A Spray Supplement Improves Sleep, Pain and Depression in Mild to Moderate Chronic Pain Patients

Abstract

Chronic pain is an enormous global health problem, often co-existing with sleep disruptions and depressive
symptoms. There is a growing interest and a need in alternative treatments to pharmaceuticals that address the
complexities of chronic pain. In this study we tested the efficacy of an oral spray supplement product, consisting of
melatonin, L-Theanine, 5-Hydroxytryptophan and a proprietary herbal extract. We assessed sleep quality, daytime
sleepiness, pain, and depression. A retrospective study was performed by reviewing the charts of chronic pain
patients from 40 to 65 years old in a chronic pain clinic who received an oral spray supplement (n=53) or no
supplementation control group (n=39). The study aimed to assess changes in sleep quality, daytime sleepiness,
depression, and pain via self-administered questionnaires using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth
Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) respectively.
Between the control and oral spray supplement groups, a significant difference was identified for all four parameters
assessed. There was a significant improvement in PSQI change between the two groups (p=0.001). This was also
mirrored in the ESS (p=0.001), BPI (p=0.001), and PHQ9 (p=0.001). The most significant changes were seen
between study onset and one-week thereafter. The novel formulation of ingredients used as a treatment in this study
improved sleep, pain and depression in insomnia patients in the setting of chronic pain.