Anyone been prescribed melatonin to help their child sleep? Did it help?

[iwonderwhatisusedtobe]

Autistic DC has always struggled with sleep and I'm thinking of asking the GP about melatonin as I've heard it is meant to be good. Has anyone had it prescribed for their child? Is it easy to get and did it help?

I've also heard a few people say that while it got their child to sleep easily they then started waking in the night. Dc currently sleeps through so this would be a very bad side effect for us.

I'd love to hear others experiences on how it worked for their DC.

We buy ours online... A private Dr recommended this. She said she would be happy to prescribe but told us there is a canadian website it can be bought from in a more palatable taste - strawberry tablets. DS has ADHD and probable ASD. Used to take him 2+ hrs to get to sleep but now takes 15 mins. This means he's getting at least an extra hour and a half a night which in turn has really helped his ability to concentrate.

We have it for DD6. She had always struggled with sleep and once at school it was impacting her ability to learn and cope.

We purchase online from the US and the difference has been incredible. She used to be up until 9,10,11 at night despite an earlier (but not too early) bedtime routine. She couldn't actually get to sleep even though she was so tired. This led to stress and anxiety and then full tantrums.

Now we follow the same routine and with melatonin she is asleep between 7.30-8pm until 6ish each day.
Her emotional regulation has improved because she isn't so tired and her learning has really taken off.

You can only get it from the paediatrician not the gp and around this area you are referred to a sleep clinic first.
My sons taken it for years but it does lose its effectiveness after a while as I think he became a bit immune to it.
My daughter is at sleep clinic stage so hopefully she will get it prescribed too .

We use it periodically. It was good initially to break habits and establish better routine. I did find that a small infrequent dose suited DS better. A few times when I gave the full dose he became hysterical. It must have made him feel odd & distressed. A small dose seemed to just help him settle. I took an OTC version myself once when I was desperate with insomnia. It wasn't a pleasant experience, I felt like my brain was awake but my body was asleep IYKWIM.

A couple of parents on an Autistic support group on Facebook have been recommended Magnesium Bisglycinate by consultants. I've been giving it to DS (he's 15 BTW) and it's been great. He seems to settle well, as opposed to galloping up & down the landing for hours . I also took this myself (I do this a lot for things that are not prescribed, DS is non-verbal so can't tell me how things effect him). It just felt calming & I slept well.

Which online shops is it available? It seems nuts you have to jump through so many hoops in the uK to get it when it is so readily available elsewhere.

We did use it every night fora while, but then we ran out and realised he could go without. Now he comes and asks for it if he can't sleep.

Do you have a weighted blanket?

@Inthedarkagain I have pm'd you

@WesternEasterner

Can you pm me where to get it too, not for my kids, for me! Dr won't prescribe because I'm under 55 m, go figure 🤷‍♀️

I've used it before and it's great to break a bad cycle of sleep, catnapping in my case. But I've run out of my supply bought stateside

DS12 has been taking it for years. GP prescribed it, but we bought it in America first, went in and said "this works, he doesn't sleep without it" and she prescribed it very willingly.

Dd had been taking it for almost a year. We get ours in Spain where its readily available. It's so helpful. She is a child who never naturally sleeps. 2am and she'd still be going strong every night but wide awake for school no problems and never tired. It has really helped her not only go off to sleep but stay asleep. She's also grown more during this spell too, presumably as a result of the extra sleep. Have checked with her dress here so say it's fine for her to continue taking it at the dose she is.

If the paediatrician, sleep clinic or CAMHs prescribe it they will give you Circadin - which is slow release melatonin, it’s better for staying asleep.

it was a game changer for us and DS is 17 now and still takes it. He has adhd and just never slept, he’d still be up at three am other wise.

if no luck with nhs Biovea.com sell it online. I sometimes take it too.

the whole of North America and Europe allow you to buy this stuff in health food stores- so if you go abroad buy in in a health food store or pharmacy very cheaply. No idea why we are so tight about it in uk

It's great stuff. My DD is complex with severe disabilities and every night was horrendous. Melatonin has sorted her out beautifully and she's much happier as she's getting the rest her brain needs. No side effects and it doesn't linger in the system so she's not groggy the next day.

@Catgotyourbrain that's where we buy from too.🙂

I'm slightly worried about taking it every night for the foreseeable but I think plenty of people do and like you have said it's freely available elsewhere.

Wonder what the legalities are about bringing it back from Europe as we are off to Denmark in half term.

Thanks for the replies. It sounds like a bit of a mixed bag. I didn't know it could cause strange dreams. DC won't be so keen on that as can get easily scared at night. Hopefully it wouldn't happen for them.

My child (autism diagnosis already and potential adhd currently being assessed) has just been prescribed it by camhs. He was given tablets prior to this to help him calm and sleep but camhs have now said melatonin is more natural and the better option. I've only been asking about it for years!

My understanding is that it take a while to start working but so far he's been going to bed fairly well. Usually it's a battle and he's always fought sleep. They did say it wouldn't stop night waking but would help getting to sleep and that routine. It's only been a week so far so we'll see!

Should be fine. All the CAMHS people I've spoken to are well aware that people buy it in a lot! My DS prefers the gummies we buy, but actual the Circadin is really useful too if you can get it prescribed

It didn't work for my severely autistic child, but I know many children for whom it does work ,it's definitely worth a go
I thought it had to prescribed by a paediatrician tough?
That's what I was told ,the Gp,can issue repeat,prescription,s but a paediatrician had to prescribe,it was a few years ago.though

My child takes this as a liquid prescribed by paediatrician. Averages 6-8 hours of sleep per night. Takes about 40 mins to fall asleep. No issues with nightmares or other side effects.

My ASD son used to take it and it was a life/sanity saver, was initially prescribed by CAMHS. Post 18 the GP refused to prescribe.

Amazon US became my friend. Took ages for the tablets to arrive but never had any problems with delivery.