- Empiric evidence for efficacy in improving sleep onset in typically developing children and those with neurodevelopmental disorders
- Minimal effects on sleep architecture
- Acceptability to caregivers
- Low side effect profile
- Widely available
- Low cost
- Low-dose and liquid preparations available
| - Long-term side effects uncertain
- Few or no studies in other psychiatric populations (eg, anxiety, mood disorders)
- Dosing timing is important and depends on clinical use (several hours before bedtime for circadian rhythm effects or shortly before bedtime for sleep-onset insomnia)
- Relatively little evidence to support the use of extended-release formulation for sleep-maintenance insomnia
- Reliability of over-the-counter preparations uncertain
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