Refractory Insomnia in an Adolescent with Total Blindness

Andrew S Tubbs; Michael A Grandner; Daniel Combs

Refractory Insomnia in an Adolescent with Total Blindness

Yale J Biol Med. 2019 Jun 27;92(2):201-204. eCollection 2019 Jun.

Authors

Andrew S Tubbs¹, Michael A Grandner¹, Daniel Combs^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Sleep and Health Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
² Department of Pediatrics, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
³ Department of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.

PMID: 31249480
PMCID: PMC6585511

Abstract

We present a totally blind adolescent with refractory insomnia due to a combination of Non-24 hour sleep-wake disorder and restless leg syndrome that was successfully treated with tasimelteon, iron replacement, and gabapentin. To our knowledge, this is the first published report of treatment of N24 with tasimelteon in an adolescent. In addition, this case highlights the importance of recognizing and treating multifactorial causes of insomnia.

Keywords: adolescent; insomnia; non-24 hour sleep-wake disorder; tasimelteon.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Benzofurans / administration & dosage
Benzofurans / therapeutic use
Blindness / complications*
Cyclopropanes / administration & dosage
Cyclopropanes / therapeutic use
Drug Resistance
Drug Therapy, Combination
Female
Gabapentin / administration & dosage
Gabapentin / therapeutic use
Humans
Iron / administration & dosage
Iron / therapeutic use
Restless Legs Syndrome / complications*
Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / complications
Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / drug therapy*
Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / physiopathology
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / complications*

Substances

Benzofurans
Cyclopropanes
Gabapentin
Iron
tasimelteon