [Possibly Effective]
- prostate CA [Insufficient Evidence]
- pruritus [Insufficient Evidence]
- radiation dermatitis [Insufficient Evidence]
- REM sleep behavior disorder [Insufficient Evidence]
- renal failure [Insufficient Evidence]
- renal transplant [Insufficient Evidence]
- restless legs syndrome [Insufficient Evidence]
- rheumatoid arthritis [Insufficient Evidence]
- sarcoidosis [Insufficient Evidence]
- schizophrenia [Insufficient Evidence]
- seasonal affective disorder [Insufficient Evidence]
- sepsis [Insufficient Evidence]
- shift-work disorder [Possibly Ineffective]
- smoking cessation [Insufficient Evidence]
- stabbing headache [Insufficient Evidence]
- stress [Insufficient Evidence]
- sunburn [Possibly Effective]
- tardive dyskinesia [Insufficient Evidence]
- temporomandibular disorder [Possibly Effective]
- tension headache [Insufficient Evidence]
- thrombocytopenia, chemo-related [Possibly Effective]
- tinnitus [Insufficient Evidence]
- traumatic brain injury [Insufficient Evidence]
- ulcerative colitis [Insufficient Evidence]
- xerostomia [Insufficient Evidence]
Reported Doses
Safety/efficacy may not be established; reported doses may be derived from limited or potentially inadequate studies w/ variable regimens, multi-ingredient products, or where concentration of active ingredients may vary widely
Special Note, COVID-19
- [no scientific data for COVID-19]
- Info: see Herb & Supplement Remedy Use in COVID-19 Resources
Effectiveness Ratings
- [see Herb & Supplement Effectiveness Rating Definitions table]
acute kidney injury
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 3-30 mg PO qd
ADHD, peds pts
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 3-5 mg PO qhs
age-related macular degeneration
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 3 mg PO qhs
atopic dermatitis, peds pts
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 3-6 mg PO qhs
autism spectrum disorder, peds pts
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 2-5 mg PO qhs; Info: prolonged-release product
bipolar disorder
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 3 mg PO qhs
BPH
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 2 mg PO qhs; Info: controlled-release product
bronchopulmonary dysplasia, peds pts
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 5 mg/kg/day PO qd; Info: used in preterm neonates 27-32 wk gestation
CABG
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 3 mg PO qhs; Info: may give night before and morning of surgery, then x3 days after surgery
cancer, adjunct tx
- [Possibly Effective]
- Dose: 10-40 mg PO qpm; Alt: 20 mg IM qd x2mo, then 10 mg PO qpm; Info: used w/ chemo, XRT, or interleukin-2 for solid tumors
chronic fatigue syndrome
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 5 mg PO qpm; Alt: 1 mg PO qhs
cluster headache
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 10 mg PO qpm x14 days
cognitive impairment
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 10 mg PO qhs
COPD
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 3 mg PO qd
COVID-19
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 2-24 mg/day PO divided qd-qid; Info: 3 mg PO tid in pts w/ mild-moderate COVID-19; 5 mg PO bid in pts w/ severe COVID-19
delayed sleep phase syndrome, adult pts
- [Likely Effective]
- Dose: 0.3-5 mg PO qhs
delayed sleep phase syndrome, peds pts
- [Likely Effective]
- Dose: 1-6 mg PO qhs
delirium
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 0.5-10 mg PO qd; Alt: 3 mg PO x2 before surgery, then 3 mg PO x2 after surgery; 50 mg/kg/dose PO x1
diabetes mellitus
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 3-10 mg PO qd
diabetic neuropathy
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 6 mg PO qhs; Start: 3 mg PO qhs x1wk; Info: used w/ pregabalin
dysmenorrhea
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 10 mg PO qhs; Info: used during menstruation wk
dyspepsia
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 5 mg PO qhs
emergence delirium, adult pts
- [Possibly Effective]
- Dose: 3-5 mg PO qd
emergence delirium, peds pts
- [Possibly Effective]
- Dose: 0.05-0.5 mg/kg/dose PO qd in pts 2-9 yo; Info: used w/ anxiolytic tx
endometriosis
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 10 mg PO qd
endotracheal intubation-related hemodynamic effects
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 6 mg PO x1 given 2h before anesthesia
epilepsy, adult pts
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 3 mg PO qhs; Info: used w/ valproate
epilepsy, peds pts
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 1.5-3 mg PO qhs in pts 2-15 yo; 10 mg PO qhs in pts 9 yo and older
fibromyalgia
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 3-5 mg PO qhs
GERD
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 3 mg PO qhs
H. pylori infection
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 5 mg PO bid x21 days; Info used w/ standard tx
heart failure
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 10 mg PO qpm
HTN
- [Possibly Effective]
- Dose: 2-24 mg PO qhs; Info: controlled-release product
IBS
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 3 mg PO qhs; Alt: 3 mg PO qam and 3-5 mg PO qhs
insomnia, adult pts
- [Possibly Effective]
- Dose: 2-5 mg PO qhs given 30min to 2h before desired bedtime; Info: 2.5-5 mg PO qhs in pts w/ beta-blocker-induced insomnia; 1.5-10 mg PO qhs in pts w/ dementia; 3 mg PO qhs in pts w/ epilepsy or dialysis pts; 2-12 mg PO qhs in pts w/ asthma, bipolar disorder, cystic fibrosis, depression, schizophrenia, hospitalized pts, or post-op pts
insomnia, peds pts
- [Possibly Effective]
- Dose: 0.05-0.15 mg/kg/dose PO qhs given 30min before desired bedtime in pts 6-12 yo; Alt: 5 mg PO qhs given 30min before desired bedtime in pts 6-12 yo; Info: 3 mg PO qhs given 30-60min before desired bedtime in pts 3 mo-2 yo w/ epilepsy; 6-9 mg PO qhs given 30min before desired bedtime in pts 3-12 yo w/ epilepsy
ischemic reperfusion injury
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 2-50 mg IV x1; Start: w/in 2.5-3.5h of ischemia onset
jet lag
- [Possibly Effective]
- Dose: 0.5-8 mg PO qhs; Start: day of arrival; Info: doses >5 mg rarely more effective
menopausal sx
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 3 mg PO qhs
metabolic syndrome
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 5 mg PO qhs
MI
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 51.7 mcmol IV x1 immediately before PCI, then 8.6 mcmol IV x1 w/in 60sec after blood flow restoration
migraine prophylaxis, adult pts
- [Possibly Effective]
- Dose: 3-4 mg PO qhs
migraine prophylaxis, peds pts
- [Possibly Effective]
- Dose: 0.3 mg/kg/dose PO qhs; Info: for pts 5-15 yo
neonatal encephalopathy
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 10 mg/kg/dose PO qd; Alt: 5 mg/kg/dose IV qd
nonalcoholic fatty liver dz
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 6-18 mg PO qd
non-24h sleep-wake disorder, adult pts
- [Likely Effective]
- Dose: 0.5-10 mg PO qhs in blind pts
non-24h sleep-wake disorder, peds pts
- [Likely Effective]
- Dose: 0.5-4 mg PO qhs in blind pts
obesity
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 3-10 mg PO qd
oral mucositis, chemo-or XRT-related
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 20 mg PO qhs plus 10 mL of melatonin 0.2% oral gargle 15min before radiation; Alt: 10 mL of melatonin 3% gel mouthwash x2min before radiation
osteopenia
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 3 mg PO qhs
pain, acute
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 6 mg PO x1 given 2h before anesthesia
pain, chronic
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 3-12 mg PO qd
periodontitis
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 3-10 mg PO qd
polycystic ovary syndrome
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 2 mg PO qhs; Alt: 6 mg PO qd
postop pain
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 1-10 mg PO qd x1-21 days; Start: usually night before surgery
postop recovery
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 5 mg PO x1 given 90min before surgery; Info: extended-release product
postural tachycardia syndrome
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 3 mg PO x1
pre-eclampsia
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 10 mg PO tid; Info: sustained-release product
preop anxiety, adult pts
- [Possibly Effective]
- Dose: 3-10 mg PO x1 given 20-120min before surgery; Alt: 0.05-0.4 mg/kg/dose SL x1 given 20-120min before surgery
preop anxiety, peds pts
- [Possibly Effective]
- Dose: 0.05-0.5 mg/kg/dose PO x1 given 30-45min before anesthesia in pts 2-10 yo; Alt: 0.25-0.5 mg/kg/dose PO x1 given 60min before anesthesia in pts 2-5 yo
preop sedation, adult pts
- [Possibly Effective]
- Dose: 5 mg PO x1 given 90min before surgery; Alt: 10 mg PO x1 given night before surgery, then 10 mg PO x1 given 2h before surgery
preop sedation, peds pts
- [Possibly Effective]
- Dose: 0.5 mg/kg/dose PO x1 given 45min before surgery; Info: for pts 3-14 yo
prostate CA
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 20 mg PO qpm
pruritus
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 10 mg PO qhs
radiation dermatitis
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: apply emulsion cream topically bid; Alt: apply 25 mg cream topically bid; Info: use during radiation tx and 2-3wk after
REM sleep behavior disorder
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 3 mg PO qhs
renal failure
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 3 mg PO qd
sarcoidosis
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 20 mg PO qd x1y, then 10 mg PO qd x1y
schizophrenia
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 3-5 mg PO qpm
seasonal affective disorder
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 0.25-2 mg PO qhs given 1-2h before desired bedtime
sepsis, adult pts
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 50 mg PO qd; Alt: 60 mg IV x5 days; Info: used w/ standard tx
sepsis, peds pts
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 20 mg PO x1; Info: used w/ standard tx for neonatal sepsis
smoking cessation
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 0.35 mg PO x1 prn; Info: given 3.5h after smoking cessation
stress
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 3 mg PO x1; Start: 1h before stress exposure
sunburn
- [Possibly Effective]
- Dose: apply 0.05-2.5% gel topically before UV exposure; Alt: apply 12.5% cream topically before UV exposure
tardive dyskinesia
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 10 mg PO qd
temporomandibular disorder
- [Possibly Effective]
- Dose: 5 mg PO qhs
tension headache
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 3 mg PO qhs
thrombocytopenia, chemo-related
- [Possibly Effective]
- Dose: 20-40 mg PO qpm; Start: 7 days before chemo, cont. through full tx course
tinnitus
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 3 mg PO qhs
ulcerative colitis
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 5 mg PO qhs; Alt: 3 mg PO qd
xerostomia
- [Insufficient Evidence]
- Dose: 20 mg PO qhs plus 10 mL of melatonin 0.2% oral gargle 15min before radiation
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