title: [Treatment with ramelteon for sleep disturbance in severely disabled children and young adults].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of ramelteon for severely disabled children and young adults who had already been treated for sleep disturbance with melatonin at a dose of 3 mg.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven patients, who were aged between 3-25 years and included 4 patients with cerebral palsy, -took 3-8 mg of ramelteon at bedtime, after a one-week of washout period. Sleep states were evaluated using sleep diaries recorded by caregivers or using actigraphs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ramelteon was effective in 8 out of the 11 patients. Ramelteon was tolerated well except for mild daytime sleepiness in three patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This preliminary study showed the efficacy and safety of ramelteon for sleep disturbance in severely disabled children and young adults. Further trials are necessary to determine optimal dosage and safety of ramelteon in children.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Asahikawa Habilitation Center for Disabled Children, Asahikawa, Hokkaido. akiem@potato4.hokkai.net
authors: Akie
authors: A
authors: Miyamoto
authors: Ikue
authors: I
authors: Fukuda
authors: Hajime
authors: H
authors: Tanaka
authors: Ryuuji
authors: R
authors: Oka
authors: Akiko
authors: A
authors: Araki
authors: Kazuhiko
authors: K
authors: Cho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007192:Indenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000187:drug effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007192:Indenes; C495910:ramelteon; D008550:Melatonin