title: Melatonin to prevent migraine or tension-type headache in children.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Child Neurology, Paediatric Sleep Centre and Paediatric Headache Centre, La Sapienza University - II Faculty c/o Sant' Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miano
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parisi
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pelliccia
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luchetti
authors.forename: Maria Chiara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Paolino
authors.forename: Maria Pia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Villa
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D008550:Melatonin