Melatonin - its role in your life Part 1: Biosynthesis, regulation, physiology and pharmacology

The recent TGA decision to down-schedule melatonin in modified release tablets containing 2mg or less of melatonin for the short-term treatment of primary insomnia, and approval for it to be advertised, means pharmacists are likely to receive more inquiries about it from their patients. In this first of two articles, pharmacist David Pache explains the role of melatonin, how medications can interfere with melatonin synthesis and metabolism, and how it can affect circadian rhythm physiology.