Melatonin UK?

[NoOneShivsAGit]

Does anyone use melatonin for their child?

I have a 5 year old who wakes almost hourly and a friend suggested I look into melatonin.

I will contact her GP - but I just wondered if anyone else here has been able to get a prescription or knows where to buy it for children?

Was it difficult to get?

It’s only prescribed via a paed here you’ll need to see the gp for a referral

I give prescribed Melatonin to children in my work place - it seems to have varying results and AFAIK there is little evidence that it works consistently.

My son has melatonin. He has a sleep disorder that is part of his complex needs. It works well for him in getting him to sleep, but not keeping him asleep. It doesn't work for all children. It can only be prescribed by a paediatrician in the UK.

It’s a nightmare to get with additional needs, so if that’s not your son then I’d forget it.
Hourly wakening is tough though, have you seen a sleep specialist?

(Also it did absolute nothing for my daughter)

DS has melatonin prescribed by his paed. It is only useful for getting him to feel sleepy enough to fall asleep, it does not keep him asleep, it's not a sleeping pill.

I’ve found it impossible to get prescribed for my autistic son so I buy it from biovea. I give him half a gummy sweet. It works great in helping him to become tired and fall asleep in the first place. All the research I’ve read says it works for children who don’t produce enough melatonin to get them to sleep or whose circadian rhythm is out of sync but it doesn’t stop wakenings.

Yes I have for my son who has special needs . Without it he can take hours to settle and sleep . I havs it prescribed by my gp.

My dd takes it. As previous posters have said it needs to be prescribed by a pead in the U.K. it helps my dd get to sleep but not stay asleep. having said that she still sleeps so much better than without. She has autism. I think you’d struggle to get it prescribed if your child has no additional needs.

It might depend on where you live, but in our area of the UK it has to be recommended by a consultant paediatrician initially, and then the GP can take on the repeat prescribing.

Our go used to be allowed to prescribe it (after initial paed prescription) but this stopped a couple of years ago, now we have to get it from the hospital.

Yes sorry we are the same, first prescription done by the pead now the doctor can prescribe on a repeat so I don’t need to see the pead each time.
Just wondering (sorry to hijack you thead op) how much melatonin do other people’s children take?

Just 2mg @Dinosaursdontgrowontrees

We get it for DS who has ASD/Adhd. His consultant recommended it. It works in getting him to sleep but he still wakes in the night.
AFAIK it's not officially suitable for children so it can only be prescribed by a doctor off label.
It helps but it's not a miracle cure.

My GP here in Ireland prescribes it for DD. She takes 2 mg and there are 2 different types. Theres the straight release one and a slow release one. The straight release one gives a big hit so she drops off. She doesn't have any problems with waking, it's the getting to sleep bit she needs.
Once the chemist gave us the slow release version and they didn't work as well for her. They are better for people who need it to stay asleep.
Dh was recently in the US and you can buy it over the counter there up to 10mg which seems bonkers!

Ds was on 6mg with the liquid, but he is now on 4mg if the circadin tablets.

I've bought melatonin for myself and taken it religiously but it has no effect.

Ds is 14 and has 4mg dd is is 5 and has 10mg (!)