Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi Im very new to this and just after a bit of advice. Our son who is 3 1/2 is due to be officially diagnosed next week, we have already been told it will be high functioning autism but need professionals to meet and agree.
He has been on 3mg of melatonin for about 6 weeks now, after the 1st week he slept a full night for the 1st time ever, and has so since only ever waking for a wee or to be "tucked in tight". We really thought we were sorted, his behaviour improved through the day, his nursery school said he was more compliant and joining in with theirroutines a and he seemed happier. All of a sudden he has started with the same old night time performance, tonight is night 5 of him waking being really distressed. He wakes screaming and lashing about, he will hurt himself and if I try to comfort him he lashes out at me- this happens about 4-5 times a night, lasting about 1/2 hour -2 hours a time.
I don't really know much about melatonin and don't kwhat if 3mg is much at all?
Has anyone experienced this set back, is it normal? Please someone tell me it doesn't last and he'll sleep again! I feel like I'd just got used to getting somesleeps and it's been snatched away!!
Thanks
Memeche,
Have you tried a daylight bulb?
This will stimulate the natural production of Melatonin in the same way that sunlight does.
Doctors are way too keen to medicate in my opinion, and there are often other things that may even work better.
I read somewhere for people who can not sleep, that melatonin (as it is a hormone) is it not good long-term as taking it causes the other hormones to be out of balance long-term, so you solve a problem but create a further problem down the line,, it may be different with Autism but I would get a lot of information from people who have been down this line first, as you are rightly doing on the forum. My knowledge is that when the bodies Melatonin is used up, you wake up, then you get sunlight during the day time it produces the new melatonin levels and you get tired and go to sleep(hence we sleep in the afternoon after a day on the beach in sun on holiday ), so maybe he just needs a higher level to make him sleepy. Playing outside in the light for longer may help, but it is winter I know so could it be seasonal issue until the brighter day come back in.