EEG changes associated with the use of chloral hydrate (50 mg/Kg) to induce sleep were evaluated in 50 epileptic children (ages 1 to 12 years), either taking no anticonvulsants or on monotherapy. It was observed that chloral hydrate was capable of inducing sleep without side effects and was capable of modifying the sleep EEG, improving organization of sleep spindles and generalized paroxysms.
chloral hydrate; sleep EEG; epilepsy