The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point
  • About this web log

    This blog ran from 2006 to 2016 and was intended as an objective and dispassionate source of information on the latest CAM research. Since my background is in pharmacy and allopathic medicine, I view all CAM as advancing through the development pipeline to eventually become integrated into mainstream medical practice. Some will succeed while others fail. But all are treated fairly here.

  • About the author

    John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

  • Common sense considerations

    The material on this weblog is for informational purposes. It is not medical advice or counsel. Be smart, consult your health professional before using CAM.

  • Recent Posts

  • Recent Comments

    Melatonin treatment of insomnia in ADHD

    Researchers from Duke University Hospital, in Durham, North Carolina found positive effects in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

    First, the details.

    • 20 studies, reviews, and letters were evaluated.
    • Studies included children 6-14 years old.
    • Melatonin doses ranged from 3 to 6 mg administered within a few hours of a scheduled bedtime.

    And, the results.

    • In 4 studies in children with ADHD and insomnia, faster sleep onset and sleep latency (time from trying to sleep to sleeping) were reported.
    • Side effects were transient and mild.

    The bottom line?

    Pediatric insomnia is common in children with ADHD. It affects academic performance, social functioning, overall health, and family life.

    Once the diagnosis is made, melatonin helps regulate the child’s circadian rhythm — the roughly 24-hour cycle in the biochemical, physiological, or behavioral processes.

    Melatonin research results are limited by small numbers of patients studied; short duration of treatment and follow-up, and variable inclusion criteria; ADHD criteria; and treatment assessments.

    Regardless, the authors concluded, “Available data suggest that melatonin is a well-tolerated and efficacious treatment option for pediatric patients with chronic sleep-onset insomnia and ADHD.”

    3/21/10 13:22 JR

    Comments are closed.