Biomaterial Database

Zaleplon increases nocturnal melatonin secretion in humans. 2009

A L Morera, and P Abreu-Gonzalez, and M Henry

Department of Internal Medicine, Dermatology and Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. amorera@ull.es

Insomnia is the most common sleep condition. Many hypnotics decrease nocturnal melatonin secretion. The aim of this research consists of studying the effect of the hypnotic drug zaleplon on melatonin secretion. Twelve non-smoker drug-free healthy male subjects participated in the study. All participants were normal sleepers and aged 33.2 +/- 11.7 years. They orally took 10 mg of zaleplon at 22:00 h in a double-blind, randomized, cross-over design. The study was carried out during two consecutive days in a week-end. Blood samples were extracted at 22:00, 23:00, 24:00, 01:00, 02:00 and 12:00 h. Melatonin was measured by an ELISA assay. All the subjects had a circadian rhythm of melatonin secretion. Zaleplon compared to placebo increased significantly the melatonin levels at 23:00, 24:00 and 01:00 h. No differences in melatonin levels between placebo and zaleplon were found at 12:00, 22:00 and 02:00 h. Zaleplon compared to placebo increased by 46% the Area Under the Curve of melatonin secretion. The present study indicates that zaleplon increases nocturnal melatonin secretion without increasing daytime melatonin levels. We suggest that when clinicians prescribe a hypnotic, the effect on melatonin levels should be another parameter to be taken into account.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006993	Hypnotics and Sedatives	Drugs used to induce drowsiness or sleep or to reduce psychological excitement or anxiety.	Hypnotic,Sedative,Sedative and Hypnotic,Sedatives,Hypnotic Effect,Hypnotic Effects,Hypnotics,Sedative Effect,Sedative Effects,Sedatives and Hypnotics,Effect, Hypnotic,Effect, Sedative,Effects, Hypnotic,Effects, Sedative,Hypnotic and Sedative
D007319	Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders	Disorders characterized by impairment of the ability to initiate or maintain sleep. This may occur as a primary disorder or in association with another medical or psychiatric condition.	Disorders of Initiating and Maintaining Sleep,Insomnia,Sleeplessness,Chronic Insomnia,DIMS (Disorders of Initiating and Maintaining Sleep),Early Awakening,Insomnia Disorder,Nonorganic Insomnia,Primary Insomnia,Psychophysiological Insomnia,Rebound Insomnia,Secondary Insomnia,Sleep Initiation Dysfunction,Transient Insomnia,Awakening, Early,Dysfunction, Sleep Initiation,Dysfunctions, Sleep Initiation,Insomnia Disorders,Insomnia, Chronic,Insomnia, Nonorganic,Insomnia, Primary,Insomnia, Psychophysiological,Insomnia, Rebound,Insomnia, Secondary,Insomnia, Transient,Insomnias,Sleep Initiation Dysfunctions
D008297	Male		Males
D008550	Melatonin	A biogenic amine that is found in animals and plants. In mammals, melatonin is produced by the PINEAL GLAND. Its secretion increases in darkness and decreases during exposure to light. Melatonin is implicated in the regulation of SLEEP, mood, and REPRODUCTION. Melatonin is also an effective antioxidant.
D011743	Pyrimidines	A family of 6-membered heterocyclic compounds occurring in nature in a wide variety of forms. They include several nucleic acid constituents (CYTOSINE; THYMINE; and URACIL) and form the basic structure of the barbiturates.
D002940	Circadian Rhythm	The regular recurrence, in cycles of about 24 hours, of biological processes or activities, such as sensitivity to drugs or environmental and physiological stimuli.	Diurnal Rhythm,Nyctohemeral Rhythm,Twenty-Four Hour Rhythm,Nycthemeral Rhythm,Circadian Rhythms,Diurnal Rhythms,Nycthemeral Rhythms,Nyctohemeral Rhythms,Rhythm, Circadian,Rhythm, Diurnal,Rhythm, Nycthemeral,Rhythm, Nyctohemeral,Rhythm, Twenty-Four Hour,Rhythms, Circadian,Rhythms, Diurnal,Rhythms, Nycthemeral,Rhythms, Nyctohemeral,Rhythms, Twenty-Four Hour,Twenty Four Hour Rhythm,Twenty-Four Hour Rhythms
D004311	Double-Blind Method	A method of studying a drug or procedure in which both the subjects and investigators are kept unaware of who is actually getting which specific treatment.	Double-Masked Study,Double-Blind Study,Double-Masked Method,Double Blind Method,Double Blind Study,Double Masked Method,Double Masked Study,Double-Blind Methods,Double-Blind Studies,Double-Masked Methods,Double-Masked Studies,Method, Double-Blind,Method, Double-Masked,Methods, Double-Blind,Methods, Double-Masked,Studies, Double-Blind,Studies, Double-Masked,Study, Double-Blind,Study, Double-Masked
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000081	Acetamides	Derivatives of acetamide that are used as solvents, as mild irritants, and in organic synthesis.
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults