A Compendium of Compounding Agents and Formulations, Part 1: Melatonin

The lipophilic hormone melatonin is widely known as a sleep-inducing agent, but its dermal-healing effects remain underappreciated. Although numerous commercially manufactured products are prescribed to heal and protect the human skin, not all are effective, and not all patients can tolerate the combinations of drugs and excipients in those treatments (some of which, such as corticosteroids, produce adverse effects). In addition, required active ingredients may not be available in the doses or dosage forms needed. In such cases, a compounded preparation may provide an effective alternative, but finding formulations and information about which pharmaceuticals to compound as a sole treatment or in combination with other ingredients can require extensive research. To assist that effort, this series provides - in a quick-reference format - profiles of agents that can be effectively used in compounding and formulations that contain them. In this article, information about the healing and prophylactic effects of melatonin in various forms is presented, and 2 formulations for melatonin-containing compounds are provided.