Composition of melatonin for induction of general anesthesia

Abstract

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine), or its biologically active analogues, are used to induce anesthesia.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An anesthetic composition comprising: 
 a pharmaceutically acceptable anesthetic carrier, and an anesthetic inducing effective amount of N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, or a biologically active analogue thereof.    
     
     
         2 . The anesthetic composition of  claim 1  wherein the anesthetic is N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine.  
     
     
         3 . The anesthetic composition of  claim 1  wherein the amount of N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine or biologically active analogue thereof is sufficient to provide a dose of from about 0.001 mg/kg of body weight to about 500 mg/kg of body weight.  
     
     
         4 . The anesthetic composition of  claim 1  wherein the amount of N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine or biologically active analogue thereof is sufficient to provide a dose of from about 5 mg/kg of body weight to about 350 mg/kg of body weight.  
     
     
         5 . A method of inducing anesthesia comprising: administering to a patient an anesthesia inducing effective amount of N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine or a biologically active analogue thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the anesthetic is N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the amount of N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine or biologically active analogue thereof administered is a dose of from about 0.001 mg/kg of body weight to about 500 mg/kg of body weight.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the amount of N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine or biologically active analogue thereof administered is from about 5 mg/kg of body weight to about 350 mg/kg of body weight.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the administering is by a method selected from the group consisting of oral administration, nasal respiratory administration, bolus injection, intravenous administration, continuing infusion, rectal, vaginal, sublingual and cutaneous administration.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the administration is by an initial bolus injection, followed by intravenous administration.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the administration is in combination with simultaneous administration of another anesthetic.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 5  wherein N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine or biologically active analogue thereof is derived from the pineal gland.