Can your gp give you melatonin on prescription?

[2mum]

Ive made an appointment on friday for ds to see gp and i was going to tell her about his sleeping problems and ask if he could get melatonin. Hes got asd and since hes been diagnosed hasnt seen his paed, more or less hes autistic see you when you need me sort of thing. Should i cancel the gp appointment and get in contact with the paed instead? Thanks.

[anniebear]

I have only ever been given it by the Paed

[2mum]

I suppose i could tell my gp about ds anyway see what she says. Tahnks anniebear.

[anniebear]

yes go and see, you never know, he may be able to

If not then ring your Paed and ask

[emmalou78]

I think you'll ned to see the pead on this one, though I think they can then write a letter authorising your GP to prescribe it, not many pharmacies stock it though, certainly we have to fetch ours from the hospital, thankfully it works 80% of the time for ds,so its worth the hassle of 2 bus journeys there and back..

[2mum]

I will do, i need to do something. I just want to give melatonin a go and see if it helps settle him at night. So we can all get a nights sleep!

[emmalou78]

Just a word of warning, don't expect miracles from melatonin!, if it works it helps them fall asleep, but it doesn't help them stay asleep, my ds2 [asd] has it because he can take up to 3 hours to fall asleep unaided... but I have noticed [and I'm sure others have commented this as well] that it has calmed him, he used to be a lot more volatile prior to using melatonin he's still a handful, but not as violent.

[2mum]

Im not expecting a miracle but its worth a shot to see if it works. I phoned the paed at the child development centre but the secretary said shes tied up most of today and will leave a message for me. I hope she rings me, i just want to know if my gp can prescribe it or not.

[emmalou78]

I find ANYTHINGS worth a try if it helps them sleep, even if ds gets up 3 times in a night if we haven't had 3 hours of the evening battleing to keep him in bed till he gets bored and drops off its just easier to cope with...

can your ds take tablets or is he too young? I only sak because I know you can get a slow release melatonin that would help him stay aslee as well...

[2mum]

Hes actually 3 this week so i hope hes old enough. Is it all tablets or can you get liquid? Its a strain on the whole household when your not getting the sleep. Its hard to keep my son awake when he falls asleep in the afternoon.

[desperateSCOUSEwife]

Can only get it from the paed to tbh,
have to echo what emmalou says
it is good but it is not a miracle drug iykwim.
good luck
xxx

[2mum]

Thanks for the messages everyone

[coppertop]

He should be old enough. Ds2 was only just 3yrs old when he started taking it.

Here the Paed is the one who prescribes it and the prescription can only be filled by the hospital pharmacy.

[emmalou78]

ds2 will be 4 in july, we get capsules that we split adn dissolve the powder in a little water and use a dosing syringe to get it down him.. its not good hiding it in a drink as he knows its there.

[desperateSCOUSEwife]

emmalou I have the time release which are harder to crush down
and the normal powder in capsules which i break open and mix in with angel delight for ds2

[desperateSCOUSEwife]

btw paed told me to mix it in with angel delight or yoghurt

[PinkKerPlink]

our paed prescribed the original prescription but the GP now prescribes it for us

HTH

[emmalou78]

wouldn't crushing slow release tablets affect the effectiveness of them?

I only ask becuase if not I might ask the pead to prescribe both normal and slow release to see if it helps him sleep through, we're seeing her in 3 weeks and I know I can last it till then!

[desperateSCOUSEwife]

dont know emmalou but ds2 is fed by gastromy tube and the slow release were clogging it up iykwim

[2mum]

I went to the doctor yesterday and he hasnt prescribed Melatonin before so doesnt know the dosages etc and said if i contact the paed and ask her to fax him down the details etc he will prescribe it for my son.