Add-on melatonin improves quality of life in epileptic children on valproate monotherapy: a randomized, double-blind,

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Interictal High Frequency Oscillations Detected with Simultaneous Magnetoencephalography and Electroencephalography as Biomarker of Pediatric Epilepsy
10:22

Interictal High Frequency Oscillations Detected with Simultaneous Magnetoencephalography and Electroencephalography as Biomarker of Pediatric Epilepsy

Published on: December 6, 2016

Madhur Gupta1, Satinder Aneja, Kamlesh Kohli

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Associated Hospitals, New Delhi, India. madhurgupta@hotmail.com

Epilepsy & Behavior : E&B
|May 18, 2004
PubMed

Insights

This study explored melatonin

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Epilepsy Research
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Epileptic children on sodium valproate (VPA) monotherapy often experience diminished quality of life.
  • Current treatment options may not fully address the multifaceted impact of epilepsy on children's well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of add-on melatonin in improving the quality of life for children with epilepsy on VPA monotherapy.
  • To assess melatonin's impact on various quality of life domains, including physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and behavioral aspects.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 31 epileptic children aged 3-12 years.
  • Participants received either add-on melatonin (n=16) or placebo (n=15) alongside their VPA monotherapy.
  • Quality of life was assessed using the validated Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy parental questionnaire.

Main Results:

  • The study utilized a reliable parental questionnaire with good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha > 0.5).
  • This is the first randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to investigate melatonin's effect on quality of life in pediatric epilepsy.

Conclusions:

  • Melatonin shows potential as an adjunctive therapy for pediatric epilepsy due to its antioxidant, neuroprotective, and free radical scavenging properties.
  • Its ability to improve sleep, safety profile, and blood-brain barrier penetration suggests it may enhance the quality of life in children with epilepsy.

More Related Videos

Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy04:51

Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy

Published on: April 11, 2019

Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy09:57

Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

Published on: September 20, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Management of Insomnia01:19

Management of Insomnia

The sleep cycle, an integral part of human health, consists of several stages with distinct characteristics and functions. It begins with a transition from wakefulness to sleep, known as the light sleep phase, followed by the restorative deep sleep phase, essential for physical recovery and growth. The cycle concludes with the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) phase, characterized by high brain activity and vivid dreaming. Insomnia, a prevalent sleep disorder, involves difficulty falling asleep, staying...
Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview01:24

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease marked by recurrent, unpredictable seizures. These seizures are caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, leading to behavior, sensation, or consciousness alterations. They can also cause transient impairment of awareness, interfering with daily activities.
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators01:18

Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators

γ-aminobutyric acid or GABA, plays a pivotal role as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. GABA pathway potentiators, also known as GABAergic drugs, are a class of pharmaceutical agents designed to enhance the functioning of the GABAergic system. These medications primarily treat epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures.
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for their...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists01:14

Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists

Glutamate is a fundamental neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, playing a vital role in neuronal communication and various cognitive processes. Glutamate stands as the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Its presence is crucial for the communication between neurons, underpinning essential processes such as synaptic transmission, neuronal excitability, and plasticity. These functions are vital for higher-order cognitive processes, including learning and memory. The...
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep01:24

Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep

Substance use disorders involve a pattern of using drugs more extensively than intended and continuing use despite harmful consequences. This includes legal substances like alcohol and nicotine, as well as illegal drugs. These disorders often involve both physical and psychological dependence, reflecting compulsive use of substances that significantly alter thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, contributing to a major public health issue.
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Electroconvulsive Therapy01:30

Electroconvulsive Therapy

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or shock therapy, remains a critical biomedical intervention for severe, treatment-resistant depression. While its origins can be traced back to Hippocrates' observations that malaria-induced convulsions alleviated mental illness, modern ECT has evolved significantly from its earlier, more primitive applications. First introduced in 1938 by Ugo Cerletti and his colleagues, ECT involves inducing controlled seizures using electrical currents. In its early years,...