NICE evidence summary: unlicensed and off-label use of melatonin to treat sleep disorders in children and young people with ADHD

Source: NICE Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews The unlicensed and off-label use of melatonin to treat sleep disorders in children and young people with ADHD is the second topic to be covered by NICE as part of its new service to provide information to the NHS and patients in England about the use of unlicensed and off-label medicines.   Key points from the evidence are as follows:   . Only 1 form of melatonin (prolonged-release tablets) is currently licensed in the UK for the short-term treatment of primary insomnia, characterised by poor quality of sleep, in adults who are aged 55 years or over. Additional melatonin products are available from special-order manufacturers or specialist importing companies, or can be purchased directly online.   . No high-quality studies were identified that provided evidence for the efficacy of prolonged-release melatonin tablets (licensed in the UK) used off-label in children with sleep disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ...
Source: NeLM - Mental Health - Category: Psychiatry Source Type: news