Has anyone tried melatonin for their kids?

[fudge1990]

my DS (8) isn’t sleeping, but I can’t get it through the GP (I’ve tried). I read this and really related to the mum. I wouldn’t get it online but would love to know people’s thoughts and if they’ve tried anything to keep their kids to sleep! Inside the UK’s murky melatonin market

This reads like a journalist fishing for quotes 🤔

ha i'm not! Genuinely curious

It’s irrelevant given most of the places we bought it from have stopped shipping to the UK.

My teenage daughter has severe migraines and her pediatrician prescribed a 3 month trial of melatonin as some studies show it can help.

The migraines are still just as frequent but perhaps a bit more mild, however each one lasts a lot longer. I'm not sure it's really worth it for her headaches.

However the change in her mental health has been amazing. We didn't really realise how little sleep she was actually getting, it's been wonderful to see her back to her old self.

She is autistic and really struggles with certain times of year like the transition term or exams. I will ask the pediatrician if we could have a regular prescription to use during the more difficult periods. I have been advised by an autism specialist that it shouldn't be used all the time because then a higher dose is needed as your body builds up tolerance.

I am a bit concerned by these new studies linking melatonin to heart disease later in life. The pediatrician said it's not an established link and more studies are needed so I'm keeping an eye on the research. At the moment her mental health is far more of a priority. I hate to say it but there was a point she was so low I was very afraid she might not make it to the stage of life where heart disease matters anyway. So I plan to use it in short stints - a month or two in the winter transition term, maybe a month over exam week, that sort of thing.

I bought some in the US and occasionally give it to my DD, she often doesn't sleep until 2300 as says she can't switch her mind off

Yes. I’m not in the uk so can get it easily. It was recommended by DD’s doctor. Absolutely works.

Dd is ASD and it helps immensely. We use it sparingly. That helps for efficacy.

Yes, it was life changing. Prescribed by CAMHS for a diagnosed sleep disorder (also diagnosed AuDHD). At the time he wasn't going to sleep until 2am and couldn't attend school etc. He's weaned off it now.

have you tried through the GP?

you may find difficulty there @fudge1990

Unsure if these regs are implemented nationally throughout UK

Go usually only prescribe if recommended by consultant. My son is on it and when he takes it, it works well it’s prescribed for him by gp via paediatric consultant.

Prescribed by the pediatrician (repeat prescriptions through GP) yes. I can't imagine ever buying non-OTC medicines for my children without a Doctor prescribing. All drugs have risks and if a GP isn't even qualified to prescribe melatonin, why would a lay-person think they know better?

A better route would be to go through the sleep advisory service (or whatever it's called in your area). The GP can refer you after you've kept a sleep diary for a few weeks.

Psychiatrist prescribed it when DD was 5 (and pharmacy told me to just buy it over the counter as that's much cheaper - in my country its sold as a food supplement not a medicine up to 1,9mg)
It worked really well (0,5mg dose) used it for a few months and then her body seemed to adjust to sleep alright without it, with resets needed occasionally. But then she decided she didn't want to use it anymore, said it made her feel groggy. But it was definitely worth using back then as she desperately needed to sleep - she was violent but it was mostly because of sleep deprivation, once she started sleeping she was like a different person.

I've just posted about this on another thread but had my posts hidden by HQ so they can "have a look at it" 😵‍💫

Unsure if it's personal or just the theme that's flagging my posts to be assessed..?!

Did your post include the word g u m m i e s ? That word tends to get auto hidden!

Yes it did 🙈🤣 it's been released now 😅

I buy it from pharmacies in France or Spain when on holiday. My AuDHD DC13 was getting 5 hours sleep a night, often awake till 2am and now they are asleep by 10pm so it’s made a huge difference for them. They take less than 1mg per night (we use the liquid so can control the dosage) and have weekly breaks.

I get it through the GP for 2 kids (ASD diagnoses) and give it to the 3rd sometimes. It’s great and has really helped them settle. Lack of sleep was having a knock on effect on mood in the day time

Stop drugging the kids.

Do you know much about melatonin @PennyThought? It’s not a sedative.

Yes it's sleep aid helps to fall asleep but not stay asleep. There are other methods instead that can be used over something with variable results. I have chronic insomnia. I'm not a kid.

AuDHD DC was prescribed it via CAMHS as they were only sleeping 3 hours sleep a night. After several months they started refusing it because it made them feel so awful the next day.
I took one to try it, to see what it was like, and I totally understood why they refused it. I absolutely wouldn’t give it un prescribed to a Dc.

DS deaf blind had it for years, he had great difficulty falling asleep but once he nodded off he slept like a log. Didn’t use it all the time but it worked!”