Mechanism of action of tasimelteon in non-24 sleep-wake syndrome: treatment for a circadian rhythm disorder in blind patients

Abstract

ISSUE:Many individuals with total blindness can develop a circadian rhythm disorder—called non-24 sleep wake syndrome—because they cannot detect light to resynchronize their sleep–wake cycles. A new melatonin 1 and melatonin 2 agonist tasimelteon improves sleep in these patients, resetting their circadian sleep–wake clocks.