A new study assessing the sleep medication ramelteon (brand name Rozerem) confirmed that it is able to promote the onset of sleep without causing cognitive function impairment, next-day hangover or rebound insomnia as do other hypnotic drugs. Another significant advantage researchers found is that ramelteon does not appear to produce a physical dependence, which significantly lessens the likelihood of abuse.
How It Works
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of ramelteon to treat insomnia in July of 2005. Traditional sleep medications bind to the brain’s benzodiazepine receptors, which may result in impaired thinking, hangover, rebound insomnia and withdrawal symptoms. Ramelteon works in a completely different way by targeting the MT1 and MT2 receptors in the brain. The MT1 receptor is thought to regulate sleepiness and the MT2 receptor is believed to help the body transition between day and night.
How It’s Different
According to the press release, the researchers say that their findings highlight significant differences between ramelteon and the prototypical benzodiazepines studied. They say their results, “suggest that ramelteon does not likely share subjective effects with benzodiazepines in humans and, thus, should not be expected to share abuse liability with BZRAs [benzodiazepine receptor agonists].” Their findings also indicate that ramelteon will not produce benzodiazepine-like physical dependence in humans. Because of this, the researchers say these findings are potentially important for the treatment of sleep problems.
About the Study
This study was conducted at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio by a team of pharmacology researchers led by Charles P. France, Ph.D. The study was funded by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, which markets ramelteon under the brand name Rozerem.
SOURCES: France, Charles P., et al. “Acute and Chronic Effects of Ramelteon in Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca mulatta): Dependence Liability Studies.” Behavioral Neuroscience Vol. 120, No. 3. (2006): 535-541;
“New sleep medication shows less potential to foster abuse and dependence.” EurekAlert. AAAS, the Science Society. June 4, 2006;
“Drugs Approved by the FDA: Rozerem (ramelteon). CenterWatch. Aug. 4, 2005.
