Overview
- A University of Sydney meta-analysis published in the journal PAIN pooled 23 randomized trials involving 2,028 adults to test melatonin for chronic musculoskeletal and postoperative pain.
- Across studies melatonin reduced pain by about 9 points on a 0–100 scale with the most rigorous trials returning reductions close to 10 points, a range similar to that seen in trials of opioids, NSAIDs and paracetamol.
- The trials also showed consistent improvements in sleep, supporting the clinical link between poor sleep and higher pain levels and suggesting one treatment could address both symptoms.
- Melatonin was generally well tolerated with mild short-term side effects such as nausea, dizziness and headache reported at rates similar to placebo and no serious adverse events or dependence identified.
- Authors advise using melatonin as an adjunct after consulting a doctor because dosing in trials varied and long-term data are limited, and they note regulatory and access differences—such as prescription rules in Australia—mean wider clinical uptake will require more research and policy work.