Is melatonin addictive

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Is Melatonin Addictive?

Introduction to Melatonin and Addiction

Melatonin is a hormone primarily known for regulating sleep-wake cycles. Recently, its role in addiction management has garnered attention. However, the question remains: is melatonin itself addictive?

Melatonin's Role in Addiction Management

Mixed Results in Substance Addiction Treatment

Research indicates that melatonin has been explored for its potential benefits in treating various substance addictions, including benzodiazepines, alcohol, nicotine, and opioids. However, the results are inconsistent. For instance, melatonin showed mixed results in improving sleep quality and was not effective in aiding benzodiazepine cessation. It did improve sleep quality and mental health in opioid addiction but had limited effects on mood changes in nicotine addiction and no significant impact on sleep quality in alcohol use disorder .

Neuroprotective Effects in Morphine Addiction

Melatonin has shown promise in preclinical and clinical studies for its neuroprotective effects when co-administered with morphine. It helps reverse mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation, which are associated with morphine addiction. Additionally, melatonin has been found to improve morphine-induced analgesic tolerance and reduce addictive behaviors such as behavioral sensitization and physical dependence .

Potential Drawbacks of Exogenous Melatonin

While melatonin may offer benefits in addiction management, there are potential drawbacks. Repeated administration of exogenous melatonin can disrupt the body's natural melatonin rhythm, potentially leading to adverse effects. This disruption could limit the usefulness of melatonin in long-term addiction management .

Conclusion

Current research does not provide sufficient evidence to classify melatonin as addictive. While it shows potential benefits in managing certain aspects of substance addiction, its inconsistent results and potential drawbacks highlight the need for further studies. Therefore, melatonin is not considered addictive, but its role in addiction treatment requires more comprehensive investigation.

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Most relevant research papers on this topic

Role of Melatonin in the Management of Substance Addiction: A Systematic Review

Melatonin supplementation shows mixed results in improving sleep quality and mental health for various substance addictions, but its role in addiction treatment remains unclear.

Systematic ReviewRigorous Journal

2022·

4citations

·Arani Das et al.

Molecular Mechanism of Neuroprotective Effect of Melatonin on Morphine Addiction and Analgesic Tolerance: an Update

Melatonin may be a useful supplement in treating opiate abuse by reversing molecular pathways involved in addiction and analgesic tolerance.

Rigorous Journal

2021·

18citations

·L. Su et al.

Melatonin in drug addiction and addiction management: Exploring an evolving multidimensional relationship

Melatonin may play a larger role in drug addiction and addiction management than previously thought, with potential benefits from manipulating endogenous melatonin systems and potential drawbacks.

Literature ReviewVery Rigorous Journal

2018·

27citations

·O. Onaolapo et al.

A review of sleep disorders and melatonin

Melatonin supplementation offers an effective alternative treatment for sleep disorders with fewer side effects than current pharmaceutical therapies.

Literature ReviewHighly Cited

2017·

291citations

·Zizhen Xie et al.

Review of Melatonin and Results of Students Survey

Most pharmacy students have adequate knowledge of melatonin, but are deficient in understanding its association with weight gain, cancer symptoms, sleep hygiene, and addiction.

2022·

1citation

·Taylor Nelson et al.

Melatonin Blocks Morphine-Induced Place Preference: Involvement of GLT-1, NF-κB, BDNF, and CREB in the Nucleus Accumbens

Melatonin treatment before morphine treatment can reduce morphine-induced place preference and reverse GLT-1, BDNF, NF-B, and CREB expression levels in the nucleus accumbens.

2021·

10citations

·B. Alghamdi et al.

Adverse events associated with oral administration of melatonin: A critical systematic review of clinical evidence.

Oral melatonin supplementation has a generally favorable safety profile, with minor, short-lived adverse events affecting fatigue, mood, and psychomotor and neurocognitive performance.

Systematic ReviewHighly Cited

2019·

100citations

·H. Foley et al.

Melatonin ameliorates methamphetamine-induced cognitive impairments by inhibiting neuroinflammation via suppression of the TLR4/MyD88/NFκB signaling pathway in the mouse hippocampus

Melatonin can potentially improve cognitive impairments caused by methamphetamine use by inhibiting neuroinflammation and restoring normal brain activity in mice.

Non-RCTAnimal Study

2020·

39citations

·Thit Lwin et al.

Melatonin and its analogs in insomnia and depression

Melatonin analogs like ramelteon and agomelatine show potential in improving sleep and treating depression, but long-term safety studies are needed.

Highly Cited

2012·

297citations

·D. Cardinali et al.

Evidence for the efficacy of melatonin in the treatment of primary adult sleep disorders.

Exogenous melatonin shows promising evidence in reducing sleep onset latency in primary insomnia, delayed sleep phase syndrome, and regulating sleep-wake patterns in blind patients compared to placebo.

Meta-AnalysisHighly Cited

2017·

312citations

·F. Auld et al.

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