Melatonin for chronic insomnia in Angelman syndrome: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Abstract

Previous studies suggested that melatonin improves sleep in insomniac patients with Angelman syndrome. To assess the efficacy of melatonin, a randomized placebo-controlled study was conducted in 8 children with Angelman syndrome with idiopathic chronic insomnia. After a 1-week baseline period, patients received, depending on age, either melatonin 5 or 2.5 mg, or placebo, followed by 4 weeks of open treatment. Parents recorded lights off time, sleep onset time, wake-up time, and epileptic seizures in a diary. Salivary melatonin levels were measured at baseline and the last evening of the fourth treatment week. Melatonin significantly advanced sleep onset by 28 minutes, decreased sleep latency by 32 minutes, increased total sleep time by 56 minutes, reduced the number of nights with wakes from 3.1 to 1.6 nights a week, and increased endogenous salivary melatonin levels. Parents were satisfied with these results. Indications that melatonin dose in Angelman syndrome patients should be low, are discussed.

• Authors: Wiebe Braam, Robert Didden, Marcel G Smits, Leopold M G Curfs
• Journal: Journal of child neurology (J Child Neurol) Vol. 23 Issue 6 Pg. 649-54 (Jun 2008) ISSN: 0883-0738 [Print] United States
• PMID: 18539989 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Central Nervous System Depressants
• Melatonin

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Angelman Syndrome (drug therapy)
• Central Nervous System Depressants (therapeutic use)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Melatonin (blood, therapeutic use)
• Reaction Time (drug effects)
• Saliva (chemistry)
• Sleep (drug effects)
• Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders (drug therapy)
• Wakefulness (drug effects)