Polysomnographic Pattern of Melatonin Therapy in Perimenopausal Women

Abstract

Background: Earlier, we described our own study results of the chronobiological circadian rhythm of salivary fluid melatonin secretion in menopausal women, which allowed us pathogenetically to substantiate the use of melatonin drugs for insomnia in the perimenopausal period. The aim of this research was to evaluate the sleep quality using polysomnographic monitoring in perimenopausal women with sleep disorders (SDs) before and after 3 months of melatonin therapy. Methods and Results: The study involved 21 perimenopausal women with complaints of SDs. All women completed a questionnaire to assess the subjective severity of insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index, ISI) and underwent a clinical-anamnestic and gynecological examination. Polysomnography (PSG) was performed before and after 3 months melatonin therapy in a daily dose of 3 mg. After melatonin intake, PSG demonstrated improvement in sleep latency, overall sleep efficiency, and an increase of REM sleep. A statistically significant number of EEG activation reactions indicate a decrease in sleep fragmentation and an improvement in sleep segmental structure. Conclusions: The use of melatonin in a dose of 3mg/day for 3 months is one of the main methods for treatment of SDs in age-related estrogen-deficient situations. The main clinical effect, which significantly improves the quality of life, is associated with the elimination of pre- and intrasomnic disorders.

Keywords

• polysomnography
• melatonin
• perimenopausal women
• sleep
• insomnia