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Melatonin in Chronic Pain Syndromes

Neuroscience and Behavioral Physiology, ISSN: 1573-899X, Vol: 47, Issue: 7, Page: 806-812
2017
  • 6
    Citations
  • 0
    Usage
  • 39
    Captures
  • 0
    Mentions
  • 0
    Social Media
Metric Options:   Counts1 Year3 Year

Metrics Details

  • Citations
    6
    • Citation Indexes
      6
  • Captures
    39

Article Description

Melatonin is a neurohormone synthesized in the pineal gland and extrapineal structures and has a number of functions, including chronobiotic, antioxidant, oncostatic, immunomodulatory, normothymic, and anxiolytic actions, the abilities to affect the cardiovascular system and the gastrointestinal tract and take part in reproductive functions, and a role in regulating substance metabolism and body weight. In addition, recent studies have demonstrated the efficacy of melatonin in relation to pain syndromes. We present here a review of studies of the use of melatonin in fibromyalgia, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic back pain, and rheumatoid arthritis. The possible mechanisms mediating the analgesic properties of melatonin are discussed. On the one hand, normalization of circadian rhythms, which are inevitably deranged by chronic pain syndromes, improves sleep and activates the intrinsic adaptive potential of melatonin; on the other, data have been obtained showing that melatonin has independent analgesic influences mediated via melatonin receptors and various neurotransmitter systems.

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