Melatonin to prevent migraine or tension-type headache in children.
We designed a 3-month open label trial of melatonin prophylaxis in children with primary headache. After a one month baseline period without receiving preventive drugs, all children received a 3-month course of melatonin, 3 mg, administered orally, at bedtime. A total of 22 children were enrolled (10 boys, mean age 12.2+/-2.6 years, age range 6-16 years), 13 had recurrent migraine without aura, 1 with aura and 8 had chronic tension-type headache. When the trial ended, 14 of the 21 subjects reported that the headache attacks had decreased by more than 50% in respect to baseline and 4 of them reported having no headache attacks. After receiving melatonin for one month one subject dropped out because of excessive daytime sleepiness. Our promising results warrant randomized placebo-controlled trials in children to assess the real effectiveness of melatonin in preventing primary headache.
Miano
Silvia
S
Child Neurology, Paediatric Sleep Centre and Paediatric Headache Centre, La Sapienza University - II Faculty c/o Sant' Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy.
Parisi
Pasquale
P
Pelliccia
Andrea
A
Luchetti
Anna
A
Paolino
Maria Chiara
MC
Villa
Maria Pia
MP
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D003244:Consciousness Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000187:drug effects; D018781:Tension-Type Headache / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D008550:Melatonin