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Melatonin and sleep-related problems in children with intractable epilepsy

Hamed A Elkhayat1, Sahar M Hassanein, Hoda Y Tomoum

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

Pediatric Neurology
|March 23, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Melatonin supplements can improve sleep problems and reduce seizure severity in children with intractable epilepsy. This study found significant improvements in various sleep issues and fewer seizures after melatonin therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Epileptology

Background:

  • Children with epilepsy frequently experience sleep disturbances.
  • Melatonin is a recognized treatment for insomnia, suggesting potential benefits for epilepsy-related sleep issues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate melatonin levels in children with intractable epilepsy.
  • To investigate the relationship between melatonin levels, sleep patterns, and seizure characteristics.
  • To assess the impact of melatonin therapy on sleep and seizure control in these children.

Main Methods:

  • A study involving 23 children with intractable epilepsy and 14 with controlled seizures.
  • Psychometric sleep assessments and diurnal/nocturnal melatonin level assays were performed.
  • Children with intractable epilepsy received oral melatonin and were reassessed after 3 months.

Main Results:

  • Children with intractable epilepsy showed higher scores for sleep walking, teeth grinding, and sleep apnea.
  • Melatonin therapy led to significant improvements in bedtime resistance, sleep duration, sleep latency, nocturnal arousals, sleep walking, daytime sleepiness, nocturnal enuresis, teeth grinding, sleep apnea, and Epworth sleepiness scores.
  • A significant reduction in seizure severity was observed.

Conclusions:

  • Melatonin therapy in children with intractable epilepsy is associated with improvements in numerous sleep-related phenomena.
  • Melatonin treatment may also lead to a reduction in seizure severity in this patient population.

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