The treatment of sleep disorders with melatonin
Abstract
SUMMARY Fifteen children (most of whom were neurologically multiply disabled) with severe, chronic sleep disorders were treated with 2 10 10mg of oral melatonin, given at bedtime. Nine had fragmented sleep patterns, three had delayed sleep onset and three others had non‐specific sleep disturbance of unclear aetiology; all had failed to respond to conventional management. Nine patients had ocular or cortical visual impairment. The health, behavioural and social benefits of treatment were significant, and there were no adverse side‐effects. While the response was not always complete, the study clearly showed that melatonin has an important role in the treatment of certain types of chronic sleep disorders. RÉSUMÉ La traitemenl des troubles du sommeil par la mélatonine Quinze enfants (la plupart d'entre eux présentant des incapacités neurologiques multiples) avec des troubles du sommeil sévères et chroniques, fürent traités par 2 à 10mg de mélatonine orale, administrés au moment du coucher. Neuf enfants présentaient une allure fragmentée du sommeil, trois avaient un début de sommeil retardé et les trois autres présentaient des troubles du sommeil non spécifiques et d'origine inconnue: l'échec du traitement conventionnel était manifeste dans tous les cas. Neuf patients présentaient des troubles visuels ou cortico‐visuels. Les bénéfices du traitement sur la santé, le comportement et la relation sociale fürent significatifs et il n'y ey pas d'effets secondaires désagréables. Bien…
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