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Melatonin treatment of non-epileptic myoclonus in children

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 1999

James E Jan ,
Mary B C Connolly ,
Don Hamilton ,
Roger D Freeman  and
Moshe Laudon
James E Jan
Affiliation:
Division of Developmental Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Mary B C Connolly
Affiliation:
Division of Child Neurology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Don Hamilton
Affiliation:
Pharmacy Department, Children's and Women's Health Centre of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Roger D Freeman
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Moshe Laudon
Affiliation:
Neurim Pharmaceuticals, Tel Aviv, Israel.
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Abstract

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.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology , Volume 41 , Issue 4 , April 1999 , pp. 255 - 259
Copyright
© 1999 Mac Keith Press

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