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Melatonin for children with autism spectrum disorder

Tyler Yan, Ran D Goldman

    Canadian Family Physician Medecin De Famille Canadien
    |March 14, 2020
    PubMed

    Insights

    Melatonin may be an effective and safe treatment for sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While behavioral therapy is the first-line approach, melatonin can serve as an alternative or adjunctive therapy for ASD-related sleep issues.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatric sleep medicine
    • Neurodevelopmental disorders

    Background:

    • Sleep difficulties are common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), impacting overall quality of life.
    • Behavioral therapy is the primary treatment for sleep problems in children with ASD.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of melatonin as a treatment for sleep problems in children with ASD.

    Main Methods:

    • Literature review of studies on melatonin for sleep issues in children with ASD.
    • Analysis of existing data on melatonin's efficacy and safety in this population.

    Main Results:

    • Melatonin has been reported as effective and safe for children with ASD experiencing sleep difficulties.
    • A new pediatric prolonged-release melatonin formulation shows promise in European studies.

    Conclusions:

    • Melatonin is a viable alternative or adjunctive treatment for sleep problems in children with ASD.
    • Further research and availability of new formulations are warranted.

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