DH gave Melatonin to the WRONG child

[NotTheOnlyPomInTheVillage]

For background, we have had a very stressful couple of days. Due to COVID-19, we have had to shut our business and we are not entitled to any government help (we are in Australia). We have also been given notice on our apartment but have nowhere to go as we do not have a deposit for a new apartment due to our business shutting down.

We have 2 DC: an older teen DS with ADHD and a younger DD without ADHD. DS is on 3 x the normal dosage of Melatonin to ensure that he sleeps. This is on prescription.

For some inexplicable reason, DH went to give DS his Melatonin but gave it to DD instead. We are now terrified about what will happen. There is no medical helpline here, so we don't know what to do.

We have done some Googling and we can't find anything that says it's dangerous for DD, but we are still freaking out. Does anybody have any knowledge of this? He gave her 3 ml.

Just to add, this is most unlike DH. He is always calm and controlled and never makes mistakes like this. He is really upset and keeps asking himself over and over again how he could make such a mistake. I know it's just the stress we are under so I'm not cross with him. I just want to ensure that DD is going to be OK.

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Check out British National Formulary Children's Site (This is the site GPs and Pharmacists refer to for drug guidance)

bnfc.nice.org.uk/drug/melatonin.html

One off dose won't hurt unless she has an allergic reaction (which you would know about already)

Out of curiosity OP, what was he supposed to be giving your DD?

I can understand if he was supposed to be giving her cough mixture or something and he picked up the wrong bottle.

But if he wasn't supposed to give her anything and he mixed up his teenage son with his 7 year old daughter, well the mind boggles

Glad all seems to be ok though

There’s an American woman who drove to work and forgot her son in the back seat - he died - she didn’t usually have him in the car on the way to work - she campaigned about it to try and raise awareness to leave your handbag with your child.

Accidents do happen.

3 ml is a very small dose. My ds who is only 5 is on 6ml.

You’ve had a horrible week, so glad your DD is ok. I feel for your DH, everyone makes mistakes. I have a DS who needs regular meds for a chronic condition, I’ve been giving him them for about 5 years and still get nervous every single time. .

You can only buy online from countries like the US but strictly speaking its not legal to do that.

This is incorrect. It's perfectly legal to import melatonin for personal use from other countries where it's freely available (such as the US).

It's illegal to sell it or distribute it in the UK but it's not illegal to import for personal use.

Just checking - your Husband is not a nurse!!! Don’t worry about it, these things happen (make sure he does not make the dinner for a while!)

We both gave DS a dose the other day by accident. No harm done although he did sleep deeply!

Just to add to those voices who have said your DD will be fine.

My DD (9) takes 4ml. 3ml is not a scary dose and it is nothing like paracetemol etc where you need to worry.

Also these things happen. I once misread the bottle and gave an infant DD 3x the correct dose of Piriton.

It's easy to sit at a keyboard and be outraged and not understand how anyone could make that mistake.

I'm sorry you are all having such a rough time @NotTheOnlyPomInTheVillage - do you have somewhere to go? I hope your DD is ok.

Aw, poor dh, he feels bad enough as it is.
Please assure him this can happen to the best of us, especially under your circumstances.
I'm sorry you are going through so much at the moment. We too have lost our business, and doubt it will survive this long term.
I was ready to come on and blast your dh for being so irresponsible, but no way does he deserve that.
I'm sure dd will be fine, you need to support each other at times like this and it sounds like you understand the stress and pressure on you both now.

You can only buy online from countries like the US but strictly speaking its not legal

Not true.
I have bought it online.

However, you do not need a prescription to use melatonin in the UK, nor is it illegal to possess it. It is legal to import for personal use.

But i cant use it now due to a medical condition.

Please tell me where reputable in the UK you have bought it online as it will save me having to wait for it to come from the US?

No idea how you think there is no number here? There are many and for this scenario they will all direct you to the Poisons line. In fact a 2 second Google would have taken you to this information with accompanying number:

Poisons Information Centre
Call this number if you think someone has taken an overdose, made an error with medicine or been poisoned. You can call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from anywhere in Australia.

It’s fine though. The people who are saying it’s not are not working on the basis of common sense - that it is something in an amount that is usually given (hence overdose is moot) and a substance commonly prescribed (hence not a poison as such). I gave my kids each other’s meds on a number of occasions due to being busy and I was in a job where you’d think I was the last person who would make that mistake, not a problem as such as long as it is not a med that has to be titrated up to standard dose. Always a rare chance of allergy/hypersensitivity but it’s the same chance as the kid you were meant to give the medicine to when they started on it, you’d have to be bloody unlucky there.

My dd at 7 was on 6mg she'll prop just sleep it off.

@Winnietheshit I'd love to know where I can buy it in the UK as my US order just incurred a customs charge for the first time ever

I've been buying it from the USA for a few years. It's the only thing that helps me sleep through DH's snoring.

Do you use Biovea Fuss?

You cant buy it in uk it has to come from abroad. Nowhere in uk is licensed to sell it.

Ive bought it for travel purposes in the US and Canada. It’s not going to do any damage.

You cant buy it in uk it has to come from abroad. Nowhere in uk is licensed to sell it.

It's available on prescription. See BNF. Brand name Circadin.

Why is everyone mentioning what can and can't be purchased legally/online in the UK, USA, Canada/Spain/Italy etc etc? OP said she is in Australia!

She has spoken to poisons information and its sorted. The only reason she hasn't replied again, is because its the middle of the night there!

Why is everyone mentioning what can and can't be purchased legally/online in the UK, USA, Canada/Spain/Italy etc etc? OP said she is in Australia!

Because people posted incorrect information regarding it being ilegal to import it into the UK, that it ws a controlled drug etc and then others asked where to get it in the UK.
its allowed to reply to other posters on a thread!

You cant buy it in uk it has to come from abroad. Nowhere in uk is licensed to sell it.
It's available on prescription. See BNF. Brand name Circadin.

Not everyone who uses it will get a prescription for it. You cannot buy it over the counter in UK.

I get it from PipingRock online. Only ten quid for 500 tabs.

You cant buy it in uk it has to come from abroad. Nowhere in uk is licensed to sell it

You know that and I know that but Winnie apparently knows different so here's hoping......

I get it from PipingRock online. Only ten quid for 500 tabs

Me too. Thats where the customs charge has come from this time. Annoying as it usually sneaks through.