[Melatonin for children with insomnia]

Abstract

Treatment for insomnia with melatonin (MT) in children and adolescents aged 0-17 years has doubled since 2011. The efficacy and safety profile for MT in children has not been determined. Recent clinical trials indicate, that MT only has a clinical effect on sleep latency, not on total sleep time. Furthermore, it has emerged, that proper sleep hygiene can cure the sleep problem in 50% of the children. Typically, the safety evaluation only entails an unclassified report of adverse events. Two long-term studies investigate and dispel the potential influence of MT on puberty.