Melatonin -

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This article suggests dosing with 3mgs, but doesn't mention specifically a

mg for kg dose recommendation.

> Melatonin effect on seizures in children with severe neurologic deficit

disorders.

>

> Peled N, Shorer Z, Peled E, Pillar G.

>

> Sleep Laboratory, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa,

Israel. peledbn@...

>

> PURPOSE: Recently, melatonin has been associated with antiepileptic

activity, most probably because of its antioxidant activity as a free

radical scavenger. This study aimed to expand the clinical experience with

melatonin as an antiepileptic drug (AED) in humans. METHODS: Six children

(aged 2-15 years), with severe intractable seizures, were treated with 3 mg

of oral melatonin 30 min before bedtime, in addition to their previous AED

treatment for 3 months. A diary of clinical seizure activity (time of day,

duration, and type) was kept by parents for a month before and during

treatment. Five patients underwent a baseline polysomnography, and three

also were monitored during melatonin treatment. RESULTS: With the exception

of the parents of one child, all reported a significant clinical improvement

in seizure activity during treatment, particularly during the night. Sleep

studies showed a decrease in epileptic activity in two of the three patients

who were monitored during treatment, and a change of sleep efficiency from

84.2% to 89.7% (NS). Improvement in daytime behavior and in communication

abilities was reported by parents, although it was not objectively measured.

CONCLUSIONS: This clinical observation adds to the growing data showing the

antiepileptic effect of melatonin. However, owing to the paucity of

well-controlled studies, using melatonin as an AED should be limited to this

specific group of patients with intractable seizures.

>

> Publication Types:

> a.. Clinical Trial

>

> PMID: 11580772 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]