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Melatonin treatment of non-epileptic myoclonus in children
James E Jan MD FRCP(C),
Mary B C Connolly MB FRCP(C) MRCP(I) MRCP(UK),
Don Hamilton BSc Pharm,
Roger D Freeman MD CRCP(C),
Moshe Laudon PhD,
Corresponding Author
James E Jan MD FRCP(C)
Professor
Pediatric Neurologist, Division of Developmental Pediatrics
* Correspondence to the first author at Centre for Complementary Medicine Research, BC Research Institute for Children's and Women's Health, BC's Children's Hospital, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, V6H 3V4 Canada.Search for more papers by this authorMary B C Connolly MB FRCP(C) MRCP(I) MRCP(UK)
Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Child Neurology; University of British Columbia
Search for more papers by this authorDon Hamilton BSc Pharm
Clinical Coordinator
Pharmacy Department, Children's and Women's Health Centre of British Columbia
Search for more papers by this authorRoger D Freeman MD CRCP(C)
Clinical Professor
Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia; Vancouver, Canada
Search for more papers by this authorMoshe Laudon PhD
Research and Development Manager
Neurim Pharmaceuticals, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Search for more papers by this authorJames E Jan MD FRCP(C),
Mary B C Connolly MB FRCP(C) MRCP(I) MRCP(UK),
Don Hamilton BSc Pharm,
Roger D Freeman MD CRCP(C),
Moshe Laudon PhD,
Corresponding Author
James E Jan MD FRCP(C)
Professor
Pediatric Neurologist, Division of Developmental Pediatrics
* Correspondence to the first author at Centre for Complementary Medicine Research, BC Research Institute for Children's and Women's Health, BC's Children's Hospital, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, V6H 3V4 Canada.Search for more papers by this authorMary B C Connolly MB FRCP(C) MRCP(I) MRCP(UK)
Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Child Neurology; University of British Columbia
Search for more papers by this authorDon Hamilton BSc Pharm
Clinical Coordinator
Pharmacy Department, Children's and Women's Health Centre of British Columbia
Search for more papers by this authorRoger D Freeman MD CRCP(C)
Clinical Professor
Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia; Vancouver, Canada
Search for more papers by this authorMoshe Laudon PhD
Research and Development Manager
Neurim Pharmaceuticals, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Oral melatonin (MLT) has been used by our Vancouver research group in the treatment of paediatric sleep disorders since 1991; slightly over 200 children, mainly with multiple disabilities, who frequently had seizures, have been treated. Three children with markedly delayed sleep onset due to recurring myoclonus were also referred for MLT treatment: two had non-epileptic, and one had epileptic and non-epileptic myoclonus. Low doses of oral MLT (3 to 5 mg) unexpectedly abolished their myoclonus and allowed them to sleep. There were no adverse effects. It appears that certain types of myoclonus, which might be resistant to conventional anticonvulsant medications, may respond to MLT but the mechanism of action is unclear. Further research on this novel treatment is urgently needed.
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