How can I get melatonin for DD (5)?

[dreamsofsleep]

Has anyone had melatonin prescribed for a child who doesn't have special needs? (Only times I've seen it discussed on here seems to be for kids w special needs).
My daughter is very sensitive and has extremely difficult behaviour which I believe it caused at least 50 per cent by exhaustion. She has always struggled to fall asleep and tended to have tantrums at bedtime. Over past couple of weeks we have sunk to new lows- every single night has been a horrendous tantrum and it's taken her up to two hours to go to sleep. She often also either wakes early (really early, like 4.45), or wakes frequently in the night.
She is beyond shattered and her behaviour is worse than ever.
A lot is suffering now - Dh is under lots of pressure at work and is struggling to deliver because of the stresses and pressure of DD. I'm between jobs at the moment (have summer at home won't DCs which is mixed blessing!) and am stressed and exhausted trying to handle her. Her tantrums are so exploaive and violent, it's a huge strain. DS (2) is very sunny on his own but when with sister acts up big time for attention.
I have read a lot about melatonin and it sounds like just what we need. We just need something to break the cycle of bad sleep and help her to unwind at night. Has anyone had it prescribed? Can a Gp do it or must it be a paediatrician? Do you think I have any hope of getting it prescribed or is this situation not 'bad' enough?
Thanks in advance!

[Fourarmsv2]

Have you tried phenergan?

We buy it for 'travel sickness' OTC.

Works wonders for insomniac DS1.

[t1mum]

I had it prescribed for my son from a private GP when he was 8. I think an NHS GP might have more of a process (e.g. keeping sleep diaries, etc) before prescribing it but I don't know. There are one or two things to be aware of with melatonin e.g. one or two studies showing an effect on age of puberty etc, and other studies show that it is only effective in some children who actually have a deficit i.e. if the sleep problems are for other reasons it is not going to work.

It is available over the counter in the US and I think in Europe so that is a route if you chose that.

Have you tried piriton at night as a first line in medication?

[SuburbanRhonda]

What did her GP say about her sleep problems?

[busyboysmum]

I buy mine from i-herb in the USA.

It is very cheap and you can get low dose capsules that I open up and only use a tiny amount in a bedtime drink.

So it lasts for ages. It helps me immeasurably I just wish it had been around when I was a child.

[dreamsofsleep]

wow super helpful replies, thank you. I might try the private GP route initially. The regular GP basically said there was nothing she could do to help as it wasn't bad enough. t1mum, for the reasons you mention I am keen to get it prescribed by someone who really knows what they are doing. I have read about phenergan and piriton for sleep but seen a lot of comments that they (or perhaps just phenergan) have had opposite effect and sent kids totally hyper ...so nervous to try! Also they are sort of sedatives, aren't they? Slightly reluctant to sedate, whereas melatonin is a hormone...

[horizontilting]

The psychiatrist who prescribed DS sleep meds would agree with that last, OP. DS is on both melatonin and an antihistamine for sleep each night (severely autistic). The psychiatrist said to aim to eventually just have him on melatonin, since that's far preferable to be on. Just in case that info helps.

[t1mum]

It's ok to take an antihistamine every day I think? But, yes, piriton had the opposite effect on my children when they were younger - i.e. sent them hyper. Phenergan is what used to be in medised (mixed with paracetamol) which really scared me with its sedative properties.