Melatonin?

[Newsenmum]

Does anyone know when you can get prescribed melatonin for a child and what criteria is? For example autistic/adhd child who gets around 8 hours a night, always up around 5am despite being exhausted during the day. Has periods of sleeping 10 hours which is technically’ok’ I think?

Here it’s only through paediatricIan and after diagnosis

Diagnosis for what though? What’s the criteria?

It varies area to area (and doctor to doctor sometimes). The commonality is the majority of GPs won’t initiate prescribing. Some would not prescribe for a child sleeping 8+ hours.

There's a thread currently running about this (and there are regularly on here).

I'll see if I can find the latest one.

Melatonin for ASD/ADHD child who can’t fall asleep - www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5196911-5196911-melatonin-for-asdadhd-child-who-cant-fall-asleep

Phenergan <= Antihistamine with the sleeping side effect. Harmless. Most GPs will not prescribe melatonin in UK. They will prescribe Phenegran.

8 + hours is quite an OK sleeping pattern. No need for for sleeping medication

Many GPs won’t prescribe Promethazine to aid sleep in children either without it being initiated by secondary (or tertiary) care. In part because it isn’t licensed to aid sleep in children except for insomnia associated with urticaria and pruritus.

London here. Never ever had a problem with that no matter what GP I have met. And tbh some similar antihistamines that are making you drowsy are available over the counter.
With melatonin, yes, there is no formal research done on kids. But the antihistamines - no problem.
Here what they prescribed my son for his problems with sleeping.

Btw my son doesn't have urticaria or pruritus. I would need to google to find out what that is.

I said many, not all. Many won’t. That does not mean all won’t.

Promethazine is available OTC, but as it is not licensed to aid sleep in children except for insomnia associated with urticaria and pruritus (which you can see in the BNFC) it shouldn’t be sold OTC for that purpose.

Urticaria and pruritus are also known as hives and itching. I didn’t say your DS had either. I was commenting on what the drug is licensed for. Drugs are sometimes prescribed off-label/unlicensed but many GPs will not initiate such a prescription.

Did I say that you said my son has that urticaria and pruritus ? Where?

I am sorry but you are leaving on this topic here a lot of misinformation.
Read the NHS pages at least. Yes, apart from allergy some antihistamines are prescribed also for insomnia and not only

More about it

I am not giving misinformation. As I posted, drugs are sometimes used off-label/unlicensed. The licensed uses for children are listed on the BNFC which is freely available to read online. Promethazine is not licensed for use in children for sleep issues except for when insomnia associated with urticaria and pruritus.

I didn’t say you did say I said DS had associated with urticaria and pruritus. I was pointing out I hadn’t said he did in response to your post.

Look at the prometazins leaflet. Insomnia is listed among what it is used for. Are you saying that you have no idea how detail orientated and stringent is the process of creating such leaflets? Are you aware that no medication leaflet is released without company lawyers review it? Also, do you sincerely believe that NHS is publishing information that is not reliable.

Sorry but you are spreading misinformation

BNF pages

No I am not giving misinformation. Leaflets cover adults as well as children. And as I said, it (and other drugs) is used off-label/unlicensed hence the NHS information.

Promethazine is not licensed for use in children for sleep issues that are not associated with urticaria and pruritus. You can see what it is licensed for on the BNFC website here.

Short term sedation isn’t the same as long term aiding of sleep.

It is the doctor that defines what is short or long term and not you..yeah, better to use melatonin 🤦🏼‍♀️

I haven’t defined short term. Nor have I said what is better to use.

Ah ok, thanks for the advice. I’m generally quite cautious (hence having waited 5 years to really consider it!) only as I’ve known some other people mention it recently. It’s tricky as guidelines are 10-12 and my son is always exhausted 😥 plus he sleeps with me now so I’m there when he wakes, so it’s not like he’s just in his room getting 8 hours. I’ll check out the other thread too. Thanks.

Like all these things, it's a balance of risks and benefits.

We got it through the GP from when she was 10. Like you say - until then she was permanently exhausted. This has been a game changer. We also bought Stix which helped her.

stixmindfulness.co.uk

They're expensive. I bought like new from Vinted so worth looking there first.

Should definitely not get melatonin from Vinted 😂