Melatonin - Gilbertville,MA

You can actually get Melatonin over the counter in the vitamin section. My son took it for quite a while. It's just to help form a sleep routine per say. So it's not dangerous that I know of and it did help my son. Sometimes if he's having a hard time falling asleep now he'll still ask for it.

I also recommend Melatonin. It is all natural and available over the counter so I'm curious as to why it was prescribed. My daughter, now 13 takes it when she can't sleep, and I take it most nights as well. I've always had trouble falling asleep and I'd rather not take a chemical sleep aid like Ambien etc... It is also great to help regulate sleep for any who travel and have trouble with time changes.

I tried taking Melatonin myself years ago and had a very bad reaction- My head got all tingly, I got very dizzy. I literally crawled into my room and I don't know if I fell asleep or passed out. It was pretty scary.I know of people who have used it w/o problem but just be aware to watch for side effects. Have you taken your son to a sleep clinic? I would be very hesitant to start with sleep aids at such a young age. I have been fortunate enough to have children who sleep well (knock on wood1) but I'm sure it must be very difficult to deal with sleep issues. Maybe a sleep clinic could be helpful? Or learning relaxation techniques?

Good luck!
R.

My oldest son who is now 20 takes Melatonin and he buys it over the counter. He started it when he was about 15 and only takes it during spring and summer to help with sleeping. He has done great with it but of course he is older and knows more about his body and sleeping habits. My 10 year old daughter was having trouble sleeping last year and we thought about trying Melatonin for her but we opted for more natural things (deep breathing, using a stop watch to take pulse, etc.). This really helped with her because it just made her more aware of her body and the need to relax in order to get to sleep. I would say if you have tried other things and your child needs the added help then Melatonin is a good choice because it is not too strong and has not been proven to be addictive that I've heard.

Good Luck

Hi Rachel,
My son is 7 and he was started on the clonindine and had the same affect....only he wasnt waking up at night. I was told to give him melatonin(which you get over the counter) because after a month or so the clonidine wasn't working as well. I don't know if maybe the build up a tolerance to it, but the malatonin helped and I was assured it is harmless to give it to him(i worried with everything he was already taking). I'm now at the point where he was evaluated and they suggested we may need to adjust the clonidine. I too was worried about the clonidine...it made him barely able to keep his eyes open, but now a year later its almost like it isnt working anymore even with the melatonin added in. good luck!
S.

My daughter takes Melatonin and has for about 3 years now. She has had no problems with it. Melatonin is an all natural sleep aid that your own body produces. Some people don't produce enough and need the extra supplement. It does not zonk her out or make her drowsy and she does sleep through the night with it.

I was just curious. Why does he need something to help him sleep?

I would be really interested to hear how your son does on the melatonin. I have a 4 year old that has been taking clonidine for a year for sleep issues. He goes through phases (while on clonidine) where he'll wake up once or twice a night for a week or so, then go back to sleeping through the night. He was only lethargic in the mornings for the first week he was on it; since then he's been fine.

I am just a bit worried about upping the dosage as he gets bigger. He's on a very low dose now, but since melatonin is natural, I'm wondering if it might be a better alternative.

Is your son hyperactive? Mine is, but does not have ADD or ADHD...he is just very active and has trouble getting to sleep. We did try all of the behavior modifications, etc. He is very cooperative. He just lies there for hours, awake, without medication. So I suspect this issue is one that is not going to go away on its own.

Well...good luck! Please let us know how you make out!

C.

I know someone that gives her daughter melatonin. Her daughter is now 11 but she has been taking it for years and it works for her. I was actually thinking about getting some to try myself.

they sell it over the counter just in case it might be cheaper than prescription

For those of you who have tried Melatonin and not had success - I found that using time-release melatonin worked much better for my child. I had the same problem with Clonidine - after he'd been on it a while it stopped working as well. I think it's definitely a better choice to go with the Melatonin - which is a natural supplement - rather than a medicine like clonidine. The clonidine caused major constipation issues in my child too - which a year later we are still struggling with.

Hi Rachel-

My daughter recently started taking Melatonin to help her sleep. She is 7 years old and has been a poor sleeper since infancy. As a baby she would need to nurse to sleep and be held while sleeping. As a toddler/pre-schooler/K-1st grader she would need you to lie next to her until she fell asleep. We tried a million other things (white noise, DVD player, lots of exercise to tire her out, books on tape) and nothing we tried was hugely successful.

Last year she was diagnosed with ADHD-inattentive type. I did a lot of research and found that sleep issues are common for kids with ADHD. Their bodies do not produce enough Melatonin naturally, so they cannot "shut off" their brains and relax enough to fall asleep.

We decided to give Melatonin a try. You can find Melatonin in the vitamin section of the grocery store/Target/Walmart. My daughter (who is 69 pounds) takes one tablet (3mg) 30 minutes before bedtime. We have a consistent bedtime routine for her: bath, reading, snuggle time. By the time snuggle time arrives, she is rubbing her eyes, yawning and sleepy. I kiss her goodnight and she is usually asleep within ten minutes.

The first two weeks, she would still get up several times during the night. She has been taking melantonin for about a month now, and she sleeps through the night.

We have not noticed any side effects.

I can only relate my personal experience - taking Melatonin has really helped my daughter. There are no more bedtime battles. I have more "adult" time because I no longer have to lie down with her until she falls asleep. Bedtime is really peaceful and much easier. Good Luck with your little one.

T. Y
SAHM of almost 4 (9yrs, 7yrs, 21 months and 32 weeks pregnant)