Dexmedetomidine at Home for Intractable Dystonia and Insomnia in Children With Special Needs: A Case Series

Abstract

Background: We know that syndromic conditions and severe chronic diseases can be associated with symptoms that may interfere with sleep, significantly impacting the life quality of children and caregivers. Drugs commonly used in treating insomnia, such as melatonin, benzodiazepines, niaprazine, and antihistamines, are often either ineffective or associated with adverse effects, requiring new therapeutic perspectives. Dexmedetomidine is a selective alpha-2 agonist with hypnotic and anxiolytic effects, which, by stimulating alpha-2 adrenergic receptors in the locus coeruleus, induces sleep comparable to stages 2-3 of the non-REM phase without substantially affecting the respiratory drive during sedation. Its use has already been extensively described in pediatric intensive care or procedural sedation literature. In 2018, the Italian Medicines Agency (Agenzia Italiana Del Farmaco AIFA) authorized the off-label use of dexmedetomidine outside of intensive care in Children undergoing palliative treatment to control distressing symptoms related to pathology and refractory sleep disorders, and the literature reported cases of children who received dexmedetomidine at home.

Objective: Our study aims to describe the home use of dexmedetomidine in children with insomnia or intractable dystonic states.

Measures: We conducted a retrospective analysis through a questionnaire addressed to 12 Italian pediatric palliative care centers regarding the home use of dexmedetomidine in sleep disorders and intractable dystonic states.

Intervention: We collected a case series of 9 children treated with dexmedetomidine at home, 8 via intranasal and 1 via intravenous route. All children received the first drug administration in the hospital or hospice during a dedicated admission, under close monitoring of vital signs parameters for 72 hours (3 days, range 2-7 days). After discharge, the potential side effects of the drug were explained to the patient's families, and, once informed consent was obtained, the home administration of dexmedetomidine continued, with follow-up by the palliative care team. At home, dexmedetomidine was administered for 3000 days (minimum 1 month, maximum 36 months). The first patient was treated for 1095 days, from 2019 to 2021 (discontinued due to underlying condition-related death).

Outcomes: All patients observed a persistent benefit from the treatment on symptoms, and none of them discontinued dexmedetomidine administration due to drug-related adverse effects or perceived lack of therapeutic efficacy.

Conclusions: Therefore, its use at home may represent a promising therapeutic approach for intractable sleep disorders or dystonic states in pediatric palliative care children. Further studies are needed to confirm our results.

Keywords: Home setting; intranasal dexmedetomidine; pediatric palliative care.