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Generalized EpilepsyPhase 4NCT03590197

Effect of Melatonin on Seizure Outcome, Neuronal Damage and Quality of Life in Patients With Generalized Epilepsy

A Phase 4 study testing Melatonin 3 mg in people with Generalized Epilepsy, run by All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar at 1 site in India.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Epilepsy is one of the most common and frequently encountered neurological conditions that impose a huge burden on the healthcare systems. Despite the abundance of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) available, 30% of people continue to have seizures even after long-term therapy of 6-8 years. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 60 years
Conditions the study is for
Generalized Epilepsy
What is being tested?
Melatonin 3 mg
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
104 participants
Where
1 siteIndia
Study dates
6 Aug 2018to 12 Apr 2020
Phase
Phase 4
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 60 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • All patients with the clinical diagnosis of generalized epilepsy with generalised onset motor seizure (ILAE 2017) with a history of an episode of seizure within 72 hours of presentation.
  • Patients aged 18-60 years, of either sex.
  • Treatment-naive patients or patients who had not taken any treatment for at least 4 weeks before inclusion.

Who cannot join

  • History of any recent traumatic brain injury, cerebral ischemia/TIA/stroke.
  • Patients with neuroendocrinal tumors.
  • History of any invasive neurosurgical/non-invasive neuropsychiatric procedure.
  • Patients who are already under treatment for the presenting conditions.
  • Medication history of psychoactive or central nervous system depressant drugs.
  • Pregnant and nursing women.
Show all 9Show fewer
  • Patients with a history of allergy to valproate, melatonin or other melatonin agonists.
  • Patients with drug/alcohol abuse.
  • Patients with any hepatic dysfunction.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

India1 site
  • All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)

    Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751019

Other trials in India

About this study

Official title: Effect of Melatonin on Seizure Outcome, Neuronal Damage and Quality of Life in Patients With Generalized Epilepsy: A Randomized, add-on Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial

Epilepsy is one of the most common and frequently encountered neurological conditions that impose a huge burden on the healthcare systems. Despite the abundance of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) available, 30% of people continue to have seizures even after long-term therapy of 6-8 years. This group of people requires a more aggressive treatment since monotherapy, the first choice scheme, is not sufficient to control seizure and its complications, multiple drug therapy or polytherapy often results in the culmination of unwanted effects. The need for an add-on AEDs with a good safety profile is of utmost importance.The beneficial effects of melatonin on sleep, its wide safety window, and its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier have the potential to improve the quality of life in seizure patients. Various animal studies have suggested that melatonin receptors are the potential targets for anticonvulsant drug development. In animal studies, melatonin was found to suppress generalized seizure and seizure susceptibility and it also has neuroprotection and synapse modulating properties. Some clinical trials mostly on paediatric population also found that melatonin can improve the clinical outcome in epilepsy. Therefore, we have planned to conduct a randomized, add-on placebo-controlled clinical trial on the effect of melatonin on seizure outcome, neuronal damage and quality of life in adult patients with generalized seizure.

Read the detailed description

Epilepsy is a chronic disabling neurologic condition which often leads to numerous adverse long-term neurologic complications, such as behavioural and cognitive deficits, increased susceptibility to recurrent seizures, and neuronal injury or death. Cognitive dysfunction, depression, anxiety and sleep disorders are some of the highly prevalent and most debilitating complications of epilepsy. Despite the abundance of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), even after long-term treatment of 6-8 years, 30% of patients continue having seizures. This group of patients requires a more aggressive treatment, since monotherapy fails to control seizures, considering the fact that the number of seizures is the single most important predictive factor for both early and long-term remission of seizures. Nevertheless, polytherapy often results in a number of adverse effects. The need for better-tolerated add-on therapy is the need of the hour to overcome this therapeutic hurdle.

Melatonin, an endogenous hormone, acting through MT1 and MT2 receptors exert a depressive effect on brain excitability and have been shown to exert an anticonvulsant activity in various animal models. In some clinical trials also it has been found that add-on melatonin therapy improves the clinical outcome. Uberoset al evaluated the sleep-wake pattern, plasma melatonin levels and the urinary excretion of its metabolite among children with severe epileptic disorders, before and after a therapeutic trial with melatonin. They found sleep efficiency was significantly higher and better controls of convulsive episodes were achieved with among patients who received melatonin. Goldberg-Stern et aland Elkhayat et al concluded that melatonin could be effective and safe for decreasing seizure frequency and severity in patients with intractable epilepsy. Gupta et al found that melatonin has the potential to improve quality of life in pediatric epilepsy because of its beneficial effects on sleep, its wide safety window, and its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. In another study by Jain SV et al melatonin resulted in a statistically significant decrease in sleep onset latency and wakefulness after sleep onset. Guptaet al also concluded that add-on melatonin can be of promise in the pharmacotherapy of pediatric epilepsy and as an adjunct, can be a putative neuroprotector in conditions involving oxidative stress like epilepsies. Dabak et al and Brazil et measured melatonin in febrile seizure and temporal lobe epilepsy and found to be lower in epilepsy in comparison to the controls.

Our literature review reveals that till date most of the clinical studies on the effect of melatonin in epilepsy have been conducted in the pediatric population and there is no clinical trial done on its effect on seizure outcome, neuroprotective effect, sleep and circadian rhythm and quality of life in adult patients with epilepsy. So the present randomized clinical trial has been designed to fill the knowledge gap and evaluate the effect of add-on melatonin on seizure severity, neuronal damage and sleep quality in adult patients suffering from a generalized seizure.

Being tested
Melatonin 3 mg, Placebo
Keywords
Melatonin, Neuron-specific Enolase, Responder rate
Medical subject headings
Epilepsy, Generalized

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Melatonin 3 mgDrug

    Melatonin 3 mg/ day with Valproate

  • PlaceboOther

    Placebo with Valproate

Study groups in NCT03590197
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Control ArmPlacebo comparatorThe patients in Control Arm will receive placebo with valproate (20 mg/kg).
Receives: Other: Placebo
Melatonin ArmExperimentalThe Experimental Arm will receive tablet melatonin as an add-on to valproate. Melatonin will be prescribed 3 mg/day to the patients and will be advised to take 30 minutes before bedtime.
Receives: Drug: Melatonin 3 mg

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change in Responder Rate from baseline

    Responder rate is defined as percentage of patients having ≥50% reduction in seizure frequency.

    Measured: Baseline, 8 weeks

Secondary outcomes (6)
  1. Change in seizure severity from baseline

    The change in seizure severity in terms of change in Chalfont-National Hospital seizure severity scale (NHS3)

    Measured: Baseline , 8 weeks

  2. Change in neuronal damage from baseline

    The change in neuronal damage in terms of change in serum NSE (Neuron-specific Enolase) level

    Measured: Baseline, 8 weeks

  3. Change in sleep quality from the baseline

    The change in sleep quality in terms of change in Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) score

    Measured: Baseline, 8 weeks

  4. Change in day time sleepiness from the baseline

    The change in daytime sleepiness in terms of change in Epworth sleepiness scale

    Measured: Baseline, 8 weeks

  5. Change in antioxidant property from the baseline

    The change in antioxidant property in terms of change in serum glutathione reductase

    Measured: Baseline, 8 weeks

  6. Change in the quality of life from the baseline

    The change in the quality of life in terms of change in Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory (QOLIE-31)

    Measured: Baseline, 8 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted18 Jul 2018
  2. Study start6 Aug 2018
  3. Primary completion3 Mar 2020
  4. Study completion12 Apr 2020

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Triple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator
Enrolment
104 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03590197
Sponsor's protocol ID
IEC/AIIMSBBSR/PGTh/18-19/02
Status last verified
Sep 2020
First submitted
6 Jul 2018
Last updated
3 Sep 2020
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Undecided

Publications

  • Cramer JA, Perrine K, Devinsky O, Bryant-Comstock L, Meador K, Hermann B. Development and cross-cultural translations of a 31-item quality of life in epilepsy inventory. Epilepsia. 1998 Jan;39(1):81-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1998.tb01278.x.

    PubMed 9578017
  • Vimala PV, Bhutada PS, Patel FR. Therapeutic potential of agomelatine in epilepsy and epileptic complications. Med Hypotheses. 2014 Jan;82(1):105-10. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2013.11.017. Epub 2013 Nov 21.

    PubMed 24314750
  • Cockerell OC, Sander JW, Shorvon SD. Remission of epilepsy. The NGPS. National General Practice Study of Epilepsy. Lancet. 1995 Nov 4;346(8984):1228. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(95)92933-9. No abstract available.

    PubMed 7475682
  • MacDonald BK, Johnson AL, Goodridge DM, Cockerell OC, Sander JW, Shorvon SD. Factors predicting prognosis of epilepsy after presentation with seizures. Ann Neurol. 2000 Dec;48(6):833-41.

    PubMed 11117539
  • Yalyn O, Arman F, Erdogan F, Kula M. A comparison of the circadian rhythms and the levels of melatonin in patients with diurnal and nocturnal complex partial seizures. Epilepsy Behav. 2006 May;8(3):542-6. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2005.12.015. Epub 2006 Mar 9.

    PubMed 16524783
  • Costa-Lotufo LV, Fonteles MM, Lima IS, de Oliveira AA, Nascimento VS, de Bruin VM, Viana GS. Attenuating effects of melatonin on pilocarpine-induced seizures in rats. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol. 2002 Apr;131(4):521-9. doi: 10.1016/s1532-0456(02)00037-6.

    PubMed 11976067
  • Borowicz KK, Kaminski R, Gasior M, Kleinrok Z, Czuczwar SJ. Influence of melatonin upon the protective action of conventional anti-epileptic drugs against maximal electroshock in mice. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 1999 Mar;9(3):185-90. doi: 10.1016/s0924-977x(98)00022-4.

    PubMed 10208286
  • Lima E, Cabral FR, Cavalheiro EA, Naffah-Mazzacoratti Mda G, Amado D. Melatonin administration after pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus: a new way to prevent or attenuate postlesion epilepsy? Epilepsy Behav. 2011 Apr;20(4):607-12. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2011.01.018. Epub 2011 Mar 30.

    PubMed 21454134
  • Yahyavi-Firouz-Abadi N, Tahsili-Fahadan P, Riazi K, Ghahremani MH, Dehpour AR. Involvement of nitric oxide pathway in the acute anticonvulsant effect of melatonin in mice. Epilepsy Res. 2006 Feb;68(2):103-13. doi: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2005.09.057. Epub 2006 Jan 10.

    PubMed 16406488
  • Goldberg-Stern H, Oren H, Peled N, Garty BZ. Effect of melatonin on seizure frequency in intractable epilepsy: a pilot study. J Child Neurol. 2012 Dec;27(12):1524-8. doi: 10.1177/0883073811435916. Epub 2012 Feb 28.

    PubMed 22378657
  • Gupta M, Aneja S, Kohli K. Add-on melatonin improves quality of life in epileptic children on valproate monotherapy: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Epilepsy Behav. 2004 Jun;5(3):316-21. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2004.01.012.

    PubMed 15145300
  • Singer MA. Effects of furosemide and ethacrynic acid on cation transport across phospholipid bilayer membranes. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 1974 Oct;52(5):930-41. doi: 10.1139/y74-122. No abstract available.

    PubMed 4425994
  • Gupta M, Aneja S, Kohli K. Add-on melatonin improves sleep behavior in children with epilepsy: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Child Neurol. 2005 Feb;20(2):112-5. doi: 10.1177/08830738050200020501.

    PubMed 15794175
  • Gupta M, Gupta YK, Agarwal S, Aneja S, Kohli K. A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial of melatonin add-on therapy in epileptic children on valproate monotherapy: effect on glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase enzymes. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2004 Nov;58(5):542-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.2004.02210.x.

    PubMed 15521903
  • Bertaina-Anglade V, Drieu-La-Rochelle C, Mocaer E, Seguin L. Memory facilitating effects of agomelatine in the novel object recognition memory paradigm in the rat. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2011 Jun;98(4):511-7. doi: 10.1016/j.pbb.2011.02.015. Epub 2011 Feb 22.

    PubMed 21352847

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 4 study testing Melatonin 3 mg in people with Generalized Epilepsy, run by All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar at 1 site in India.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Sep 2020. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in India. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change in Responder Rate from baseline (time frame: Baseline, 8 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03590197, which also lists 32 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 3 Sep 2020.

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