Ok, Ive exhausted every avenue..... drug recommendations please!!! And yes, im a bad bad Mum!!

[Nixz]

My DD is 8.5 and has severe eczema and basically does not sleep. I dont know if her skin is the reason or not. School are also involved in her well being and we are waiting for an assessment for Aspergers, not sure if this plays a part either.
Basically, she is not going to sleep until about 10.30/11pm every single night. Her sleep pattern is seriously disturbed, if I share a bed with her, it seems like she has about 10-15mins settled sleep and then she throws herself all over the bed etc

Ive done routine, she is very physically active, we have stories or audio CD's or relax kids or music at night.
Ive done massage, sticker charts, warm bath, anti histamine, black out curtains, anti allergy/100% cotton linen and jim jams. You name it, weve done it.

What next?
(Ive also tried Vodka and wine, both seem to work very well for me )

[pickyvic]

my son has aspergers and at the grand old age of 15 we discovered the wonder that is melatonin.
after 15 years with NO sleep its been a godsend.
lots of aspies or peeps with ASD dont sleep due to the lack of melatonin - its a naturally occuring hormone and your body is meant to make it to tell you when to go to sleep but for some reason aspies and ASD peeps dont make enough of it so dont sleep!
so its not even a drug as such! only peads can prescribe it so youd need an appointment but i can vouch for it, and so can my poor son who was literally dropping at school through lack of sleep.

and i also do the wine - helps me just fine!!!

[pickyvic]

oh and i should just add (cos theres no edit thingy on here - he s been taking it for a good couple of years now. its effects can start to wane and getting the dose right can be a bit experimental!

he is now 17 and only takes when he feels he needs it. he is pretty good at knowing when that is and now he is at college its a much longer day and he sleeps a little better anyway . but it really does help. i really underestimated how being so dog tired all the time was effecting him.

[Nixz]

Well, i think its going to be a while before she gets to see pead. but she does see a dermatologist at Alder Hey, perhaps he could prescribe it?????

There has to be other alternatives....

[Nixz]

please dont thinkim looking for an excuse to 'shut my dd up'

Im really worried about her lack of sleep and want to try and help her fall asleep at a more suitable time (8.30pm 9pm)

[HullabaLuLu]

Are you seriously asking for recommendations for drugs to get your dd to sleep? I think that's a question for your GP.

There was a programme on tv about a little girl who wouldn't go to bed before the early hours and woke early. They managed to get her to sleep earlier and longer. I'll see if I can find a link.

[Miamla]

hulla, i saw that programme. they changed the girl's bedtime to midnight, bath at 11.15pm etc. And then gradually the bedtime was brought earlier and earlier by 15mins at a time. the parents were sceptical that a later bedtime was the answer but it did seem to work

[HullabaLuLu]

My Child Won't Sleep ITV Player

[HullabaLuLu]

I thought it was interesting didn't you Miamla? I thought they'd never do it to be honest. Was surprised at the change!

[Nixz]

Im asking if there are any medications out there that could help her get to sleep...so I guess I am asking for drugs/medicine?

She will go to bed fine but she just lies there...eventually she starts winding herelf up because she is frustrated. She doesnt get out of bed or cause any problems but it must be awful for her. Once she is asleep, she wakes and is unsettled most of the night.

There has to be something thyat can help her fall into/have a peaceful nights sleep.

[Mintyy]

Are you not prepared to try the melatonin and later bedtime route before resorting to drugs?

No one on Mumsnet can recommend a sleeping drug for your 8 year old daughter.

[TheProvincialLady]

Have you tried giving her a cd player with a self hypnosis/relaxation cd? I a a truly awful sleeper and this has helped me a lot in the past. Or aromatherapy? Again it works for me, especially lavender oil. I would try everything else before I even considered drugs TBH.

[HullabaLuLu]

Oh good idea TheProvincialLady I used slef-hypnosis/relaxation during my last trimester when I just could not sleep. It worked like a charm and I never heard the end of the cd!

[pickyvic]

hi nixz - its only a paed can prescribe so you need to see one asap if its really affecting her. how long are you expected to be waiting? are you on a waiting list to see one? maybe you could go thru the community paediatrician if that would be any quicker - thats what we did. we never got to see cahms and i understand their waiting lists are horrendous. i cant say enough how using melatonin has changed my sons quality of life. Even school were concerned as he was falling asleep in lessons before he took it. its not a drug so its safe. have you looked into it at all? i suggest a google, cos with ASD sleep is a problem that isnt just fixed with changing bedtime routines or hot milky drinks etc.
good luck.

[Nixz]

Hi all, we have had relaxation cds for a while, also lots of relaxation sessions in a sensory room to try and help dd to realise what being relaxed meant (sounds bizarre but how many times do we say calm down or relax to children? Do they know what we mean?)
Ive also tried lavender, roman cammomile, horlicks (ha ha) massage, warm baths...everything! Believe me, in 8 1/2 years, you get lots of ideas and chances to try them out!
We have been seeing a dermatologist at alder hey for some time, ive mentioned the sleeping thing to him but the only thing that he was interested in was prescribing immunosuppresent drugs...wouldnt talk about anything to help her sleep. Although he said that the lack of sleep would be having long term effects on her physical and mental health. He was still adament the immuno suppresents would be the answer...but thats another thread!
We are currently waiting to see a pead regarding her aspergers, GP realised that the waiting list for CAHMS was awful and their caseload was becoming unworkable, especially when their are others who could advise/help. I only went to the GP appt 2 weeks ago regarding this.
I will ask about melatonin, of course. I suppose I was looking for peoples experiences of this and if they had used any form of medication to help their children sleep.
Please dont judge me. Its awful to see your child so erratic through the night and so tired and 'crabby' the next day. I just wish she would be able to get some calm, settled sleep. Im asking on mumsnet because everytime I raise the issue with the Drs, they have nothing to say on the subject and there must be other people out there who have similar stories. I know whats its like to have restless nights, imagine if it was every night of your life.

[pickyvic]

i really can sympathise - my aspie boy never had a full nights sleep in 15 years. i havnt the faintest idea how either of us managed it. melatonin really does work - persist with it because they start you on the lowest dose possible and you just increase it until you find the right level.
even now he is a total night owl and if left to his own devices will stay awake until about 4am. using the melatonin however means he gets a reasonable night, going to sleep by midnight and staying asleep. i cant sing the praises of the stuff enough! good luck with the paed.

[Nixz]

Thankyou....looks like thats the best option.

Sleep well