title: Melatonin in children and adolescents with insomnia: a retrospective study.
abstract: Effectiveness and tolerability of melatonin was assessed in 32 children (mean age 9.6 +/- 4.5 years) with chronic sleep initiation and sleep maintenance problems treated naturalistically in a pediatric sleep medicine center. Children received melatonin for an average of 2.1 +/- 2.0 months at a final average dose of 2.0 +/- 1.2 mg administered 1 hour before bedtime. Twenty-nine (90.6%) children exhibited partial improvement to complete resolution of their sleep problems as measured by sleep latency time and number of awakenings reported by parents. Thus, melatonin may be effective, safe, and well tolerated in the treatment of chronic insomnia in children.
authors.affiliation: Kosair Children's Hospital Research Institute, Division of Pediatric Sleep Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ivanenko
authors.forename: Valerie McLaughlin
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Crabtree
authors.forename: Riva
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tauman
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gozal
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017286:Polysomnography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin