ReviewHeadache2016
The Role of Melatonin in the Treatment of Primary Headache Disorders.
Review in Headache, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 34 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
34 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 97 citations in OpenAlex.
- Pediatric hypnic headache: a systematic review.Frontiers in neurology · 2023Pooled it
- The Effects of Melatonin on Elevated Liver Enzymes during Statin Treatment.BioMed research international · 2017Trial
- Inhibitory Effect of Melatonin on the Proliferation of Breast Cancer Cells MDA-MB-468 by Antioxidants Superoxide Dismutase and Glutathione Peroxidase.Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP · 2026Article
- Bridging the gap: molecular mechanisms, regional activity and connectivity in headache disorders.Brain : a journal of neurology · 2026Review
- Hallmarks of primary headache: part 4 - rare headache syndromes.The journal of headache and pain · 2025Review
- Expression of melatonin receptors in trigeminal and sphenopalatine ganglia: potential targets for primary headache disorders.The journal of headache and pain · 2025Article
- Hallmarks of primary headache: part 3 - cluster headache.The journal of headache and pain · 2025Review
- Nighttime Primary Headaches in Children: Beyond Hypnic Headache, a Comprehensive Review.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Practical issues in the management of sleep, anxiety, and mood disorders in primary headaches.Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria · 2025Review
- Natural Progression of Pineal Cysts in Relation to Headache: A Prospective Observational Study.European journal of neurology · 2025Observational
- Nutraceuticals and Headache 2024: Riboflavin, Coenzyme Q10, Feverfew, Magnesium, Melatonin, and Butterbur.Current pain and headache reports · 2025Review
- Is Melatonin the "Next Vitamin D"?: A Review of Emerging Science, Clinical Uses, Safety, and Dietary Supplements.Nutrients · 2022Review
- Desynchronosis: Types, Main Mechanisms, Role in the Pathogenesis of Epilepsy and Other Diseases: A Literature Review.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Review
- Episodic Migraine and Older Adults.Current pain and headache reports · 2022Review
- Pediatric Headache in Primary Care and Emergency Departments: Consensus with RAND/UCLA Method.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Headache and rhinitis: pattern search on Google Trends for 17 years.Einstein (Sao Paulo, Brazil) · 2022Article
- Pyroptosis and Intervertebral Disc Degeneration: Mechanistic Insights and Therapeutic Implications.Journal of inflammation research · 2022Review
- Nightmares in Migraine: A Focused Review.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Review
- Sleep Disorders in Pediatric Migraine: A Questionnaire-Based Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2021Article
- Headache in Children and Adolescents.Continuum (Minneapolis, Minn.) · 2021Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors at 1 institution in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveTo provide a summary of knowledge about the use of melatonin in the treatment of primary headache disorders.
backgroundMelatonin is secreted by the pineal gland; its production is regulated by the hypothalamus and increases during periods of darkness.
methodsWe undertook a narrative review of the literature on the role of melatonin in the treatment of primary headache disorders.
resultsThere 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.
conclusionsMelatonin 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.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.