PARTICIPANTS
abdominal cramps, confusion, anxiety, seizure, cerebral ischemia/TIA/stroke, disorientation, drug/alcohol addiction, tremors, brain injury, traumatic, reduced alertness, hepatic dysfunction, depression, irritability, EGTCS
DRUG INTERACTIONS, NEUROENDOCRINE TUMORS
Inclusion criteria were adult patients (aged between 18 and 60 years old) with confirmed EGTCS, a history of recent episodes (1–4 episodes) of seizure attacks (received valproic acid [10 mg/kg/day] for the last 6 months), and serum concentrations of 75–125 μg/ml at the time of enrollment. Because of the potential for drug interactions between ASMs and melatonin, to reduce the effects of drug interactions on the results of our study, the authors decided to use only valproic acid‐treated patients. Some drug interactions have been reported between melatonin and valproic acid; thus, for the evaluation of these interactions, during periodic examinations, patients were evaluated for short‐lasting feelings of depression, mild tremors, mild anxiety, abdominal cramps, irritability, reduced alertness, confusion, or disorientation.Exclusion criteria were any recent traumatic brain injury, cerebral ischemia/TIA/stroke, neuroendocrine tumors, invasive neurosurgical/non‐invasive neuropsychiatric operation, pregnant women, a history of valproic acid or melatonin allergies, drug/alcohol addiction, and hepatic dysfunction. Informed consent was obtained from all participants or their parents/legal guardians.