BACKGROUND: Recent clinical studies have documented the analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative and anxiolytic effects of exogenous melatonin. The pharmacokinetic properties of melatonin have primarily been investigated in experimental studies.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to estimate the pharmacokinetics of melatonin in patients undergoing surgery and general anesthesia.

METHODS: The study was designed as a prospective, two-phase cohort study. Patients were candidates for subpectoral breast augmentation surgery, and surgical procedures were performed by a single surgeon. The perioperative treatment protocol was standardized between patients. During the study, each patient received two separate oral administrations of melatonin 10 mg. Melatonin was administered 60 min before surgery, and at 9:00 p.m. the evening after surgery. The pharmacokinetic variables absorption half-life (t ½ absorption), time to maximal plasma concentration (T max), maximal plasma concentration (C max), elimination half-life (t ½ elimination), and area under the melatonin plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to infinity (AUC ∞) were estimated for both study phases.

RESULTS: Median (interquartile range) values of t ½ absorption and T max were significantly increased during the postoperative phase [10.8 (6.9-15.1) min; 90.0 (48.8-120.0) min] compared with perioperatively [9.5 (6.3-16.5) min; 30.0 (15.0-30.0) min] (p = 0.034; p = 0.002), respectively. C max values were significantly higher during surgery [5497.5 (2077.1-13,233.8) pg/ml] compared with postoperative values [2340.5 (1672.4-8871.4) pg/ml] (p = 0.005). Correspondingly, t ½ elimination was significantly extended during the postoperative phase [103.5 (57.8-237.8) min] compared with the perioperative phase [60.5 (47.8-83.6) min] (p = 0.015). AUC ∞ did not differ between the study phases (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results indicate that postoperative melatonin dose should be augmented compared with preoperative administration if corresponding melatonin plasma levels are intended. Furthermore, postoperative administration times should be advanced compared with preoperative administration.