Local formulary will not do melatonin for adhd

[Nickersnackersnockers]

Is this normal? DD to start medication but if melatonin is suggested somewhere along the way the gp cannot prescribe it for use with adhd. Under no circumstances apparently. Any idea why would that be??

Thanks in advance

I believe melatonin's not licensed for children with ADHD in the U.K. so a GP wouldn't want to prescribe it and it would need a referral to a specialist.

My daughter is 25. Sorry I wasn't clear. She has been diagnosed privately but we still need the local formulary on board don't we? How can the specialist prescribe if the formulary won't dispense it?

Are you in the UK?

We've had no trouble getting melatonin (circadian) for our son since he was about 3 years old. It sounds like it might be your gp specifically so I would arrange an appointment to discuss why if your dd is prescribed it.

It might be they won't prescribe for private scripts so the private dr would need to send direct to the pharmacy each time.

I'm in the UK.

As I mentioned it's the formulary that will not dispense under any circumstances for adhd, so it would be pointless the gp prescribing it.

Melatonin can be prescribed during the titration period privately but after transferring to the NHS, obviously I would prefer not to pay privately for it.

Are you in the UK? I am trying to find out if this is normal practice or not in the UK.

Many thanks

Never encountered this. I do know that NHS GPs will generally not prescribe melatonin unless the patient is over 65 or it's short-term for jet lag. I'm autistic, and it's the only thing that lets me get any quality sleep.

I get it through theonlineclinic.co.uk - they still don't like the idea, but since I've had it in the past (prescribed privately) and it works, they'll prescribe it as long as a waiver's signed to the effect of "I know this is unlicensed, and I accept the liability". It costs about £45 for a month's supply of 2mg Circadin.

Is that the case really?! How disappointing. I'm sure I've been reading a thread where it's available over the counter in the US! I thought it was a safe drug.

Thanks for the link, I will keep it just in case.

Yep, it's really rather weird. That said, "testing and re-licensing a drug for ND people with sleep problems" is a fair way down the NHS priority list - probably rightly so at the moment, sadly.

Worth noting, by the way, that the site I linked above will limit how often you can buy it - no more than once every 30 days. However, if you choose the DPD delivery option, it will come next day regardless of weekends. I was starting to panic and ration them first time round, but it turned out not to be necessary.

That's really useful info should I need to get hold of it. Thank you.

My eldest has been prescribed it but had to see a paediatrician who then sends the prescription to the GP.

It is a safe drug. Our own bodies make melatonin but paed explained to DC that some bodies make less than others.

The main reason melatonin isn’t over the counter in the uk is because there hasn’t been a huge amount of testing on it.

I get my Melatonin from an online website. I also have Ashwagandha (Costco) which I also use