Aibu to want melatonin prescription for child?

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Nearly 10. Over 3 months not being able to sleep. We’ve sorted the night wakes but she can’t drop off til 11 or later. We’ve tried everything, had professional help etc, nothing working. We are all at our wits end. She was a perfectly normal 11 hour sleeper before that, no issues at all.

Has anyone with a child with no additional needs managed to secure a melatonin prescription for their child? I know children with autism who have prescriptions but no one without any additional needs. Just wondering if she needs a reset. It’s the only thing we haven’t tried.

Yes but only from a pediatr

Only a consultant can start a child on melatonin so you can't get it from a GP.

Additional needs here but still problems getting a prescription. I buy online. Melatonin is safe, you can buy it over the counter in other countries and for us works like a charm.
I buy fast acting, quick dissolve strawberry flavour 5mg for my nearly 12 year old.

If your child is under peadiatrician care, get an appointment. only they can prescribe melatonin in the uk, not your gp. the gp can only okay repeats of it.

I know someone whose consultant recommended melatonin. She was advised to buy it online.
I think it is difficult to get it prescribed for children in the UK.

The doctors around here prescribe a strong antihistamine for poor sleeping teens.

Sorry I’m on phone yes I have to regulate sleeping patterns but only from a consultant. Gp may give you something can’t remember what it was called. Firstly melatonin is kinda natural it’s in milk. Secondly you can buy them on eBay gummies 3mg very low dose. (Done this )
I asked my child physiologist relative about them she said they are fine also her partner is a child dr . ps you can buy them over the counter in Australia.

Have you tried promethazine? Can buy OTC, much safer than ordering drugs online.

You can buy gummies online. They’re lovely. I occasionally take them when I’m struggling to switch off x

Those saying it’s safe, what about the tests on animals showing interference with puberty hormones?

Melatonin isn't 'safe' for everyone - if you have stomach issues / IBD it can make you very very ill , probably not relevant for your children but people need to do their research especially when buying online

As above - in the UK only a consultant can prescribe melatonin for a child. Ask your GP for a referral sooner than later as there's often a long wait to be seen. However getting children started on melatonin can be a an issue as they can get reliant on it to sleep then, so for a relatively short term sleep issue (whilst I'm sure 3 months feels like a lifetime to you, a consultant probably won't view that as a long-term issue) you may find a consultant is reluctant to prescribe this.

Please, please, please do not follow posters advice above to buy from the internet. I work as a nurse and a I can assure you not all online retailers are who they say they are, and just because a retailer says they are selling melatonin doesn't mean that's actually what the tablet is. At best you may risk getting sent just a sugar pill or something else innocuous but useless for your money, but some online drugs are made with all sorts of dangerous chemical crap that falls far short of UK safety standards.

I wouldn’t go off prescription, if they won’t prescribe it to her I would think there is a pretty good reason?

Crossed kitkat but no I wOuldnt. I feel desperate but I’m not that desperate, if that makes sense.

What is promethazine?

Some people have a wooly head the next day - it is a hormone, it has other effects as well as sleep. If you've had professional help I assume you got the daylight lamp for the morning and preferably masses of daylight outside early in the day thing going. Have you got the evening glasses to filter blue light - these really helped DS
this type of thing
www.amazon.co.uk/Hzjundasi-Computer-Glasses-Radiation-Vintage/dp/B077D3YBQJ/ref=sr_1_5?s=drugstore&keywords=blue+light+blocking+glasses&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1563525419&sr=1-5

I just bought it online, but I didn't get on with it at all for sleep issues.

It gave me nightmares and made me feel groggy. I'd try them on a half herbal nytol tablet.

They don’t have screens after school anyway so that’s not an issue. No daylight lamp? But they are up and out to school so in daylight pretty quickly.

Just buy online, Biovea, and save the nhs a load of cash!

It’s a naturally occurring substance and unlike antihistamine, won’t cause woolly heads the next day.

I buy fast acting, quick dissolve strawberry flavour 5mg for my nearly 12 year old.

5mg is a lot!

No it isn’t. Depends on the size of your child, and how overactive their brain is!

I’m nervous about giving any kind of pill or medication, herbal or otherwise, without a doctor approval. I’d want melatonin only as a shirt sharp shock, a week or two max, not long term. I want her to sleep naturally, not chemically. Just want her to rest, I hate seeing her so distressed about not sleeooing when she is clearly so tired.

If you are desperate, have you considered trying a drowsiness inducing antihistamine, such as piriton if you have a really bad night? At least then you can buy over the counter from a pharmacist and know what you are getting. I've done that before when DD1 has had bad ear infections and physically couldn't settle, and it was better than her being awake all night.

Blue light doesn't just come from screens, it in all our electrical lighting and the tv too.
There was a very interesting programme on the BBC a while ago I'll see if I can find it....

Cutantrim I’m glad it’s workign for you but I am a massive risk avoider and wouldn’t do this unless it were prescribed.