Mental health problems and impaired sexual function are widely reported among those suffering from drug abuse, particularly among those under methadone maintenance therapy (MMT).
The current study aimed to, firstly, investigate the effect of melatonin and zolpidem on mental health and sexual function of those with drug abuse under MMT, and, secondly, to compare the effects of melatonin and zolpidem on the studied outcomes.
The current randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted on 98 participants who were randomly assigned into three groups of melatonin (
The mean age of participants in the groups of melatonin, zolpidem, and placebo was 35.8 ± 9.6 years (22–58 years of old), 35.9 ± 9.3 years (21–58), and 37.2 ± 7.8 years (26–53), respectively. Sexual function mean score was significantly increased from 38 to 41 in the melatonin group, while it deceased in zolpidem (from 39.1 to 38) and placebo (39.25–38.59) groups. Also, mental health mean scores improved statistically significantly in the melatonin group (from 60.65 to 43.56;
Melatonin could significantly improve both mental health and some domains of sexual function of those with drug abuse under MMT, while zolpidem did not show a significant effect.