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Melatonin Or Not ??

stacey1471

Hi everyone, 

Advice needed please, 

Right my little man is 2 and half years old. With suspected Autism and ADHD ? We are on the list for a MDA and currently receiving support from the child development centre.

So one massive issue is sleep, we can get him in a semi ok routine still going to sleep far too late then anything from routine appoitment at Great Ormond st hosp, or a day out, illness, attempted family holiday will throw him off course, so the most recent is whats done it this time.

But it lasts for months currently going into third month where he isnt falling to sleep till between 10.30/12.30 waking every 3-4 hours.  He has always woke a lot and demands with agression to come doen stairs to eat, drink watch tv act like its 9 am basically. 

So as this has been the case on and off since he was a baby, his pead at child deveolpment centre and his behaviour/play theripst is suggesting Melatonin ?  

But I have read some scary reviews on it? making kids agressive >? and my little man is already very agressive   and that if there are sleep issues there is a deeper issue and the Melatonin just hides it. and more in depth investigations should be done?? 

ANy advice welcome, any one use it for there little ones?> any one taken a different to sort sleep issues.

Thanks 

Stacey 

  • Hi, my son is 5 and is autistic, non verbal & was non sleeping!  He's been on melatonin (slow release 2mg tablets - 4 a night) for around 3 months now and most nights he sleeps from 7.30 - 5 which is good for him lol

    Before the tablets he used to have around 3 hours sleep and wake up at least 3 times during the night.  We've also noticed an improvement in his general behaviour and concentration, probably because of more sleep but it could be a side effect of the tablets?  Your pediatrician should be able to prescribe the tablets as he did for my son, you may have to have an assessment first. 

     Hope this helps, let me know how you get on

  • I think you need the involvement of CAMHS to get sleep medication prescribed.  As far as I am aware a doctor can't do it without involvement of other agencies. 

  • There is a blood test for melatonin. Many children with autism who have sleep problems have low levels. Maybe a blood test first would be useful.

    I guess you've tried all the usual. Such as a bath 90 minutes before bed. The effect is to cool the body down. Cooling the body down tells it that it's time to sleep.

  • hi there,

    im a mum of a 6 year old boy who is in the process of being diagnosed with the paediatrician for possibly having  ASD and ADHD plus he has a learning disabilit. My son suffers dreadfully at bedtime with getting to sleep but despite a routine and having tried everything in the book he also went let me leave him till he's asleep. I was told by the paediatrician that they can't prescribe him melatonin as they aren't allowed.. is this true? Anyway, is there any reputable sellers online that I can get melatonin for him just to help aid his sleep, as this really affects his behaviour with lack of it. 

    Many thanks

  • It is not uncommon for Autistic children to self harm anyway. I don't think the drug caused the aggression, likely the effects of it made the child uneasy in a way and therefore caused a reaction normal for children with emotional development issues.

    My son self harms and isn't on any medication. His OT has suggested a weighted jacket for him. I myself was familiar with Temple Grandin's work so whenever my son would hurt himself or others I would simply bear hug him from behind and restrain him until it passed. He would calm very quickly at this. (Make sure if you ever do this that your childs head is on your shoulders and not under your chin.... I learned that the hard and painful way!) It's not an agressive hug either, it's a gentle squeeze that simply restrains their arms and surpressess their nervous system enough to calm them.

    All in all you know what is right and best for your child.

    May I also ask what your childs bed/matress is like? My son had insomnia issues and couldn't sleep until I bought him a memory foam mattress and turned his room into a dark room with sensory lights and now he has very few problems sleeping. Remember that autistic people can be hypersensative to any one or all 5 of the senses (including touch) and what feels comfortable to you maybe very painful or uncomfortable to them.

  • oh ok, thats great.  Yes i read posts (not on here) from mums saying there son's got agressive hitting fact pulling at eyes, screaming for help, then was knock out ten mins later! 

    I was quite worried as i didnt want it to amplifi the agression that is already there. 

    Thanks again

    Stacey 

  • Our 8yo takes melatonin and I have never heard about it causing aggression, it hasn't changed her at all - other than she now sleeps!

    You should ask about the time-release one, Circadin, if your son wakes regularly, as the quick-release one, Biomelatonin, only gets them to sleep, doesn't keep them asleep.