The Role of Melatonin in the Treatment of Primary Headache Disorders
Open accessAbstract
OBJECTIVE: To provide a summary of knowledge about the use of melatonin in the treatment of primary headache disorders. BACKGROUND: Melatonin is secreted by the pineal gland; its production is regulated by the hypothalamus and increases during periods of darkness. METHODS: We undertook a narrative review of the literature on the role of melatonin in the treatment of primary headache disorders. RESULTS: There are randomized placebo-controlled trials examining melatonin for preventive treatment of migraine and cluster headache. For cluster headache, melatonin 10 mg was superior to placebo. For migraine, a randomized placebo-controlled trial of melatonin 3 mg (immediate release) was positive, though an underpowered trial of melatonin 2 mg (sustained release) was negative. Uncontrolled studies, case series, and case reports cover melatonin's role in treating tension-type headache, hypnic headache, hemicrania continua, SUNCT/SUNA and primary stabbing headache. CONCLUSIONS: Melatonin may be effective in treating several primary headache disorders, particularly cluster headache and migraine. Future research should focus on elucidating the underlying mechanisms of benefit of melatonin in different headache disorders, as well as clarifying optimal dosing and formulation.
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Sleep quality was also significantly improved during and after the study in patients with chronic tension headaches given melatonin.
“Sleep quality was also significantly improved during and after the study [110,111].”
From Is Melatonin the “Next Vitamin D”?: A Review of Emerging Science, Clinical Uses, Safety, and Dietary Supplements (2022) · cites this paper as [110]
In a surveillance study of sixty-one patients diagnosed with chronic tension headaches, significant decreases in pain and tension headache-associated symptoms were observed after melatonin use.
“Overall, significant decreases in pain and tension headache-associated symptoms were observed after melatonin use.”
From Is Melatonin the “Next Vitamin D”?: A Review of Emerging Science, Clinical Uses, Safety, and Dietary Supplements (2022) · cites this paper as [110]
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- Authors
- Gelfand, A. A., & Goadsby, P. J.
- Affiliations
- University of California, San Francisco (US)
- Venue
- Headache The Journal of Head and Face Pain
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2016-06-17
- Volume
- 56
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 1257-1266
- ISSN
- 0017-8748 (ISSN-L)
- 1526-4610
- PMC
- PMC5012937
- OpenAlex
- W2443130007
- Cited by
- 95
- References
- 63
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 1
- FWCI
- 1.15
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Headache The Journal of Head and Face Pain (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (KL2TR000143)
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Migraine and Headache Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Complementary and Manual Therapy › Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
- Keywords
- melatonin, primary headache, migraine, cluster headache, tension-type headache, hypnic headache, hemicrania continua, SUNCT, SUNA, primary stabbing headache, migraine prophylaxis
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Central Nervous System Agents, Humans, Melatonin, Headache Disorders, Primary
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