Swedish Internet forum users' views and experiences of melatonin treatments for troubled sleep

Abstract

Objective: To investigate Internet forum users' views and experiences of melatonin treatments for troubled sleep.

Design: A thematic analysis of online disclosures about melatonin treatments was conducted.

Setting: The largest Swedish Internet forum (Flashback.org). Key search terms were melatonin and circadin/cirkadin.

Results: The search generated 2669 posts from 857 unique profiles in 174 different threads, posted between September 2004 and January 2021. The thematic analysis resulted in 4 themes: (1) being one's own pharmacist, (2) wanted and unwanted effects, (3) history of unmet needs, and (4) national guidelines and clinical practice in Sweden.

Conclusions: The current study suggests that experiences with melatonin treatments are diverse, and the views on exogenous melatonin polarized, albeit with a general consensus on the importance of individual factors when it comes to administration and efficacy. The study also suggests that there is an extensive off-label use of melatonin (eg, younger patients and longer treatment periods than indicated). More studies on melatonin treatments are warranted to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and clinical practice.

Keywords: Circadian rhythm; Circadin; Internet forum; Melatonin; Sleep; Thematic analysis.