Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2007 Dec;29(6):641-6.
doi: 10.1007/s11096-007-9118-y. Epub 2007 Jul 3.

Is melatonin helpful in stopping the long-term use of hypnotics? A discontinuation trial

Frans H J A Vissers  1 , Paul G Knipschild, Harry F J M Crebolder
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Is melatonin helpful in stopping the long-term use of hypnotics? A discontinuation trial

Frans H J A Vissers et al. Pharm World Sci. 2007 Dec.

Abstract

Objective: To find out if administration of melatonin facilitates discontinuation of benzodiazepine (BD) therapy in patients with insomnia.

Method: A placebo controlled trial in nine general practices in the Netherlands. Long-term users of benzodiazepines were asked by their GP to participate in a discontinuation program in combination with melatonin or placebo. The intervention and follow-up period lasted one year. During this period participants received four questionnaires about their use of sleeping medication and several health instruments. The urine of all participants was tested for the presence of benzodiazepines, as proof of the discontinuation.

Main outcome measure: The discontinuation of benzodiazepine use measured by questionnaires and urine samples at three assessment points.

Results: A total of 503 long-term users were selected by the GPs, of whom 38 patients (16M/22F) participated. After one year 40% had stopped their benzodiazepine use, both in the intervention group on melatonin and in the placebo control group. Comparing stoppers and non-stoppers did not reveal significant differences in benzodiazepine use, or awareness of problematic use.

Conclusion: Our findings do not conclusively indicate that melatonin is helpful for the discontinuation of the use of benzodiazepines, but the average dose of benzodiazepines in the group was low. Further investigation is necessary, with special attention to the possible influence of the daily dose on the facilitation effect of melatonin.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Selection of patients and response/non-response; participants
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. GIP-Signal: Use of benzodiazepines 1993–1998. Geneesmiddelen Informatie Project (GIP)/College voor zorgverzekeringen. Amstelveen, 2000.
    1. None
    2. Knuistingh Neven A, Graaff de WJ, Lucassen PLBJ, Springer MP, Bonsema K, Dijkstra RH. NHG-standard Insomnia and sleeping medication. Huisarts Wet 1992;35: 209–12.
    1. {'text': '', 'ref_index': 1, 'ids': [{'type': 'PMC', 'value': 'PMC1238754', 'is_inner': False, 'url': 'https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1238754/'}, {'type': 'PubMed', 'value': '8312045', 'is_inner': True, 'url': 'https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8312045/'}]}
    2. Cormack MA, Sweeney KG, Hughes-Jones Foot GA. Evaluation of an easy, cost effective strategy for cutting benzodiazepine use in general practice. Br J Gen Pract 1994;44:5–8. - PMC - PubMed
    1. {'text': '', 'ref_index': 1, 'ids': [{'type': 'PubMed', 'value': '11484431', 'is_inner': True, 'url': 'https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11484431/'}]}
    2. Oude Voshaar RC, Gorgels WJM, Mol AJJ, et al. Treatments to discontinue long-term use of benzodiazepines. Ned Tijdschr Geneesk 2001;145:1347–50. - PubMed
    1. {'text': '', 'ref_index': 1, 'ids': [{'type': 'PubMed', 'value': '15751808', 'is_inner': True, 'url': 'https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15751808/'}]}
    2. Niessen WJM, Sewart RE, Broer L, Haaijer-Ruskamp FM. Decrease of benzodiazepines of long-term users by a letter of their own GPs. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 2005;149 (7):356–61. - PubMed

Publication types