Melatonin

Replies

By lulu

Re: Melatonin
Wed 5 Mar 2008 13:56

Hi Beverley,
Sorry to read about the difficulties you are having.
I did not think that melatonin was prescribed in the UK but I could be wrong maybe things have changed.
I would go by what the peadiatrician has suggested but I can understand your fears.
I do hope that someone will be able to help.
Wendy

By jeanette

Re: Melatonin
Wed 5 Mar 2008 13:56

hi Crystal. I do know that our local children's hospital uses it to help their patients have as natural sleep as possible. It is a drug that is also used abroad for jet lag in adults. Obviously the dosage is different.
My daughter has used it (though she is an adult with lots of probs) It worked for a while but I was reluctant to increase the dosage so stopped it. I know also that it is one of the safer drugs,but there is a lot of info on the net which should help you too.
It is worth a try (in my opinion)!! I am glad I did .

By julie-ann

Re: Melatonin
Wed 5 Mar 2008 14:02

hi we try melatonin it helped but not for long so we stopped it my son is 8 has autisum and other probs go 2 a specail school hope things go ok 4u

By morello

Re: Melatonin
Wed 5 Mar 2008 14:59

This was suggested to me for my autistic caree. She cant take tablets so it meant buying it from the US and to be honest I find it disgusting, that it can be prescribed but not for sleeping problems. We are used to two hours a night with ours,she never sleeps some nights, they tried other medication but it had a wakening effect. Personally I think they couldnt be bothered as she was awake anyway. I hear it does work for some, but maybe you have to believe in it. I know it is used for jet log as the neurologist told me he used it. What to use for "constant" jetlag is beyond me. I look like and feel like a zombie.
Mo

By crystalriver

Re: Melatonin
Wed 5 Mar 2008 15:03

Thanks for your replies i think i may give the Melatonin a go, it would be good if it managed to get Ethan into a routine if only for awhile, I dont know if its because he's getting older but up to a few months ago he was always good at night, now he would stay up all night & still be busy the next day, (if only i had some of the energy) I sometimes think he doesn't like me & my husband because the school & every one else he comes into contact with say what a lovely boy he is, i said to one of the teacher's they must have a different boy to the one we have at home. Luckily the health visitor witnessed him attacking me, and i was actually glad that some one had seen the other side of him.
Thanks again for your replies.
Beverley

By Tricia

Re: Melatonin
Wed 5 Mar 2008 15:11

Hello Beverley

My son was pescribed Melatonin a few years ago but had to go to the hosptial pharmacy to collect his medication as it was not available with a pescription at the chemist back then. We tried it for a while but no use for my son as he is autistic and we too had other issues relating more to his condtion than just sleepless nights.

However, saying that I do know of parent/carers who have used melatonin to help regulate sleeping patterns and has been a godsend for them in establishing an almost normal sleeping pattern in their child.

By Mags

Re: Melatonin
Wed 5 Mar 2008 15:55

We have had the same experience as Tricia, years ago our daughter was perscribed it and we had to collect it from the hospital phamacy. It didn't work for us but it has for some people I know. Worth a try though?
Hugs Mags x x x

By crystalriver

Re: Melatonin
Wed 5 Mar 2008 16:22

Thanks Mags & Tricia, I have just rang the Dr & said we would give it a try. Will let you know how it goes. Thanks to all of you.
Beverley

By kerry

Re: Melatonin
Wed 5 Mar 2008 20:36

hi bev
kerry here, my boys were always the same with wee wee and poopoo! lol.
but got eldest clean by 3 and a half day time and aged 10 at night. youngest was clean aged about 7 day time and still, at night ,has accidents.
anyway i had melatonin suggested to me but my GP wa sagainst it as it can cause side effects etc and often doesnt work.
also i have friends that have tried it on their kids and said it doesnt work.
but he gave us valergen which is basically an anti histomin (so it stopped them scratching at night too and therefore their exema cleared up on their bellies).
its like a very mild sedative and it worked well for the boys.
i didnt use it for long though as we were trying to ge tthem out of nappies at night so thought it would be counter-productive:
us wanting them to wake up when they needed the commode and them not being able to!
anyway i dont know if Melatonin works and would not take what my GP says as gospel cos hes an idiot mostly, but thats what ive been told about it.
have you had any news about ethans genetic results yet?
kerry

By crystalriver

Re: Melatonin
Thu 6 Mar 2008 11:08

Hi Kerry, Thanks for the reply i'm waiting for my GP to ring me with his views (wont hold my breath) still not heard anything about the genetics, waiting for Ethan to see the heart specialist as well, Ethan's quite good with his wee sits on the potty or loo its just the other he's fascinated with it, looks most puzzled. Hope your family are keeping as ok.
Beverley