Melatonin for 7 year old son

So far it's going really well. I was surprised how well he swallowed the tablet even mastering it without a drink totally shocking! It has definitely helped him go to sleep quicker. I know it is kit actually a sleeping tablet but it does seem to have an affect that slows him right down. I have also noticed once he is asleep he sleeps much more restfully  & doesnt thrash around & fidget in his sleep as much. I have not seen any side effect so all is going well. I do find if I don't give it on a day over weekend it works even better when I do give it again.

MCasD said:

my son is due to start melatonin as soon as I collect his prescription. I was just looking for some reassuring advice as I am terrified of giving him a form of medication even tho I know it is naturaly produced in our body already. I'm scared of side effects or not noticing side effect quickly or that somehow in some way it will change my little boy (it's crazy I know coz it only helps him sleep) His father is against all Meds so I havent even told him yet & am trying to find a way to break it to him & stand confident that my son is safe taking it.

please share your stories. Thank you.

We are in the same boat as you were and wondered how you are getting on?? 

Our son who is nearly 7 has just started on Melatonin this weekend. Unfortunately for us he is not very good at taking medication as will only have white medicine that tastes nice. He has previously been on tablets for bed wetting but we had to give up with them as he kept finding it in whatever we hid it in after crushing them.  We have been prescribed Circadin and are yet again having difficulty administering it to him. We unfortunately have to crush it to try and hide it but this then turns it into immediate release instead of the slow release he really needs. He has problems falling asleep and to be fair it has worked as he falls asleep really easy with it but as it is crushed it wears off after about 3hrs so he then wakes up and we're back to him being awake until the early hours but at least he has had an extra 3hrs sleep at this point. Meaning he wakes up a lot better than without it. 

We are definitely going to perservere with it as we can definitely see a difference already.

I realise this thread is mainly about Melatonin for autistic children but, as a 56 year-old adult with diagnosed Aspergers, and an insomnia sufferer for 16 years, I've recently experienced great difficulty obtaining an NHS prescription. 

My local autism unit (which cannot prescribe medication of any type) suggested it to my GP, who was unable to prescribe it without consulting the practice pharmacist.  The latter replied with a long letter - which my GP read out to me - strongly criticising the local autism unit for allegedly applying "coercive pressure" on the GP to prescribe it.  The GP even mentioned the whole matter "has been referred to a higher level".

Among the reasons for the pharmacist's criticism was that, while benefits have been proved with children, there have been no studies of Melatonin with autistic adults.  If that's really the case, surely it's time one was done!

Eventually the GP told me he'd prescribe it for 13 weeks, but was clearly unhappy about it ("we shouldn't be in this situation but the fact is we are") and, after the pharmacist's stern comments, I felt under pressure not to take Melatonin - but, despite all this fuss, I will try it and hope to collect it from the chemist tomorrow.

I realise that the GP has been placed in a difficult position but he's the only person who can prescribe it for me.  I don't see any relevant hospital consultant, who'd normally be the health professional expected to prescribe Melatonin.

Does anyone know why Melatonin is so highly restricted in the UK, especially with adults?  Apparently, it's only because I'm over 55 that I'm allowed it all (Circadin).  But surely if it's prescribed for children, the risks cannot be that great (especially compared to the long-term use of Zopiclone which is regularly prescribed for me).  As the pharmacist admitted, it's not particularly expensive.  Indeed, his letter suggested that I go privately to obtain it, but that of course would involve considerable consultancy fees as well.

Hi,

My son is 14 and has been on melatonin now for a few years on and off. I have noticed no side effects at all. We were advised that it loses its effectiveness after a while so it's best to have breaks from it and then it is more effective. I give it to him at times throughout the year that I know he finds stressful (e.g. End of term, Christmas, birthday, holidays etc). It doesn't make him sleepy as such but definitely helps him to relax so sleeping becomes much easier for him. In our experience it has been extremely positive and helpful.

Melatonin appears to be widely available from UK websites. e.g. www.pharmacy2u.co.uk/melatonin.html but that webpage confirms exactly what MattBucks says, it is available by prescription only.

Thank you so much for your reply. The more I hear other parents reassure me just seems to help me feel more safe in my decision to give it a try.

Yes my son has had blackout blinds since he was around a year as he has always struggled with sleeping issues. He is diagnosed Asd & adhd & takes him a long time to fall asleep & once he is asleep it's not a very restful sleep although he does tend to stay asleep.

Hi Drjo

Have you looked at previous posts on the forum on this subject http://community.autism.org.uk/search/node/melatonin ? Melatonin is often recommended for autistic people as I understand it.

Have you tried other aids to sleep ? e.g. blackout curtains ? I put up blackout curtains and use them if I am struggling to sleep due to moonlight. If there is a full-ish moon (like there is at the moment) then it can be disturbingly light in a bedroom depending on which way the windows face.

Melatonin is very different to normal sleeping pills etc. I don't believe that anyone ever gets addicted to it and it doesn't simply anaesthetise the body.

HTH