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Melatonin treatment of non‐epileptic myoclonus in children
Author(s) -
Jan James E,
Connolly Mary B C,
Hamilton Don,
Freeman Roger D,
Laudon Moshe
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
developmental medicine and child neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.658
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1469-8749
pISSN - 0012-1622
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8749.1999.tb00593.x
Subject(s) - melatonin , myoclonus , anticonvulsant , medicine , epilepsy , sleep (system call) , pediatrics , anesthesia , psychiatry , computer science , operating system
Oral melatonin (MLT) has been used by our Vancouver research group in the treatment of paediatric sleep disorders since 1991; slightly over 200 children, mainly with multiple disabilities, who frequently had seizures, have been treated. Three children with markedly delayed sleep onset due to recurring myoclonus were also referred for MLT treatment: two had non‐epileptic, and one had epileptic and non‐epileptic myoclonus. Low doses of oral MLT (3 to 5 mg) unexpectedly abolished their myoclonus and allowed them to sleep. There were no adverse effects. It appears that certain types of myoclonus, which might be resistant to conventional anticonvulsant medications, may respond to MLT but the mechanism of action is unclear. Further research on this novel treatment is urgently needed.