The importance of timing in melatonin administration in a blind man

@article{Tzischinsky1992TheIO,
  title={The importance of timing in melatonin administration in a blind man},
  author={Orna Tzischinsky and Itzhak Pal and Rachel Epstein and Yaron Dagan and Peretz Lavie},
  journal={Journal of Pineal Research},
  year={1992},
  volume={12}
}
Abstract: An 18‐year‐old blind man suffered from chronic sleep disturbances associated with daytime fatigue and excessive daytime somnolence. After two unsuccessful treatment regimens with 5 mg and 10 mg melatonin administered at bedtime (2200–2230), a third regimen of 5 mg melatonin administered at 2000 for 3 weeks resulted in a successful resolution of his sleep disturbances. We suggest that the efficacy of melatonin in ameliorating sleep disturbances because of alterations in circadian… 
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76 Citations
Background Citations
6
Methods Citations
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76 Citations

Melatonin treatment for circadian rhythm sleep disorders
TLDR
Timing and dose of melatonin administration, together with its pharmacological properties for circadian rhythm sleep disorders, should be further studied.
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Comparison of clinical background between responders and non‐responders revealed that the responders were characterized by short total sleep time and later onset age of clinical symptoms.
Melatonin improves evening napping.
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The normal sleep-wake cycle of man is discussed, important issues here include the basic organisation of circadian mechanisms of sleeping and waking, the normal physiology of sleep and the biochemical systems involved.
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TLDR
In elderly insomniacs, melatonin replacement therapy significantly decreased sleep latency, and/or increased sleep efficiency and decreased wake time after sleep onset, and melatonin substitution facilitated benzodiazepine discontinuation in chronic users.
Melatonin Rhythm Abnormalities and Sleep Disorders in the Elderly
TLDR
It seems likely that melatonin replacement therapy may be beneficial in the initiation and maintenance of sleep in this population of elderly insomniacs, and melatonin treatment on melatonin-deficient insomnia in the elderly.
Melatonin in Circadian Sleep Disorders in the Blind
TLDR
The results suggest that prior knowledge of the subject’s type of circadian rhythm, and timing of treatment in relation to the individual's circadian phase, may improve the efficacy of melatonin.
The Use of Melatonin to Treat Sleep-Wake-Rhythm Disorders in Children who are Visually Impaired
TLDR
The study found that these disorders are correlated with the children's visual diagnoses, visual loss, age, associated disabilities, level of independence, and type of placement and that the use of oral melatonin ameliorates these disorders without side effects and leads to numerous benefits, both to the children and their caregivers.
Melatonin deficiency and its implications for the treatment of insomnia in elderly subjects
TLDR
In elderly insomniacs, melatonin replacement therapy was found to decrease significantly sleep latency and, in some studies, to increase sleep efficiency and decrease wake time after sleep onset.
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