Melatonin for the Treatment or Prevention of Delirium

Key Messages

• Variable findings were reported for clinical effectiveness of melatonin for the prevention or treatment of delirium compared with placebo in the literature that met the criteria for this review.
• No studies that met the criteria for this review were found on the clinical effectiveness of melatonin for the prevention and/or treatment of delirium versus antipsychotic drugs or cholinergic agents.
• There was limited evidence available on the clinical effectiveness of melatonin for the prevention and/or treatment of delirium versus dexmedetomidine.
• There were no statistically or clinically significant harms reported from the use of melatonin in the treatment of patients at risk from or experiencing delirium.
• Limited guidance was found that provided recommendations for the use of melatonin in the prevention and//or treatment of delirium for hospitalized inpatients.