Patients with intractable epilepsy have low melatonin, which increases following seizures
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Updated: Oct 10, 2026

Manipulation of Epileptiform Electrocorticograms (ECoGs) and Sleep in Rats and Mice by Acupuncture
Published on: December 22, 2016
C W Bazil1, D Short, D Crispin
1Department of Neurology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA. cwb11@columbia.edu
Abstract:
Melatonin, which is used to treat sleep disorders, has anticonvulsant properties. The authors measured salivary melatonin and cortisol, at baseline and following seizures, in patients with intractable temporal lobe epilepsy and controls. Melatonin was reduced in patients with epilepsy at baseline compared with controls, and increased threefold following seizures. Cortisol also increased following seizures. Patients with intractable epilepsy have low baseline melatonin levels that increase dramatically following seizures.
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