Can melatonin improve adaptation to night shift?

• Published in: The American journal of emergency medicine 1998-07, Vol.16 (4), p.367-370
• Main Authors: James, Mark, Tremea, Michael O, Jones, Jeffrey S, Krohmer, Jon R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation, Physiological - drug effects; Adult; Affect - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Clocks - drug effects; circadian rhythm; Circadian Rhythm - drug effects; Cross-Over Studies; Double-Blind Method; emergency medical services; Emergency Medical Technicians - psychology; Female; Humans; Hypnotics. Sedatives; Male; Medical sciences; Melatonin; Melatonin - therapeutic use; Michigan; mood; Neuropharmacology; Night Care; night shift; Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopharmacology; sleep; Sleep Wake Disorders - drug therapy; Sleep Wake Disorders - etiology; Space life sciences; wellness; Work Schedule Tolerance; workload
• ISSN: 0735-6757; 1532-8171
• DOI: 10.1016/S0735-6757(98)90129-2

This study was undertaken to determine whether melatonin ( N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is effective in helping emergency medical services (EMS) personnel who work rotating night shifts reset their biological clocks and minimize circadian rhythm disruption. A double-blinded, randomized, crossover study was performed using 22 volunteers. Participants were working a span of consecutive night (2300 to 0700 hours) shifts and received either a melatonin capsule (6 mg) or placebo to be taken before each of the consecutive day sleeps. Each participant completed a total of 4 spans of consecutive night shifts (2 melatonin, 2 placebo). Collected data included daily sleep diaries, quantification of alcohol/caffeine consumed, and drug side effects. Assessment of sleep quality, posttreatment mood, and workload ratings were measured daily by 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS). Analysis of sleep diaries found no significant difference ( P > .05) between the two treatments with respect to mean sleep latency, duration, and efficiency, and subjectively rated sleep quality. Similarly, no significant benefits were noted between the median VAS scores for daily posttreatment mood or workload ratings. Adverse effects were rare; one patient taking melatonin reported a prolonged sedative effect. Despite recent interest in melatonin for treatment of circadian-based sleep disorders, no clinical benefits were noted in EMS personnel working rotating night shifts.