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Document Type |
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Article In Journal |
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Document Title |
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Melatonin for the Treatment of Handicapped Children With Severe Sleep Disorders Melatonin for the Treatment of Handicapped Children With Severe Sleep Disorders |
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Document Language |
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English |
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Abstract |
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Sleep disorders are common in children with mental
retardation and neurologic disorders. Melatonin, a
recently developed natural compound, has been used
successfully in sleep disorders. I report my experience
with melatonin in an open, prospective trial to treat
circadian rhythm sleep disorder in handicapped children.
The sleep disorder had been present for at least
6 months and had not responded to at least one
hypnotic drug. The therapeutic response was recorded
according to the average number of hours asleep per
24 hours, average number of awakening per night,
average number of nights with delayed sleep onset, and
average number of nights with early morning arousals.
Ten consecutive children (four males, six females; age
range 5 1-11 years, mean 5.4) were included. Nine
children had documented mental retardation that was
severe in six (67%). Most had epilepsy and visual
impairment (70%). All children were monitored for
4-12 months (mean 7.5 months) after the initiation of
3-mg bedtime melatonin. Most (80%) had a dramatic
response to melatonin. No side effects were reported.
Melatonin is a well-tolerated, safe, relatively inexpensive,
and effective drug, with minimal side effects, for
the treatment of severe circadian rhythm sleep disorder
in handicapped children. Wider use of this drug is
recommended. © 2000 by Elsevier Science Inc. All
rights reserved |
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ISSN |
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0887-8994 |
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Journal Name |
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Pediatric Neurology |
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Volume |
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23 |
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Issue Number |
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3 |
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Publishing Year |
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1421 AH
2000 AD |
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Article Type |
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Article |
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Added Date |
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Saturday, March 22, 2008 |
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Researchers
| محمد جان | Jan, Mohammed | Researcher | Doctorate | |
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