Melatonin for patients with chronic low back pain - a randomized placebo-controlled trial
NCT ID NCT06859957
First seen Sep 09, 2026 · Last updated Sep 09, 2026
Summary
Low back pain is one of the conditions causing more disability worldwide. The use of pain medications is substantial in patients with chronic LBP. But the efficacy of commonly used analgesics is modest. More than half of patients with chronic LBP also has sleep problems. In recent years, some preliminary studies have shown a promising effect of melatonin for the treatment of pain. The objective of this study is to investigate the efficacy of melatonin, relative to placebo, in patients with chronic LBP.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 3
Large-scale testing in a bigger group. Usually the last step before a treatment can be approved.
- Participants
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222 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Apr 2025
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 65 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * age 18-65 * understand and write Dutch * LBP for 3 months or longer * LBP must be present on 'most days' or 'every day' within the past 3 months * LBP must limit life or work activities on 'some days', 'most days', or 'every day' within the past 3 months * average LBP intensity of ≥4 on a 0-10 NRS in the past 7 days Exclusion Criteria: * LBP resulting from a specific cause such as malignancy, fracture, lumbar radiculopathy and spinal stenosis * Radiating pain into the leg that goes further (down) than the knee * Inflammatory/autoimmune arthritis * Severe physical or psychiatric co-morbidities * Contraindications to melatonin
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Erasmus MC
Rotterdam, Netherlands
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