Treatment
Common treatments for non-24-hour sleep-wake syndrome are similar to those for delayed sleep phase syndrome. They include light therapy with a full spectrum lamp giving—usually—10,000 lux, hypnotics and/or stimulants (to promote sleep and wakefulness, respectively) and melatonin supplements. In any case, a sleep diary should be kept to aid in evaluation of treatment.
Light therapy has been shown useful in treating DSPS; effects on patients with Non-24 are less clear. Melatonin administration has been shown to be effective for mild cases of Non-24, particularly among the blind. It often takes several treatments before any progress is noticed, and for many the treatments may only be marginally effective or not effective at all. In addition, the treatment is not a cure, and the condition may only be managed.
Bright light therapy combined with the use of melatonin as a chronobiotic (as per the PRC) may be the most effective treatment. However the timing of both is tricky and a lot of determination and experimentation is usually required.
Currently, there is no treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for Non-24 in blind people without light perception, though clinical studies are underway.
Read more about this topic: Non-24-hour Sleep-wake Disorder
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