Melatonin?

[user8984277]

Does anyone here buy melatonin and if so, where from?

I'm autistic and have had trouble sleeping for years and I'm really keen to try it.

GPs' attitude to it varies. I got some in the US and asked my GP if it was ok to give to my DD and he laughed and said it's a placebo so it won't hurt. My friend (in another part of the U.K.) has it on prescription for her DD.

DD says it really helps so I've just ordered from Biovea. Took about 2 weeks to get here

How often should you take it and how long for? The NHS website says its only for really short term use (which would suggest it's not a placebo like your doctor said Clymene!)

It's definitely not a placebo.
My DS doesn't know he takes it , he never slept before midnight sometimes much later, he is tucked up asleep by 21 00 now.
It is recommended short term use for retraining a sleep pattern but can be given for longer if it doesn't kick-start natural sleep pattern.
Some people are on it years.

I’ve bought it in liquid from a Spanish pharmacy and imported it

@ThePontiacBandit

Can I ask how you did this? DD is 16 and has prescribed liquid melatonin, but she loses her paediatrician now she's 16 and the GP won't prescribe it. She currently gets it from CAMHS, but her therapist keeps commenting that she should be taking it in pill form, but she finds the liquid works much better.

I have bought it from biovea and piping rock. Biovea got it here quicker , but frequently seems to be out of stock. Piping rock is cheaper but took about 3 weeks to arrive

It’s definitely not a placebo, It works amazingly for us. We only take it as and when it’s needed, Dd9 and I are both horrendous sleepers. Sometimes it’s 2/3 times a week sometimes none at all. I take them on long haul red eye flights, you wake up better rested and the first day isn’t a complete write off.

[quote SpaceRaiders]@D0D0 Thanks for that link. I’ve just found the brand that I normally buy for me and dc. Roughly how long did it take to arrive?[/quote]
As I recall, about 3 weeks.

@SpaceRaiders

It’s definitely not a placebo, It works amazingly for us. We only take it as and when it’s needed, Dd9 and I are both horrendous sleepers. Sometimes it’s 2/3 times a week sometimes none at all. I take them on long haul red eye flights, you wake up better rested and the first day isn’t a complete write off.

I don't think it is either. My GP is a bit of a knob

My 12yo(with ADD tendencies) has a 5mg gummie before bed, sometimes he's a sleep with an hour or so sometimes not but I definitely think they are worth using.

SD1978

it increases the melatonin in your brain, so you'll get a deeper sleep faster- you have to fall asleep yourself, if that makes sense, then it increases the length of REM or deep sleep you'll have. So a 5 hour sleep will feel longer as it starts the deep sleep part faster

It does knock me out in about 20minutes (but I have to be playing solitaire or some mind numbing game for it to work. If I am on mumsnet or checking my emails it has no effect)
Naturally I could be up for 48 hours without sleep so relying on me falling asleep for it to work is a non starter

I have been taking it for years. It does say you need a break of about 2 weeks every 6 weeks but I found that I spent the 2 weeks barely sleeping and then the first weeks of the 6week block with very poor sleep then just as I was getting a good nights sleep (5.5 - 6hours) I would have to stop.
I now don’t stop and take it every night.

Maggiesfarm

Try another brand and a bigger tablet.

I have had Natrol before and it doesn’t matter how many tablets I take for some reason this brand doesn’t work for me

I buy mine from Amazon, com not U.K. Sundown Melatonin 5mg. It really does work.

Dh has been on the 5mg gummies for about a week now, and from night one his sleep was better. He's never before just gone to bed and slept almost right away before.

Thank you so much for this thread OP

My gp said only Camhs could prescribe that for my son, we don't have it as yet though. I'm not sure I understand why gp's can't prescribe it, I'm sure there will be a reason, I just don't know it.🤷‍♀️