Melatonin for Drug-Induced Metabolic Syndrome

Weight gain and other adverse metabolic consequences are common with atypical antipsychotics. Based on results from animal studies, researchers receiving industry support hypothesized that melatonin could help to attenuate these effects.

The 50 participants had been taking clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone, or quetiapine for <3 months and were randomized to 8 weeks of slow-release melatonin (5 mg) or placebo at 8 pm. Among the 24 patients with schizophrenia and 20 with bipolar disorder who completed the study (mean age, 29; 22 men), those taking melatonin had significantly lower mean diastolic blood pressure (BP), gained less weight (mean, 1.5 vs. 2.2 kg), and had less of an increase in waist circumference. After adjustment for baseline fac…