Teen Insomnia - melatonin cure?

[cakedup]

I'm just wondering if there are any parents out there of children with sleep disorders who have (or decided not to) use melatonin supplements?

DS(13) has never been a particularly good sleeper, with various sleep issues since the day he was born. With good patches thrown inbetween.

However, for the last two weeks he has had terrible insomnia, mostly getting only 2-3 hours per night. He has had 2 weeks off school and went in today, only managing to stay in the classroom for one lesson. The rest of the time he was in the teacher's office with his head on a pillow (not sleeping, just resting).

He already has counselling at school as he gets anxious. GP recommended Piriton (which didn't work) and then prescribed stronger allergy medication which I have tried the last few nights with mixed results.

I mentioned melatonin supplements to our GP who said they only prescribe it to children with ADHD and autism. She was not keen on it, for similar reasons as cited here if you are interested

It's just gone on for so long now that the situation is getting desperate.

My daughter is in her second week of melatonin, she doesn’t have ASD or autism, she does however have a complicated neurological history.
It’s not really made any difference to her (if she sleeps properly it’s due to exhaustion) but we are increasing the dose weather week in hope that we can get the correct nightly dose for her.

ADHD

hennipenni is this through your GP or are you self medicating?

cakedup it is through her neurologist, didn’t bother her GP as he always refers back to her consultant.