Table 2.

Drugs	Initial and Target daily dosage	side effect	Precautions for use
Melatonine	If used as chronobiotic administer melatonin 3 or 4 h before actual sleep onset time. Start with a low dose of 0.20.5mg fast release melatonin 3 - 4 h before bedtime; increase by 0.2-0.5 mg every week as needed (maximum 3 mg; adolescents: 5 mg) until effect If no response after 1 week: increase dose by 1 mg every week until effect appears When 1 mg is effective: try lower dose Maximum dose: <40 Kg: 3 mg; >40 Kg: 5 mg If used as sleep inductor start with 1-3 mg 30 mi n before bedtime	morning drowsiness; slight transient headache and gastrointestinal symptoms during the first days of the treatment. Rarely reported dizziness, rash, and hypothermia	6 months
L-dopa	1 mg/kg/day of L-dopa (for classical DOPA responsive disorder) mg/kg/day up to 3-5 mg/kg/day, or even 8-10 mg/kg/ proceeding by very small increments and six intakes/day	Gastrointestinal disorders	Could be toxic in mithocondrial disorders
Trihexiphenidyl	Start 0.03-0.06 mg/kg/day up to 0.05-0.7 mg/kg/day by increments of 0.03-0.05 mg/kg/week in two to three daily intakes	Anthicolinergic side effects: Drowsiness, Memory impairment, Blurred vision, Dry mouth, Urinary retention, Constipation	Efficacious if administered early at onset of movement disorders
Baclofen	0.3 mg/kg/day 0.5 to 1.5 mg/kg/day, by increments of 0.1 mg/kg/week, in two to three intakes	Drowsiness, Gastrointestinal Disorders.	Worsening of axial hypotonia,
Tetrabenazine	Start 0.5 mg/kg/day 4–5 mg/kg/day (without exceeding150-200 mg/day) by increments of 0.5 mg/kg/week, beginning with one intake then two	Drowsiness, Asthenia, Parkinsonian syndrome, Depression	Caution in patients with akinetic-rigid syndome
Pimozide	Start 0.5 to 1 mg/day 2-8 mg/day in two intakes	Drowsiness, Weight Gain Long QT syndrome	Suspected susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia