Oral melatonin in high-risk critically ill patients : quality of sedative effect

Analgesic/sedative therapy is necessary in ICU patients; however, it presents important side effects. Critically ill patients have altered circadian rhythm, delirium and agitation often requiring additional sedation. The dramatically reduced endogenous blood melatonin level (basal and night peaks) could play a role in this context. We evaluated the effects of oral melatonin administration on the adaptation to critical illness and invasive procedures in high-risk critically ill patients [1] consciously sedated [2].