Ashwin Lewis
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on people's mental health, with increased stress and anxiety leading to insomnia and other sleep disorders. To combat this, some people have turned to sleeping pills or natural supplements like melatonin, which is known to aid sleep. While melatonin can be effective in helping people fall asleep, it is important to consider potential interactions if you are taking other medications. In addition to melatonin, modafinil and solriamfetol are being studied as possible treatments for sleep disturbances related to Long COVID. These drugs have been used to help people stay awake during the day, and clinical trials are evaluating their effectiveness in regulating sleep-wake patterns and improving sleep quality in those with Long COVID.
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What You'll Learn
Melatonin may help reduce COVID-19 symptoms
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on people's sleep patterns, with lockdowns and confinement creating a climate of anxiety and stress that has led to insomnia, even in those who do not usually suffer from it. In addition to the psychological impacts of the pandemic, the virus itself can cause sleep disturbances. Long COVID, the prolonged consequences of COVID-19 infection, includes neuropsychiatric symptoms like brain fog, memory impairment, anxiety, and insomnia, which can further disrupt sleep.
Melatonin has been explored as a potential treatment option for Long COVID symptoms. Melatonin is well-known for governing sleep-wake cycles and has a long history of safe use. Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties make it a promising therapeutic option for COVID-19 patients. Melatonin may help reduce neuroinflammation by decreasing the release of proinflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, and stimulating the production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. This modulation of inflammatory pathways could potentially alleviate symptoms like fatigue and cognitive impairment in Long COVID patients.
Several studies have assessed the impact of melatonin on COVID-19 patients. One study found that patients on melatonin treatment had a reduced risk of being positive for COVID-19. Another study involving 10 high-risk patients given melatonin observed benefits such as a reduction of symptoms, stabilization of lung infiltrates, and a decrease in pro-inflammatory markers. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) demonstrated that 5mg oral melatonin improved CRP and ESR levels in patients with acute COVID-19 infection.
While these initial findings are promising, more research is needed to fully understand melatonin's effectiveness in treating COVID-19 and Long COVID symptoms. Clinical trials specifically focusing on Long COVID patients are essential to establish the therapeutic potential of melatonin for this specific condition. Nonetheless, melatonin shows potential as a treatment option, particularly for managing the neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with Long COVID.
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Modafinil and solriamfetol are used to help people stay awake
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased stress and anxiety, which can cause insomnia even in people who don't usually experience it. Maintaining a healthy sleep routine is crucial for mental and physical health.
Modafinil and solriamfetol are wakefulness-promoting medications used to treat excessive daytime sleepiness caused by various sleep disorders. Modafinil, a central nervous system stimulant, is commonly used to treat narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea. It is taken orally, usually once a day, and works by altering the levels of certain natural substances in the brain that control sleep and wakefulness. While it can decrease sleepiness, it does not cure the underlying sleep disorder. Modafinil is a controlled substance in some countries due to its potential for abuse and dependence, and it may have side effects such as anxiety, insomnia, dizziness, and headaches.
Solriamfetol, a novel dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, is also used to treat excessive daytime sleepiness. Clinical data suggests that it is a promising therapeutic option, with potent wake-promoting effects. However, it does not alleviate cataplexy, a symptom of narcolepsy characterized by sudden muscle weakness.
Both modafinil and solriamfetol are effective in promoting wakefulness, but they have distinct neurochemical properties and side effect profiles. It is important to consult a licensed physician before taking any medication to ensure safe and effective use.
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Light therapy helps regulate sleep-wake patterns
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a climate of anxiety, which has increased stress levels and led to insomnia even in people who do not usually suffer from it. Sleep is essential for both physical and mental health, and poor sleep can put a person at risk. Lack of sleep increases obesity, reduces immunity, impairs job performance, and affects memory and other functions.
To combat insomnia, physicians recommend exercising, going outside, avoiding screen time, and maintaining a regular sleep schedule. However, these recommendations can be difficult to follow during lockdown.
Light therapy is a treatment for insomnia and other sleep disorders. It helps reset your body clock so that you feel alert during the day and tired in the evening. The treatment involves sitting 1-2 feet away from a light therapy box, which emits bright light similar to sunlight. This light affects the production of melatonin and serotonin, the chemicals responsible for regulating your sleep-wake cycle.
Light therapy can be done at home, but it is important to consult a doctor or sleep specialist before starting treatment. They can advise on a safe treatment plan and recommend the appropriate light therapy products and intensity. The timing of light exposure is critical, and consistent use is necessary to see results. Light therapy is generally safe, but it is important to avoid looking directly into the bright light to prevent eye damage.
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Avoid backlit devices before bedtime
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in increased stress levels and anxiety, which can lead to insomnia even in people who do not usually suffer from it. While good sleep is essential to health, it becomes even more so in this period of confinement.
To improve sleep, it is important to avoid backlit devices before bedtime. New technologies like smartphones, tablets, laptops, and e-readers are an integral part of our lives, and we can be addicted to them. However, it is important to set them aside at least 30 minutes to an hour before your scheduled sleep time. If you’re worried you won’t be able to do that, you can set the device to “night mode” to reduce its brightness.
The bright blue light of screens has well-known adverse effects on sleep. Screens emit blue light, known to suppress melatonin production—a hormone crucial for regulating sleep. By reducing the brain’s lag with the natural cycle of day and night, this will prevent disturbances in the biological clock and will be beneficial for the quality of sleep in the long term.
Social media use has been linked to depression, anxiety, and poor sleep quality. When you're scrolling through the news or laughing at memes, your brain is stimulated. Instead of relaxing and preparing for rest, it’s busy processing all the information, making the transition to sleep more difficult. The digital world is enticing—the algorithms are designed to know what will catch your attention next. So that "one last" video often becomes ten, pushing your bedtime later and later. When you repeatedly sleep fewer hours than your body needs, you risk building up sleep debt, which over time can have mental and physical impacts.
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Establish a regular sleep schedule
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in increased stress levels and anxiety, which can lead to insomnia even in people who do not usually suffer from it. Establishing a regular sleep schedule is important for your health and well-being. Here are some tips to help you establish a consistent sleep schedule:
Understand the benefits of quality sleep
Recognize the value of quality sleep in your life. Quality sleep is essential for your mental and physical health, as well as your overall performance and well-being. It can help you cope with daily stress and make you more resilient to minor negative occurrences. It also positively impacts your alertness, health and safety behaviors, and heart health.
Set a consistent bedtime and wake-up time
Maintain regular bedtime and wake-up times to establish a healthy sleep routine. This helps your body maintain its internal clock, which is crucial for managing the balance between sleep and wakefulness. It also aligns with your body's natural 24-hour sleep-wake cycle, making it easier to fall asleep and wake up at the appropriate times.
Create a bedtime routine
Develop a wind-down routine to signal to your mind and body that it's time to prepare for sleep. This can include relaxing activities such as reading a book, meditating, journaling, or listening to calming music before bed. These activities help you unwind and relax, making it easier to fall asleep.
Limit naps
Unless you had a late night or very little sleep the previous night, avoid napping during the day or in the afternoon. Napping can reduce your sleep drive and increase your risk of insomnia when you want to sleep at night.
Manage your exposure to light
Expose yourself to natural light during the day by opening windows and letting sunlight in. This helps improve your mood and regulate your body clock. However, limit your exposure to bright lights, especially blue light from screens, before bedtime as it can disrupt your sleep. Try to set aside backlit devices at least 30 minutes before your scheduled sleep time.
By following these tips, you can work towards establishing a regular sleep schedule, which will positively impact your overall health and well-being.
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Frequently asked questions
Melatonin is a common supplement used to help people fall asleep. It can also be used to lessen the severity of COVID-19 symptoms by blocking the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, it may be beneficial to take melatonin supplements to help you sleep if you have COVID-19.
Yes, RECOVER-SLEEP is a clinical trial that focuses on sleep disturbances related to Long COVID. The study interventions may help participants regulate their sleep-wake patterns and improve their quality of sleep.
Yes, the RECOVER clinical trials are studying several repurposed drugs as possible treatments for Long COVID symptoms. Participants in the RECOVER-SLEEP trial are assigned to take either modafinil or solriamfetol.
A study found that 15% of respondents had taken sleeping pills in the past year, and more than half of them (8%) had done so since the COVID-19 lockdown began.
